First Time on QE

[Jack E Dawson]

We will be sailing on the QE in August from LA to Ft. Lauderdale via the Panama Canal. It will be our first time on the QE and on this route. I have a few questions. 

 

Is there a preferred side, port or starboard, when passing through the Canal? Also, about how long does it take to traverse the isthmus?

 

I know it will be hot and humid in August but will being on the water make it cooler, especially after sunset?

 

We always bring 6 or so bottles wine/champagne onboard (never a problem) but have only sailed  out of Southampton. Will this be an issue boarding in LA?

 

Since we have already made the final payment, is it too late to buy Carnival stock for the OBC benifit?

 

Our current cabin assignment is 8035 which is adjacent to 8033, a cabin that extends out farther than our cabin. On the deck plan it appears that from the balcony of 8033 one would be able to look directly onto our balcony and even into our cabin. Has anyone had any experience with this and is it an issue? We would prefer not to be having breakfast on the balcony and have someone ask if we can please pass the Gray Poupon.

 

Thanks

Jack

 

[david,Mississauga]

Although I have been on the QE three times I can't answer most of your questions because they are specific to an area where we have not travelled.

 

On one of our cruises we had a cabin similar to 8033 shown on your deck plan. It definitely stuck out further than the the one on one side and we could clearly see the balcony of it.  The occupants of that cabin were rarely on their balcony at the same time we were on ours.  If we wanted to to we could look at each other but it seemed rude to do so.

[Jack E Dawson]

Thanks David, I think we will try to move cabins. Nothing available right now but perhaps something will open up soon.

 

Jack

[PORT ROYAL]

6 hours ago, Jack E Dawson said:

 

We will be sailing on the QE in August from LA to Ft. Lauderdale via the Panama Canal. It will be our first time on the QE and on this route. I have a few questions. 

 

Is there a preferred side, port or starboard, when passing through the Canal? Also, about how long does it take to traverse the isthmus?

 

I know it will be hot and humid in August but will being on the water make it cooler, especially after sunset?

 

We always bring 6 or so bottles wine/champagne onboard (never a problem) but have only sailed  out of Southampton. Will this be an issue boarding in LA?

 

Since we have already made the final payment, is it too late to buy Carnival stock for the OBC benifit?

 

Our current cabin assignment is 8035 which is adjacent to 8033, a cabin that extends out farther than our cabin. On the deck plan it appears that from the balcony of 8033 one would be able to look directly onto our balcony and even into our cabin. Has anyone had any experience with this and is it an issue? We would prefer not to be having breakfast on the balcony and have someone ask if we can please pass the Gray Poupon.

 

Thanks

Jack

 

Shareholder Benefit must be claimed at least 3 weeks prior to sailing 

https://www.carnivalcorp.com/static-files/50351a91-4dc0-4f6b-bfec-684647e6129f
 

Fizz…. Never had a problem, having purchased locally prior to boarding.

 

 

Edited May 29, 2023 by PORT ROYAL
Fizz

[Victoria2]

5 hours ago, Jack E Dawson said:

Thanks David, I think we will try to move cabins. Nothing available right now but perhaps something will open up soon.

 

Jack

If you look at deck 7 plans, mid ships, we have stayed in 7070 a few times and there’s no way we could look into 7072[similar set up to your query] without straining our necks to peer round the partition. Now looking further down the deck into some of the 4’s, that’s different and it was easy to see cabin balconies further away should we have wanted to.

[PORT ROYAL]

7 hours ago, Jack E Dawson said:

 

We will be sailing on the QE in August from LA to Ft. Lauderdale via the Panama Canal. It will be our first time on the QE and on this route. I have a few questions. 

 

Is there a preferred side, port or starboard, when passing through the Canal? Also, about how long does it take to traverse the isthmus?

 

I know it will be hot and humid in August but will being on the water make it cooler, especially after sunset?

 

We always bring 6 or so bottles wine/champagne onboard (never a problem) but have only sailed  out of Southampton. Will this be an issue boarding in LA?

 

Since we have already made the final payment, is it too late to buy Carnival stock for the OBC benifit?

 

Our current cabin assignment is 8035 which is adjacent to 8033, a cabin that extends out farther than our cabin. On the deck plan it appears that from the balcony of 8033 one would be able to look directly onto our balcony and even into our cabin. Has anyone had any experience with this and is it an issue? We would prefer not to be having breakfast on the balcony and have someone ask if we can please pass the Gray Poupon.

 

Thanks

Jack

 

Through the canal?  Starboard will have more countryside views, port more industrial.  But the best (IMHO) views are from the stern, as one can take in the whole open vistas from port to starboard.  
Lemmings will be up at dawn to grab a position close to the bow.
Previously explained to one, from a conversation in Commodore, that the best position is aft of deck 10, there is a single row of chairs and tables, with backs to the lifts lobby.  Take the chair/s and move it towards the ship’s rail, otherwise those standing will deliberately block one’s view.  There will be plenty of space for pedestrians to walk behind, also this position is close to the Lido.

 

[D&N]

We did the canal in that direction on P&O Arcadia Jan 6, 2006.

According to my photos, we approached the first locks at 07:45 and the pilots left the ship at 17:06 having cleared Gatun.

We left Pedro Miguel locks just after 10:00 and were entering Gatun locks at 14:30.

We had a partially obstructed ocean view (it was very cheap!) and I spent all day other than breakfast and lunch in MDR wandering the outer decks taking photos and videos. 

Even with a balcony cabin, I don't think I'd have been sitting on it much, particularly in the locks. Too much going on at the ship's sides with the "mule" locos, the lock machinery and the other ships passing by. The section in between is more scenic cruising.

[david,Mississauga]

4 hours ago, Victoria2 said:

If you look at deck 7 plans, mid ships, we have stayed in 7070 a few times and there’s no way we could look into 7072[similar set up to your query] without straining our necks to peer round the partition. Now looking further down the deck into some of the 4’s, that’s different and it was easy to see cabin balconies further away should we have wanted to.

 

We were in a Britannia cabin with the slightly larger curved balcony. I don't remember what cabin it was. There was a partition on the side adjacent to the cabin which also protruded out, but only a partial partition on the side which was adjacent to the recessed cabin - 8035  in the deck plan in post #1.  When we had our chairs close to the cabin door that  partition would provide privacy for us and the other cabin. But if we moved the chairs close to the railing for a better view forward (some similar cabins face aft) it would be possible to see each other.  It never seemed to be an issue though.

 

 

Edited May 29, 2023 by david,Mississauga
Clarification

[Jack E Dawson]

6 hours ago, Victoria2 said:

If you look at deck 7 plans, mid ships, we have stayed in 7070 a few times and there’s no way we could look into 7072[similar set up to your query] without straining our necks to peer round the partition. Now looking further down the deck into some of the 4’s, that’s different and it was easy to see cabin balconies further away should we have wanted to.

Thank Victoria2, I appreciate the you sharing your experience. However, when I looked at the deck plans, 7070 did not containe the curved portion of the balcony. That was part of the balcony of the cabin next to you. Here is a screen shot from a YouTube video taken from the balcony of 8033. As you can see it looks right onto the balcony of 8035. If one were to stand right at the rail of the balcony you could easily see into the adjacent cabin (8035).

Jack

[PORT ROYAL]

As an aside thought…..
The BC has the newer and more striking BC dining room and possibly a BC stateroom could give one a better balcony position.

[Chart Room Princess]

Regarding the side of the ship for the balcony stateroom position, I don’t think it really makes a difference. As there are 2 separate channels in the locks, you don’t know which side the ship will be going through. Pictures below. Our staterooms were on the starboard side and the QV used the port side channel through all the locks. Therefore from our balconies we were able to see the interior of the channels and the other ship moving through the locks with the QV.

 

We moved around the ship taking photos from all different angles. I recommend picking a cabin position where you will be happiest and not really worry about the side of the ship.

 

Also we have had the large curved balcony on another cruise plus the cabin next to it that you are currently assigned. Most people would not be peeking around the balcony to look back into your balcony or stateroom. In fact the balconies above the curved balcony have a better view of the curved balcony than the other way round. 

[elmsliebev]

we did this last year. Amazing experience.

We had an inside cabin and spent all day out on deck watching what was going on. I think we were on the starboard side of the Promenade deck which had more shade later in the day. Even at lunchtime we ate outside - I can recommend checking out the outdoor grill at the back of the Lido buffet. They have a daily special eg crab cakes or Southern fried chicken. 

It was very hot, they regularly brought a drinks trolley round on the Promenade deck. It was cooler in the evening as we were out of the Canal by then on in more open sea.  

[WoorimBeachLady]

We were in 8130, and with a bit of an effort we probably could have squinted into 8128. This has not stopped us from booking 8128 for our next cruise.

[Victoria2]

17 hours ago, Jack E Dawson said:

Thank Victoria2, I appreciate the you sharing your experience. However, when I looked at the deck plans, 7070 did not containe the curved portion of the balcony. That was part of the balcony of the cabin next to you. Here is a screen shot from a YouTube video taken from the balcony of 8033. As you can see it looks right onto the balcony of 8035. If one were to stand right at the rail of the balcony you could easily see into the adjacent cabin (8035).

Jack

Ah, I see your issue is nothing like my reply to you.

Good luck in changing cabins.

[RICHARD@SEA]

Concerning weather

 

I have done the Panama canal 2x - Once in January on QE2, NYC - Los Angeles.  second time on Azamara Journey in February in February, San Diego - Miami.

 

if you haven't sailed this  cruise before  - it is wonderful. Saying that in January & February months it was HOT AS HADES...I imagine in August it could be unbearable at times to be outside.  I agree the best way to see the Canal Zone crossing is to be out & about on deck(on Azamara we were in a balcony cabin that we spent little time on the day we were in the Canal).

Walking the decks lets you experience the entire process - the workers ashore are fun & react to the passengers & if you have a ship going through at the same time its fun to see an almost competition going on among the passengers.  The Canal is a marvel of engineering.

 

Drink plenty of water all day - take a few breaks from the sun - lunch, a swim in the pool etc... plenty of sunscreen & a good hat.

 

Have  a great experience...

[D&N]

Might as well post a few pics.

These little "mules" worked very hard all day to keep us straight and moving through the locks.

 

A bit of a theme was the ships photographers who were busily snapping away at the ship and us. I took the opportunity to catch them a few times, the last of them taken through the MDR window.

 

And we were escorted throughout by a squadron of Pelicans, who of course were unaware that the P&O larders only contained frozen fish shipped in from the UK!

Edited May 30, 2023 by D&N

[Dranuc2016]

A time lapse of the bridge cam 2018

QV transiting Panama Canal Pacific to Atlantic

Timestamps UTC are at the top

Full transit appeared to be about 10 hours

 

[techteach]

@Dranuc2016 Very cool. Thanks for posting.

[babs135]

Unless things have changed, you will find that the Captain will open one of the crews' decks (5?) to accommodate all the people so finding a spot shouldn't be too hard.  I also seem to recollect that the crew were handing out ice-cold flannels which were very gratefully received!!

[Victoria2]

18 hours ago, RICHARD@SEA said:

Concerning weather

 

I have done the Panama canal 2x - Once in January on QE2, NYC - Los Angeles.  second time on Azamara Journey in February in February, San Diego - Miami.

 

if you haven't sailed this  cruise before  - it is wonderful. Saying that in January & February months it was HOT AS HADES...I imagine in August it could be unbearable at times to be outside.  I agree the best way to see the Canal Zone crossing is to be out & about on deck(on Azamara we were in a balcony cabin that we spent little time on the day we were in the Canal).

Walking the decks lets you experience the entire process - the workers ashore are fun & react to the passengers & if you have a ship going through at the same time its fun to see an almost competition going on among the passengers.  The Canal is a marvel of engineering.

 

Drink plenty of water all day - take a few breaks from the sun - lunch, a swim in the pool etc... plenty of sunscreen & a good hat.

 

Have  a great experience...

We too have transmitted the canal twice and in addition to your excellent advice, I’d add a long sleeved shirt to protect arms from the sun is a good idea as well as the very high factor sun screen. My shirt had a decent collar too, to raise to shield neck in case hat didn’t.