Panama Canal (Cruise Into Canal) Port Reviews

The 1st lock is very interesting/exciting, the second lock has a much diminished interest, the 3rd lock borders on boring. Then after a bit of a wait in the lake you get to experience all 3 locks again. The first time I went to the Panama Canal on a cruise, it was on Princess and after we went through the 3 locks, they lowered some of the lifeboats and used them to ferry those of us with excursions booked with the ship to shore and we were delivered to the ship after it had exited the Canal. It was much more enjoyable.

Bucket List trip! Panama Canal was an amazing engineering feat! Everyone should take this cruise - not so much for kids

The main event for this cruise was a Partial Transit of the canal. Get up early (by 6am) and watch the local pilot boats arrive to take the ship thru the locks. The whole experience was fantastic as you watch the water level rising within the lock to move you along the canal. Fabulous engineering. The ship,is moored in Gatun Lake and you disembark thru tenders. I took a Princess tour (the only type available here) which included a short walk in the rain forest before boarding a small boat to look for wildlife. We weren’t fortunate enough to see much - a swimming sloth, a couple of monkeys and a Toucan. After that we were taken to the Canal viewing centre to see the canal from above - very interesting - before being taken back to the ship which had returned thru the Canal and was docked in Colon. Excellent whether you do a tour or stay on board.

"Partial transit" is confusing. What it means is the ship goes through the gulf-side locks, drops anchor in Gatun Lake, and allows folks to depart via water transfer for excursions. The ship then makes the reverse trip through the locks and docks in Cristobal for excursion folk to rejoin the ship. It is possible to walk off the ship in Cristobal.

Bucket list experience! The narration on the ship as we passed through the locks on deck from 5am-9am was surreal. Did the New locks and San Lorenzo fort excursion. Both were great.

Thus was the whole reason for booking this cruise and it did not disappoint! It was absolutely amazing. We loved every minute of it!

Neat to watch entrance into the locks from the balcony and our TV in cabin for bow area. The Captain opened the bow for viewing. It’s a slow process but pretty neat. Because of the mining protests, you are not allowed off the ship at Panama City and Colon. The Gatun Lake is lovely but you just sit in place waiting for going back through the locks. Kinda boring. Too bad we couldn’t tender to a boat ride around the lake.

Terrific! Did the full Panama canal from Atlantic to Pacific. Made for a long day but great experience

I researched the history of Panama Canal, the transit is boring,I didn't know we were not gonna stop and shop😁

The best part of the trip! Simply breath taking. Fun to watch how the canal elevators work. Also the ships passing with us through it, all got excited and had men dancing, even the cargo ships! Everyone had a great time that afternoon. Fun tip, check out the light pole on the canal dock above you before you go, its literally at eye level by the time you raise up 85 feet from sea level.