Curiousity: What is the draw of the Panama Canal cruise?

[Kuzcotopia1]

I'm curious about the draw of the Panama Canal cruise. Is it the length of time? The ports? Enlighten me! I am currently researching options for a 10-year wedding anniversary and this is on the list to look into.

Thanks!

 

[SillyInventor]

It's the length of the cruise, the high number of sea days, the passing of the Panama Canal and the moderate cost per night (for DCL standards, that is).
Also there is a low number of guests: mostly all staterooms will be occupied but a much lower number of people per stateroom. Combined with the length of the cruise this gives a lot of relaxation on activities.
Due to the length of the cruise and the timing out of school holidays there is a very low number of children onboard (around 300 vs 900 on a school holiday cruise), which gives these few children a lot of attention from the youth councilors and gives the adults a lot of space on the ship and even adult-exclusive activities in the kids-clubs!
As the regular entertainment schedule runs out after a week a lot of additional activities are organized that are not on the shorter cruises. The most hilarious of these was the Officers hide-and-seek !!
Most activities are a lot more available: 14 days available in the Spa, so no rush on pre-booking, Palo Brunch was easy very easy to get, especially in the first week, we had 3 brunches and a diner. Only the Panama Canal crossing day will fill up quickly with brunch.
Ports are not the main attraction of this cruise. We were on this year's WBPC and from all ports we liked San Diego best, but to get from Miami to San Diego a plane would have been quicker and cheaper. So if you cruise to see a lot of ports and don't bother about sea days this cruise is definitely not for you.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

A Panama Canal cruise is on my bucket list. For me, the main draw is the canal itself. I think it would be really cool to see it. But the length of the cruise and the number of sea days are big pluses as well. Hopefully soon I'll get the chance to book this.

 

[BigredNole]

I have not been on a cruise. However, we have looked at this. What it would be for us is 14-days at a price we could afford. Far less than the $1,000 per day cruises at other times. We would only be able to do this if a few key things happen with my DD's school schedule.

 

[SillyInventor]

Yes. We booked on opening day and payed less for 14n Panama Canal then the first 7n Alaska cruise would have cost us. And that is for the entire cruise! So we paid less than half the price per night. But don't spread the word or prices will go up

 

[jdb in AZ]

For us, it was the Canal itself. It was fascinating.

 

[Kuzcotopia1]

Yes. We booked on opening day and payed less for 14n Panama Canal then the first 7n Alaska cruise would have cost us. And that is for the entire cruise! So we paid less than half the price per night. But don't spread the word or prices will go up

It looks like they're the type of cruises you need to book when it's first available or the good cabins are snatched up. Is that true?

 

[Steve Dexter]

The canal itself, the length of cruise, the cost, and the lack of children were all big draws for us. It was a lot of fun, we will do it again.

 

[Ofinn]

The length of the cruise is probably the biggest draw. Cost? Its not the deal it was a few years ago. It depends on what your comparing it to. You also have to really like sea days because there's only 4 ports.

 

[MickeyEarrings]

It looks like they're the type of cruises you need to book when it's first available or the good cabins are snatched up. Is that true?

Well, a lot of us on the WBPC next April are repeat cruisers - many of us are Gold and Platinum. So we know we get the best prices on opening day, and we know the best cabins to book within our chosen categories. I know we took all the secret porthole rooms on opening day...because I got one

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

All the activities and sea days!!!! We are on the 2017 WBTA to experience that next year and then in 2019 we are hoping to do the Panama Canal cruise. We are homeschoolers so we like to pad our cruises with other things to do in arrival and departure ports as well

 

[GPaLarry]

We did the Panama Canal many years ago on the Magic and stopped at six ports, three in Mexico, Cartagena, Aruba and CC. It was our first DCL cruise and we loved it. LA was our departure port. The canal itself is very unique and well worth doing and the price was right. Why today's PC cruises don't stop at CC is a mystery to me. This trip also spoiled us so that all of our DCL cruises since have been 7 days or longer (4 more sailings on the Fantasy & Magic). With the reopening of the canal, that will enable it to serve larger ships, perhaps one of the new DCL ships will head west and remain over here (we live in Oregon)...we can only hope.

 

[diznymom]

It is on our bucket list. The main draw is the canal itself. This something I learned about in school and would love to see it.

 

[Kuzcotopia1]

So we know we get the best prices on opening day, and we know the best cabins to book within our chosen categories.

Castaway Gold/Platinum get better pricing? I didn't know that. I'm still a lowly Silver.

It's a hard debate between Panama Canal and Transatlantic. My husband and I both agree the length and actual time on the ship trumps lack of ports. At sea days are our favorites because they're so laid back.

 

[thumpie's mom]

Going through the canal is something to experience, but for us it is all about sea days. We don't get off the ship for the entire 2 weeks and simply enjoy our time on board.

 

[ahain]

Castaway Gold/Platinum get better pricing? I didn't know that. I'm still a lowly Silver.

It's a hard debate between Panama Canal and Transatlantic. My husband and I both agree the length and actual time on the ship trumps lack of ports. At sea days are our favorites because they're so laid back.

Golds/Platinums don't necessarily get better pricing because of their CC status. They get the lowest pricing because they book as soon as booking opens up. Pricing is almost always lowest on "opening day." Golds/Platinums can book 1 day before it opens up to Silvers & general public

 

[Judyat]

Just did the Disney PC in May. The attraction is everything. Everyday is a new adventure. Fourteen days sounds like a long time but I have to say it flew by. It was as many have said on our Bucket List and many do it more than once. A great trip and a wonderful time.

 

[MickeyEarrings]

I got interested in cruising the Canal because of its history (which is funny, because I hate history!). It hasn't changed at all in over 100 years, and still does its job as well as it did on day one. As you read a few books about the building of the Canal, the human story is overwhelming...so much death and loss.

I just have to see it.

 

[KalamityJane]

The length of the cruise is probably the biggest draw. Cost? Its not the deal it was a few years ago. It depends on what your comparing it to. You also have to really like sea days because there's only 4 ports.

This is true - the 15 night EBTA is a lot cheaper per night plus an extra night and better ports.

 

[jubjubrsx]

good information in here....the wifey and I just booked our panama canal cruise (westbound for next year) kind of excited to cartenhenga to be honest, and the wonder refurb.