If you had the choice, Panama Canal or Hawaii?

[dougp26364]

I think I've narrowed down the choices for our next cruise. In 2005 I'm planning on cruising sometime between September and November. The two I'm trying to chose from are the 14 night transcanal cruise starting in San Diego and ending in Fort Lauderdale or the 10/11 night Hawaii cruise. I'm looking at balcony cabins on both. Both, based on this years fee's will run about the same. This includes the cabin and the airfare.

 

So if you had the choice, which would you take?

 

Future cruises

Monarch OTS - Mexico Baja 1/05

Explorer OTS - Eastern Caribbean 11/04

 

Past cruises

Vision OTS - Alaska 7/03

Legend OTS - Alaska 7/02

[cruisetmc]

A personal opinion but I think Hawaii should be a land based vacation.

 

NCLSouthward/83

Carnival-Mardi Gras/84

Sensation 9/99

Monarch of the Seas 11/01

Carnival Spirit 12/03

[IKE]

No doubt in my mind, I would sail off To Hawaii. I haven't been there yet after 40 cruises because I don't like to fly and We drive to the Ships on east coast.I love to Cruise as you can see. Whichever Cruise you pick have a "Ball"! Ike

[dougp26364]

Well then it looks as if you'll have to just book back to back hawaiian cruises.

 

Future cruises

Monarch OTS - Mexico Baja 1/05

Explorer OTS - Eastern Caribbean 11/04

 

Past cruises

Vision OTS - Alaska 7/03

Legend OTS - Alaska 7/02

[jakedoc]

We went thru Panama Canal via excursion off of Celebrity Summit(great ship) last November. While we enjoyed the experience, I would jump at the chance to go to Hawaii. Panama is a third country but is very interesting with very nice people. Hawaii is in the good old USA but exotic. Panama does get a lot of rain. Wish I had the problem of having to decide.

[yarlenna]

the Panama Canal cruise is the longer cruise. IF you can go to Hawaii a few days early and take in the Polynesian Cultural Center and some of the other local sites, then Hawaii gets the nod from me. If you can't, just save Hawaii for when you can. The canal is a wonderful cruise. It is more like a voyage than a cruise - if you are going from one ocean to another. Just dipping into the canal is fun too, but a different experience.

 

Work like a dog. Live like a pauper. Save all your money. Then Cruise!

 

[abridalmaven]

We did a 10 hawaii cruise in Dec with a 5 day prestay in Oahu. That was long enough. I ovote for Hawaii because there is a good chance we will be going there again in Dec. Panama canal is on th backburner. Look at my hawaii pics and maybe that will help!

 

My vacation pics

http://community.webshots.com/user/abridalmaven

Norwegian Dawn May 23

[superjerryw]

Take the Panama canal cruise as the canal is one of the engineeering wonders of the world. As another poster said, Hawaii is best done as a land based vacation. Having one day in port on a Caribbean island is OK as there is not that much to see. Hawaii is totally different as you can easily spend a couple of weeks on each island just to see the highlights. You can't do any of the Hawaiian islands justice by only spending a few hours ashore.

 

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Donuts, is there anything they can't do....

[justcruzin85374]

We did the Panama Canal and loved it. We were on the Radiance, from San Diego to Ft. Lauderdale. The ship just did Hawaii, so its possible to do a back to back...Hawaii/Panama Canal. There was a few couples who did that, it ended up as a 25 day cruise....my dream cruise! Only one problem with that....$$$$$! Unless we win the lottery!

Good luck....I'm sure you'll enjoy either one!

 

Soveriegn 92 E. Caribbean

Majesty 95 W. Caribbean

Granduer 97 E. Caribbean

Rhapsody 00 Mexico

Vision 02 Alaska

Radiance 03 Panama Canal

Brilliance 3/29/04

 

 

 

Radiance of the Seas/Panama Canal 10/18/2003

Are we there yet?

 

My bags are always packed!

Brilliance 3/29/2004

[dougp26364]

It's a good thing my wife doesn't read these forum's. Otherwise I'd be in trouble trying to get the money together to do the Hawaii/Panama Canal back to back. It'd be tough to convince our employers that we were really sick that many days as well.

 

Future cruises

Monarch OTS - Mexico Baja 1/05

Explorer OTS - Eastern Caribbean 11/04

 

Past cruises

Vision OTS - Alaska 7/03

Legend OTS - Alaska 7/02

[wolfegizmo]

We did a land vacation to Hawaii a few years ago and a cruise there last year. Although we love cruising, the only way to really see Hawaii is on a land vacation. If we hadn't seen Hawaii before our cruise, we would have been really disappointed. Hawaii is about the only placed I would say to do a land trip first!

[emilygrace]

I'd do the Panama Canal in a heartbeat! It has such historical significance, and the canal transit itself is a wonder. This is right up there in my top three future cruises. Just have to wait until DH has the time to do it, since we want to do the full transit.

 

Until the Jewel of the Seas

 

[Flotsam]

Hmmm. The Panama Canal and Hawaii itineraries are both nice and quite different; but how about expanding your horizons and daring to try something REALLY different? TAHITI!

 

How about a 10 day cruise in Tahiti, and Polynesian waters for LESS than $800pp [yes, for $799]? This cruise even includes a short round-trip to Rarotonga, in the Cook Islands.

 

Imagine: papeete,Tahiti; Moorea; Huahine; Raiatea; Tahaa; and of course the star of Polynesia, Bora Bora. [includes "overnights" in Papeete, Raiatea, and Bora Bora.]

 

If OUR only so-so, non-online, TA knows about this, they all do!

 

We have done this same cruise three times, and will be going again soon. (Hints: No Ranch Steaks allowed on this ship, although they do treat you royally!)

 

Happy Cruisin'

[PH8]

Those are the same two choices we are deciding for next fall also(OK, Northern Europe thrown in there too).................but I must say Flotsam,your cruise sounds very intriguing .........Cant we have more details???

 

 

 RCCL Serenade--5/30--Alaska

 RCCL Jewel--10/28--repositioning

**RCCL SOS-8/27/04** Carnival Miracle-2/13/05**

[Murphy]

We did the Panama Canal for our 10 year anniversary and have the Hawaii cruise booked for our 15 year anniversary next month. I LOVED the Panama Canal 14 day itinerary. Basically, you are in port then can relax at sea then in port then at sea, etc. I we didn't want to see the world, I would keep doing the Canal.

 

We are doing a 11 night Hawaii cruise, but are spending 5 days pre-cruise in Kauai for our pre-cruise relax time and then have 4 days at sea at the end of the cruise. I will let you know how it works out, but really wish we had a sea day in the middle of the 7 days on the islands.

 

7 previous cruises, Hawaii on Legend scheduled May 2004, and Enchantment Oct 2004

[truffles2]

We havent done Hawaii and are not really yearning to do so, but we have done the Panama Canal and I would jump at the chance to do that again.

 

until

Serenade Inaugural Transatlantic August 3, 2003

Until Grandeur Repositioning~ Bermuda to San Juan Oct. 31, 2003

 

 

until Mariner E Caribbean~Jan. 18, 2004

 

 

until Serenade S Caribbean~Feb. 28, 2004

 

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RCI 17, Celebrity 1

[dougp26364]

It doesn't appear that RCI does the exotic cruises like Tahati anymore. At least I don't find them on the RCI web site or on the online TA web sites. Princess does have some attractive rates though. $2999 for a balcony cabin on a 24 night Tahatian cruise is pretty apealing. I don't think I want to make it more confusing than I've already got it. It took a while to narrow the choices down as it was.

 

Future cruises

Monarch OTS - Mexico Baja 1/05

Explorer OTS - Eastern Caribbean 11/04

 

Past cruises

Vision OTS - Alaska 7/03

Legend OTS - Alaska 7/02

[Seaside2358]

Some of the Tahiti prices seem ok but what is the airfare to get there?

 

Until Jewel of The Seas<BR

 

 

Sensation 3/99

Majesty of The Seas 12/03

[dougp26364]

The Hawaiian cruise would be $841 in airfare for us. From what I've seen when checking foriegn travel, it wouldn't be that much worse.

 

Future cruises

Monarch OTS - Mexico Baja 1/05

Explorer OTS - Eastern Caribbean 11/04

 

Past cruises

Vision OTS - Alaska 7/03

Legend OTS - Alaska 7/02

[tommoore1]

We just did the 14 day Panama Canal trip last month, and we'd do it again in a heartbeat, but first, we're gonna do the Alaskan cruise. As far as cruising to Hawaii, I agree with the others that say that you should make that one a "land-based" vacation, NOT a cruise, you just don't have the time yu need to really experience our 50th state...

--Tom

 

'Till we're back on the high seas

 

[sun4us]

How do the two prices compare? We live near Des Moines, IA so flight prices would be similar. These are the exact two cruises that we are considering either in the fall or more preferably--the dead of winter.

 

Jon

[bc cruiser]

We did the Hawaii cruise last May. Flew over and stayed in Honolulu for 3 nights and then sailed for 7 days to the other islands. We saw a lot in those 7 days cruising. The islands are beautiful and the aroma of all the wonderful flowers is awesome. Our plans are to return in a few years.

 

We are leaving on Apr.24,04 for a 14 day Panama Canal cruise on the Serenade of Seas, so after May 8, 04, I can tell you which one we liked the best. I am sure which everyone you choose, you will not be disappointed.

 

bc cruiser

 

Panama Canal Cruise

 

[wolfegizmo]

We did the Tahiti cruise with Princess. Fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!! Tahiti is wonderful and a great place to do a cruise -- not a lot of shopping but one beautiful island after another!!!!!

[kimba_99]

We did a three day stop over in Hawaii on the way home last year.... just beautiful. I want to go back again so this definately would be my pick hands down!!

 

Kim

[dougp26364]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by sun4us:

How do the two prices compare? We live near Des Moines, IA so flight prices would be similar. These are the exact two cruises that we are considering either in the fall or more preferably--the dead of winter.

 

Jon<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

They compare favorably. Hawaii is a cheaper cruise but more expensive airfare. Total for the cruise and air would be $5,000. The balcony cabin would be around $1,659 and airfare would be around $841.

 

The Panama Canal cruise would be about $4,962. Balcony cabin would be around $2,199 and airfare would be around $282.

 

Of course, these are just estimates based on 2004 prices. The 2005 prices for the dates we would like to go aren't out yet. It's also taking into consideration that the prices are off the RCI web site and not from an online TA web site, which would tend to make them less expensive.

 

Future cruises

Monarch OTS - Mexico Baja 1/05

Explorer OTS - Eastern Caribbean 11/04

 

Past cruises

Vision OTS - Alaska 7/03

Legend OTS - Alaska 7/02