when to go

[kathy77429]

What is the best time of the year to take the Panama cruise.

We will be leaving out of Houston.

Don't want cold weather or rain if possible.

Thanks

Kathy

[Host Caroline]

It's never cold on the Panama Canal route... rainy season is fall especially and also early spring. It's tropical so there can be showers any time, though. The later in the spring you go, the hotter and more humid it will be. There are no cruises from about mid-May until Sept. again unless you go on one of the small expedition type vessels. If possible to a full transit so you can really experience the Canal. Some ships do a "turnaround" -- that is they go through from the Caribbean into Gatun Locks, sail in Gatun Lake, and then go back out the same locks to the the Caribbean. You can take a tour (train tour is excellent) from the ship through most cruise lines to see more of the canal if you do this itinerary but the "full transit" is definitely the way to go.

Oh, and tropical storm season runs through October in Caribbean and Pacific so you might want to avoid the early to mid-fall anyway so one of those storms doesn't disrupt your cruise.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have done full transits and partial transits - loved them all.

And we have been in the canal from fall through spring.

If you are going to spend any time out on the decks while the ships goes through the locks - wear sun screen and a hot - you can burn very quickly in the tropical sun. Even on a cloudy day, you can burn.