beyond december 2024 Panama Canal

[Bstein493]

We are considering the Beyond cruise December 23, 2024.  Ports are Colombia, Panama Canal and 3 other islands.  Any thoughts and reviews on this itinerary?

[Turtles06]

A suggestion. When you are asking people for thoughts about a specific itinerary, it’s helpful to identify the actual itinerary.  😊
 

What islands? Is it a full transit of the Canal, or a partial? (Sounds like a partial, since you refer to unidentified islands, and not ports along the Pacific coast.) 

[iluvspb]

We are booked on this cruise.  It is a partial transit and itinerary is Cartagena, Panama Canal (cruising), Colon, Bonaire, Aruba and Curaco.  11 night Canal and Caribbean holiday.

[miched]

We are on a different sail date and  booked this tour at  50% off during the Black Friday Sale.  

 

Destination highlight: Panama Canal Locks and Culebra Cut Cruise

 

Keep checking the tours for your cruise.  They offer discounts and even if you booked it you can rebook at the lower price if there is a sale. 

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

[pl281]

We did this cruise last year on Edge. We had a great time. We ended up staying on the ship while in the canal. 

 

We were going to do the Panama Canal Locks and Culebra Cut Cruise however after reading many reviews which said it is good for what it is, but there can be hour long delays and having to wait on the bus, we decided against it

[CHEZMARYLOU]

We are booked on this cruise and plan on staying on the ship in the canal. The ABC islands are great. We've been to Cartegena a few times and while we enjoyed it we will probably stay on board. 

[Cruise till you drop]

We did this cruise on the Edge in March

 

Highlight - ABC Islands are always spectacular

 

Disappointment - going through the Panama Canal locks on an E class ship as we didn’t have retreat access and therefore had no view from the front of the ship as you went through the locks

[Turtles06]

7 hours ago, Cruise till you drop said:

Disappointment - going through the Panama Canal locks on an E class ship as we didn’t have retreat access and therefore had no view from the front of the ship as you went through the locks

 

That's a huge negative.

 

Also, E-class ships use the new locks.  For guests going through the Canal for the first time, imho it would be more interesting to go through the original locks.  So on a partial transit from the Atlantic side, seriously consider the shore excursion that leaves from Gatun Lake and takes you on a small, ferry-size vessel through the original locks on the Pacific side.  Plenty of information about this and all other things Canal-related over in the very helpful Panama Canal Port of Call forum.

 

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

 

[LeeW]

On 12/15/2023 at 9:00 AM, pl281 said:

We did this cruise last year on Edge. We had a great time. We ended up staying on the ship while in the canal. 

 

We were going to do the Panama Canal Locks and Culebra Cut Cruise however after reading many reviews which said it is good for what it is, but there can be hour long delays and having to wait on the bus, we decided against it

 

That tour goes by various names on various cruise lines but we have done it twice.  Assuming you are on a partial transit from Atlantic side you tender off the ship in Gatun Lake and are bussed to the pilot landing at the far end of the lake.  Then you proceed through the rest of the canal in the old locks and get back on a bus on the Pacific side.  Bus trip back these days is much faster (nice expressway most of the way).  Fairly long tour and one time we had to wait for our ship to get tied up in Colon before we could reboard.  Good food/snacks on the boat.  While there could be a delay, we haven't seen one. You can touch the lock walls as you proceed and view closeup the operation of the mules, which are not used in the new locks.  Not sure if we will do it again on our next trip, but if you like traveling through locks this is more interesting than staying on the cruise ship.  And you get to see a closeup of the Cut and areas you would only see on a full transit cruise.

[Devo12]

We are doing this cruise in March. According to the itinerary we go through the gatun lake locks early in the morning. 5am or so. If I get up that early, will I be able to see anything? Any good spots to go and watch? We are on the beyond. Deck 12 in the concierge class, no retreat for us. I do have the ferry booked to go through the old locks and out to the Pacific Ocean. 
 

thanks. -Devo

[Cruise till you drop]

8 hours ago, Devo12 said:

We are doing this cruise in March. According to the itinerary we go through the gatun lake locks early in the morning. 5am or so. If I get up that early, will I be able to see anything? Any good spots to go and watch? We are on the beyond. Deck 12 in the concierge class, no retreat for us. I do have the ferry booked to go through the old locks and out to the Pacific Ocean. 
 

thanks. -Devo

Likely the best shot at this is either going early to the magic carpet against the glass where you can see forward of the ship or wait near the retreat area and just sneak in when people are coming and going