Wednesday, April 10, 2024

The best time to cruise the Panama Canal

best time to cruise panama canal

You can enjoy views from a hot tub on one of the decks, from your table at lunch or even from a deck that's aft, so you can see the locks after you leave them instead of when you arrive. Sailing through the artificial lake formed by the dam lasts around four hours. This is a good time to grab lunch, take a dip in the pool or just relax for a bit.

When Is the Best Time to Go on a Panama Canal Cruise?

Choosing the best side of the cruise ship for a Panama Canal cruise depends on the direction of the journey. For transiting from the Atlantic to the Pacific (or vice versa), the starboard side (right side when facing forward) is often preferred by cruise passengers. On our Panama Canal cruise, I mistakenly was under the impression that our day would be similar to an Alaska cruise glacier viewing day.

When to Book a Cruise to the Panama Canal to Avoid Crowds

Click here to see who’s offering discounted rates on Panama Canal cruises. It’s generally always cheaper to use a specialist cruise travel agent that can access discounted rates. Another problem with cruising at the most popular times of year is that prices can be much higher to match the increased demand. They saw the need for a newspaper when the Hernando Today newspaper closed their doors in 2014.Rocco is from Hernando, he went to school from Moton Elementary through Hernando High.

best time to cruise panama canal

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This allows passengers to have prime views of the canal’s intricate locks and operations. However, for round-trip itineraries or partial transits, either side can offer great views. While some cruise ships have a self serve laundrette for passenger use, this isn’t the case on all cruises. This includes a laundry bag special which can be used once or twice during the cruise, or an unlimited laundry package. Celebrity offers a variety of Panama Canal cruises, with several different ports of call. You could sail from Fort Lauderdale to the ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao) and Cartagena in Colombia.

Which Side of the Cruise Ship is Best for Panama Canal Cruises?

In addition to passing the canal itself, Panama Canal cruises allow their guests to experience beautiful beaches, lush tropical rainforests, and unique destinations, such as Soberania National Park. Silversea Cruises' indulgent 31-day New York to Lima sailing aboard its newest ship, 728-guest Silver Nova features a Panama Canal transit in the middle of the trip. Regardless of transit type, keep in mind that Panama Canal cruises can be longer-than-average sailings. Most cruises shorter than two weeks are one-way sailings, often beginning or ending in Panama. The shortest sailings are predominantly offered by small ships, and they begin and end in Central America. The shortest round-trip Fort Lauderdale partial transits are 11 nights; full transits that start on the U.S.

November

Her work appears in Frommers.com, the Washington Post, and is syndicated to millions of readers, Candyce lives in Washington, D.C., and travels with her family whenever she can. You arrive at the village in a dugout canoe, a nice touch that gives you sweeping water views and sets the tone for experiencing the Embera’s traditional ways. At Mercado de Mariscos, a seafood market near the entrance to Casco Vieja, the Old Quarter in Panama City, you walk past stalls of fresh-off-the-boat shrimp, tuna, wahoo, salmon, lobster, and more.

There's a cruise with stops in Manzanillo, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas. Keep in mind that you can watch from your balcony or window, but you’ll likely want to view the Panama Canal crossing from the ship’s bow or stern as well. We really enjoyed the relaxed pace and chill vibe during our 12 day cruise. However, I could see how it could a surprise to those who are expecting a more party like atmosphere. Be cautious when it comes to travel scams and tourist traps, that you can encounter in ports of call including Old Town, Cartagena. Even if you’ve been on Caribbean cruises before, you may find the port areas in Central America have a less developed infrastructure and local vendors can try and take advantage of cruise travelers.

Types of Panama Canal Cruises

To learn about Puerto Vallarta’s history, head over to San Sebastian Del Oeste. This Puerto Vallarta attraction dates all the way back to 1605 as one of Mexico’s most well-preserved towns. Other historic towns include Talpa and Mascota, both colonial mining villages.

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Partial Panama Canal Crossing

On Edge-Series ships, the Magic Carpet, suspended over the side of the ship, gives you uninterrupted sea views and is the perfect place to sit with a coffee or cocktail, enjoying the sea air. Or spend part of your Panama Canal transit in the Sunset Bar, at the aft of the ship, for wonderful views of the ships following you. The most important thing to do is to head up on deck and absorb this spectacular experience.

If traveling earlier in the month, you may also see nesting loggerheads and green turtles southeast of Panama City in Isla Canas (Cane Island) or Bocas del Toro. In addition to visiting Panama, many itineraries include ports of call in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Colombia or Mexico, which can be the highlight of the trip, especially for outdoor enthusiasts. If you are looking for one of the top beaches, head over to Las Caletas. This beautiful beach is one of the top private beaches in the world where you can find crystal-clear waters brushing up against the jungle-mountain backdrop.

If you are an adrenalin-junkie, check out the rafting opportunities on the Reventazon River. Active travelers may be looking for expedition-style voyages or cruises on a smaller ship to enjoy more time exploring the Panama Canal. If you have been dreaming about cruising the Panama Canal for a while, this cruise itinerary is definitely for you! Plus, you will more than likely receive an in-depth history of Panama and the lock system involved with the Canal. Therefore, if you are an engineering geek and don’t mind not getting off the ship within Panama, this itinerary is for you.

Take a swim in the warm, turquoise waters of Aruba, go snorkeling at Bonaire’s vibrant Bari Reef, and view magnificent stalactites and stalagmites inside Curacao’s Hato Caves. If you don’t like crowds, then avoid booking your Panama Canal cruise during December. It’s the start of the dry season and beginning of the busiest season for Panama because of the holidays. Vastly important, the canal accounts for six percent of world trade, with about 14,000 transits a year. But still, the very biggest container ships cannot access the canal and have to be used by shipping lines on different trade routes. Regent Seven Seas Cruises' newest ship, Seven Seas Grandeur, debuts in November 2023 and its first two Panama Canal itineraries in early 2024 are already waitlisted.

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