April 2026 - 14-Night WB Panama Canal - Why so popular?

[Theta]

Can someone explain to me why the 2026 Panama Canal cruise is so popular that it would sell out in a few days?

 

[dreamer17555]

DCL hasn't offered it in a few years. It has a lot of repeat cruisers who love PC sailings. There is no word on what is happening with the Magic after the sailing or when DCL will offer another PC sailing.

 

[Lucien Franciosa]

Can someone explain to me why the 2026 Panama Canal cruise is so popular that it would sell out in a few days?

supply and demand in its purest form. one sailing, many who have it on their bucket list. did you want to go?

 

[holula]

There isn’t a PC cruise in 2024 or 2025. The last one was December 2023. If they are going to run it every few years I can see all of them being this popular.

 

[auntlynne]

Add to the above the fear that a bigger ship will get repositioned to the West Coast/ Alaska - and you don’t go through the old locks. Because that is some people’s idea of a PC experience.

 

[RedHead0186]

Add to the above the fear that a bigger ship will get repositioned to the West Coast/ Alaska - and you don’t go through the old locks. Because that is some people’s idea of a PC experience.

I agree, for many, going through the old locks is the way to do a PC cruise. I know for me, when picking a PC cruise for this January (obviously not on DCL), I specifically chose one that went through the old locks. Such a cool experience.

 

[DisneyPiPhi]

I also think the timing plays a role. Some past Panama Canal cruises have been in off-seasons when there are few school breaks. This one takes place in early April, which is likely to hit spring breaks for a lot of school districts, especially in the Great Lakes and northeast. A family who has been thinking about the Panama Canal is likely eager to jump on this because it hasn't been offered in several years, and even more eager if they think it will hit a school break!

 

[ScooterScott44]

Our 14 day Eastbound was one of most favorite cruises to date. It is a great thing to experience the transit, itinerary is nice and unique in a few different ways. Quite a relaxing experience with usually extra sea days. So many positives and that does not even account for the demand related to the fact that DCL hasn't done a similar itinerary in a while.

 

[Skippyboo]

I also think the timing plays a role. Some past Panama Canal cruises have been in off-seasons when there are few school breaks. This one takes place in early April, which is likely to hit spring breaks for a lot of school districts, especially in the Great Lakes and northeast. A family who has been thinking about the Panama Canal is likely eager to jump on this because it hasn't been offered in several years, and even more eager if they think it will hit a school break!

Do kids really have 2 weeks off for spring break? I would think this cruise would be mainly adults with high castaway status who are jumping on a rare itinerary for DCL.

 

[DisneyPiPhi]

Do kids really have 2 weeks off for spring break? I would think this cruise would be mainly adults with high castaway status who are jumping on a rare itinerary for DCL.

Not most, but missing one week of school rather than two for a big trip like this would be attractive to most families!

 

[happycamper47]

Not most, but missing one week of school rather than two for a big trip like this would be attractive to most families!

More and more "home school" now these days also.

 

[auntlynne]

I also think the timing plays a role. Some past Panama Canal cruises have been in off-seasons when there are few school breaks. This one takes place in early April, which is likely to hit spring breaks for a lot of school districts, especially in the Great Lakes and northeast. A family who has been thinking about the Panama Canal is likely eager to jump on this because it hasn't been offered in several years, and even more eager if they think it will hit a school break!

Easter will be on Embarkation Day. Are the school breaks tied to Holy Week (the week proceeding) or is it more a fixed week based on terms (like 6 week blocks)?

 

[auntlynne]

I made sure to do a PC cruise when the opportunity (especially at a reduced fare) came along. For some “cruisers,” it is one of the big adventures of this way of vacationing.

It feels like stepping out of the normal (read: Caribbean and short). And for many cruise lines, it is a repositioning cruise that only happens once or twice a year as you move ships to Alaska and/or away from the Atlantic Hurricane Season.

More frequent sailings, but still special, any of these:

Alaska
Transatlantic
Mediterranean
Baltic
Norwegian Fjords
Holy Land
Iceland
British Isles
South Pacific
Hawaii

 

[holula]

Add to the above the fear that a bigger ship will get repositioned to the West Coast/ Alaska - and you don’t go through the old locks. Because that is some people’s idea of a PC experience.

The Magic and Wonder don’t fit through the old locks anymore since they got ducktails.

 

[auntlynne]

The Magic and Wonder don’t fit through the old locks anymore since they got ducktails.

From what I can find, the Magic got its ducktail in 2013. I cruised through the Old Locks in May 2014 (before the new locks were built).

Is it a matter of can’t fit or choose the newer locks?

 

[Disneypeach]

The Wonder did the PC cruises after the Magic got the ducktail (I went on the wb in 2013 on the Wonder) so DCL held off adding the ducktail to the Wonder until after the new locks opened. Both ships now have to go thru the newer locks. But it is still a fabulous cruise either way!

 

[Annabell]

Popular because it´s a PC cruise, only one sailing and also the timing.

 

[happycamper47]

From what I can find, the Magic got its ducktail in 2013. I cruised through the Old Locks in May 2014 (before the new locks were built).

You were on the WONDER, so were we.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

You were on the WONDER, so were we.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

supply and demand in its purest form. one sailing, many who have it on their bucket list. did you want to go?

My very first cruise, ever, was on the Magic - 15 night Panama Canal. I was hooked just walking up the gangway in Port Canaveral.