Panama Canal cruise

[curlstravel]

We are going on our first Panama Canal cruise out of Miami. I would appreciate any tips that would help us enjoy our experience better. Such as days to be out on the deck or in the observation room and times? Should we plan on getting up early on certain days to get a good viewing spot? If so what days?  Any tours etc. that you thought were the best?  Any input would be appreciated.

[www3traveler]

37 minutes ago, curlstravel said:

We are going on our first Panama Canal cruise out of Miami. I would appreciate any tips that would help us enjoy our experience better. Such as days to be out on the deck or in the observation room and times? Should we plan on getting up early on certain days to get a good viewing spot? If so what days?  Any tours etc. that you thought were the best?  Any input would be appreciated.

On the day you travel through the Canal, you will want to wander all over the ship.  Depending on the Captain of your particular cruise, he might open the bow area for passengers ( which is normally an area for crew only).

 

Enjoy

[fox02554]

check out the port of call board https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/54-panama-canal/ lots of usefull information

 

[Middleager]

From Miami, you'll go through the Gatun locks.  If you're doing a full transit, it usually happens in the morning, around 8am, and it'll be around 4pm to exit the Miraflores locks in the south. 

 

It'll be good to look at the map, and see some videos of Panama canals, and how the locks operate.  That way you'll get a better appreciation.

 

Be ready to take lots of pics and videos.  Have them charged up, ready to use.

[Nilbog]

Read the book, The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914 By David McCullough before you go.  It'll give you a detailed background of the building of the canal, and then you'll see it as you go through it.

 

If the weather is nice, try to go up to the sun deck so you can go back and forth from side to side watching the lock operations as you go through.

[Turtles06]

14 minutes ago, Middleager said:

From Miami, you'll go through the Gatun locks.

 

That depends on which ship the OP is on.  Jewel-class and older will go through the Gatun locks, but the newer, larger NCL ships will go through the Agua Clara locks on the Atlantic side, and exit via the Cocoli locks on the Pacific side.

 

@curlstravel The Panama Canal forum, here on CC, is really the best place for info about the Canal and taking a Canal cruise:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/54-panama-canal/

 

And definitely read "The Path Between the Seas," you'll appreciate the Canal even more.

[Middleager]

6 minutes ago, Turtles06 said:

 

That depends on which ship the OP is on.  Jewel-class and older will go through the Gatun locks, but the newer, larger NCL ships will go through the Agua Clara locks on the Atlantic side, and exit via the Cocoli locks on the Pacific side.

 

@curlstravel The Panama Canal forum, here on CC, is really the best place for info about the Canal and taking a Canal cruise:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/54-panama-canal/

 

And definitely read "The Path Between the Seas," you'll appreciate the Canal even more.

Ah, ok.  Thanks for that info.  We were on the Jewel, doing full transit last March.

[fredflint]

Not sure how well the Jewel handles  currents but when I was there about 20 years ago the seas were pretty rough.  

[curlstravel]

We will be on the Joy.  Do we need to worry about getting seasick? Or is that only for the smaller ships?

[Turtles06]

50 minutes ago, curlstravel said:

We will be on the Joy.  Do we need to worry about getting seasick? Or is that only for the smaller ships?

 

If you are someone who gets seasick, you can get seasick on any ship, depending on the conditions.

[complawyer]

if you're prone to seasickness, and you feel it might be coming on, ask any waiter for a few slices of green apples, and drink some ginger ale.  also bring some ginger candy or ginger gum with you, it's a sure fire way to combat seasickness.

 

also, you can get bands for your wrists at any cvs, walgreens or right aid pharmacy, or see your doctor for patches that go behind the ears.

 

the size of the ship has no bearing or relevance on whether or nor someone will get sea sick.

 

if you do get seasick, please try and not let it affect your cruise.