Look Who's in the Canal Today (part 2)

[roothy123]

Well, it sounds like I won't likely see Azamara, but maybe somewhere else before or after Panama.  So are all those ice cream shops and whatnot on Perico Island open at night?  Is there a shuttle over to them from where the ship docks? Are we likely to be allowed off the ship if we arrive at 8 PM?  And does Panama come on the ship to clear all the passengers, or how does that work?  Anybody know?  I may be quite content to just have a nice meal on the ship after the canal transit entertainment/activity, but I'm still curious.

 

[Essiesmom]

Looks like it’s one of those days in the Gaillard Cut…. But it will be cleared by the time Crystal Serenity gets there.

 

[BillB48]

Ha, I was going to post a similar picture of this mornings fog jam.  Even though fog is the transit schedulers nemesis, in this case it might even be welcomed.  Fog often times settles in Gaillard Cut during the overnight and is more frequent during Rainy Season, so the return of the fog is another good indication the forecasters prediction of the return of Rainy Season is correct.  While it may be a little premature to declare an end to the water crisis, things a certainly looking up.  Rains have been sufficient enough to raise the draft limit and to increase the number of daily transits.  Both Gatun Lake and Madden (Alhajuela) lake levels have been increasing.

[Essiesmom]

And there is some liquid sunshine as she enters Pedro Miguel…

 

[Essiesmom]

And finally at Miraflores

 

 

[roothy123]

I watched Serenity too!  So much fun.  Then I had to go somewhere for a couple hours and completely forgot to check back to see her progress when I got back.  

[Essiesmom]

Another fog jam day…

 

[Essiesmom]

Beginning of the fall migration…Crystal Serenity

[BillB48]

Even though many of us cannot tell the season by the calendar, it was always easy to know it was fall at the Canal.  That was when the cruise ships started to run mostly north.  Here in Florida, we just watch the license plates change color😉.

[IWantToLiveOverTheSea]

Ooh...I was driving to a neighboring state and had no clue the migration had started.  I would have liked to have seen it.  But I have a couple October dates on my calendar that may yield some travelers.

[IWantToLiveOverTheSea]

I'm just curious:  If I do a Panama Canal cruise on Oceania (full transit, Atlantic to Pacific) will it likely be through the old locks?  Do any cruise ships ever go through the Expansion locks?

[Essiesmom]

Yes, Oceania ships use the original locks.  There is a thread at the top of the page about Panamax ships…those that can use the old locks.  Neo- or post-Panamax ships are those that must use the new locks.  There have been a few exception where Panamax ships used the new locks.  EM