We sailed a partial Panama Cruise on Holland America round trip from Ft Lauderdale and a full transit on Princess from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale. I would recommend the full transit unless time is a factor than the shorter partial will still give you the experience of the locks. I found the marvel of the Canal locks fascinating while Ayr felt it was like watching paint dry. To see the huge ships being lifted up thru the water locks was for me so interesting and I sat out all day and watched the ships go up and down, to see these huge cargo ships being lifted up out of the water and then brought across the locks to be lowered down was an amazing feat. We were there in 2019 when the new locks were also operating so got to see both that day.
By using the Panama Canal, ships crossing from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean or vice versa save approximately 8,000 nautical miles while ships trading between the East and West Coast of the Americas save approximately 3,500 nautical miles and ships between Europe and Australasia and South East Asia save around 2,000 nautical miles
Partial transits are one-way cruises from Florida that sail into the Panama Canal as far as Gatun Lake, then turn around and head back to Colon on the Caribbean side, before continuing back to Florida so it would still be an interesting Cruise and you would get to experience the locks. Whether you choose a full or partial transit Panama Canal cruise, the opportunity of crossing this wonder is one of those experiences you’ll remember for the rest of your life.
Our first port on our 15 night Cruise on the Coral Princess from Los Angeles was Puerta Vallarta Mexico where we happened to have friends on vacation there. We met up with them and explored the city before ending up at a pretty beach club called Blue Chairs. It was perfect weather and a great day, we had a nice lunch, drinks, and a beautiful pool right on the beach. In addition to its beautiful beaches, Puerto Vallarta is also known for its close proximity to the majestic Sierra Madre mountain range. These towering peaks provide a breathtaking backdrop for the city and offer many opportunities for outdoor adventures like hiking, mountain biking and zip lining but we picked relaxation.
Next stop was Huatulco, Mexico there we did a shore excursion tour heading up to the highest point of the city to look over and see the Pacific Ocean and our beautiful ship. On the way we noticed army trucks following us with machine guns in hand. We commented and the bus driver said not to worry they are there to protect us as the last few months they have had a huge issue with banditos. After seeing the pretty view we opted out of being dropped off in the town and decided maybe it was time to go back to the Coral Princess have some lunch and just chill with a book. We found a pretty Christmas ornament by a shop at the pier so my day was complete!
We hit a bad storm the next day and had to skip Nicaragua. We were looking forward to our booked excursion but safety first!
Next port we were in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, known for chocolate, coffee, bananas and wildlife. We did an eco tour and saw lots of creepy crawlers. We cruised the world famous Tárcoles river and got up close and personal with the apex predator the American Crocodile! We had lots of crocodile sighting as well as more of the amazing wildlife found along the river. Puntarenas is the largest province of Costa Rica. Its main attraction is its Pacific coastline, extending over more than 500 miles down to the Panamanian border. This vast province offers a variety of beaches, national parks, and natural reserves. It is a transition area between the dry tropical lands of Guanacaste and the green forests of the Central Pacific. We were even able to spot some sloths hiding in the trees just being lazy as can be, what a life.
The beaches there were spectacular but it was a very overcast day not a good one for the beach. We took a tour and our first stop took us to Carara National Park Rain Forrest. This national park reaches elevations of 1,640 feet and represents both tropical rainforest lowland and tropical dry forest habitats. We walked for a short while but it started to rain so we moved on as the paths can get pretty slippery and none of us were hikers. Whether you’re a dedicated birdwatcher, a wildlife enthusiast, or simply someone seeking a deeper connection with nature, Carara promises an unforgettable journey through the heart of this remarkable country’s natural wonders. with some fantastic trails.
Costa Rica would be a great beach vacation, you’ll find truly picture perfect beaches, many lined with beautiful palm trees. You can choose between secluded or tourist-frequented blue shores; really though, any of the tropical beaches in Costa Rica are a sure bet for a great experience.
Our next stop at the Banana Plantation didn’t happen as it was a Sunday and they were closed but we stopped to see it and got a lesson about their bananas. Next we went to a Chocolate farm discovering the ancient secrets of chocolate from its discovery and use,in tropical America to the processing of the product we know and enjoy today and we got lots of samples and go to go into the fields to explore the plants. We were surprised to learn cacao was Costa Rica’s leading export before bananas and coffee took over. It’s still a thriving industry within the Central American nation today.. We saw the beans and surprised at how chocolate bars start out. Cacao beans are actually bitter, I was surprised I did not like the chocolate in that form. The manufacturing process involves roasting, cracking, crushing, mashing, heating, and cooling. Other ingredients may be added during the process, such as sugar, milk, cocoa butter, nuts, vanilla, or coconut. Dark chocolate consists mostly of cacao, while milk chocolate has more sugar and milk in it. Being a chocoholic this was an awesome day for me learning about one of my favorite foods, and got a tshirt also!.
Cartagena Columbia, one of the hottest spots on the planet. The Old Town of Cartagena is one of the most popular attractions in the City. There is a free walking tour that is easily the best tour you can take of the Old Town. You’ll discover the unique and fascinating history of the city, as well as learn many facts about the so called Jewel of the Indies. We were advised to stay in our group and not go off on our own as it was not save. For us what we couldn’t handle was the heat, we didn’t last more than a couple of hours along with the very aggressive vendors who followed you out of the stores and chase you down wanting you to buy something or take a tour in an air condition vehicle to save yourself from the heat. Then they stop at galleries and factory stores to try to get you to buy something,
Our Princess ship took a full day to cross the canal during daylight hours, We sailed through all the locks and then through Gatun Lake and the Culebra Cut. They have finished completion on the new locks. Two complete new lock systems were built in parallel to the existing locks. They employ the rolling gates principle and use side basins to minimize water consumption. The gates are a dual system, implying that two independent gates are servicing the entrance/exit of each lock. Before the Panama Canal came into existence, ships sailing from Europe to the West Coast of North and South America had to sail on the Atlantic Ocean around Cape Horn in South America to reach the West Coast or ships trading between the East and West Coast of the Americas also had to go around the Cape Horn.
The Panama canal works as a “water bridge” in which ships are elevated at about 85 feet above sea level by a system of locks.Ships transiting from the Atlantic to the Pacific enter the approach channel in Limón Bay, which extends a distance of about 11 km to the Gatún Locks. Gatún Locks on the Atlantic side is a set of three consecutive steps that lift the ships up 85 feet to Gatún Lake.
Ships then proceed on the Gatun Lake to Gamboa where the Culebra Cut begins. Culebra Cut was where most of the digging took place. It “cuts” through the continental divide and it stretches for 7 miles with sharp twists and turns. Big vessels are forbidden to meet in this area. Here, the Pedro Miguel Locks which is a single step lowers the vessels 30 feet to Miraflores Lake, which is at an elevation of 52 feet above sea level.
The ships then pass through a channel almost 2 km long to the Miraflores Locks which consists of two consecutive steps, where they are lowered back to sea level on the Pacific Ocean side. The ships then pass through a final 7 mile passage after which the ships enter the Pacific Ocean. Each set of locks consists of two lanes. The lanes are not for locking ships in opposite direction at the same time as people might think (which occurs invariably as a coincidence) but rather they were built that way so one could be completely closed for maintenance work while the other remains available for shipping. Ships move through these locks with the assistance of powerful locomotives (known also as mules as an analogy with those strong and stoic beasts) while using their own engines. Tugboats are also used in assisting ships, depending on their size, to arrive and enter the locks.