DCL Panama Canal Cruise Booking Questions

[BWV Dreamin]

I have two upcoming cruises in which I want to book a dummy cruise to use towards a future DCL Panama Canal cruise. My questions are;

1. Best time of year to sail this cruise with respect to pricing and weather?

2. We live on the east coast. Better to sail from east to west, west to east? Does it matter?

3. Are all of the itineraries the same? If not, which ports to make sure we include on the sailing?

4. Since I will be booking a place holder dummy cruise, should I do this during my upcoming October cruise or wait until my May 2018 cruise? I don't know what the timeframe is for holding onto a placeholder booking.

Amy comments greatly appreciated!!!

 

[OKW Lover]

1. Best time of year to sail this cruise with respect to pricing and weather?

You really don't get a choice here. DCL only does this twice a year. In the spring going west bound and in the fall going east bound.

2. We live on the east coast. Better to sail from east to west, west to east? Does it matter?

We live on the east coast and did the west bound trip a few years ago. We liked it because of the time changes giving us an extra few hours. Otherwise I don't really think it matters.

3. Are all of the itineraries the same? If not, which ports to make sure we include on the sailing?

They are essentially the same. There may be different start and end points, but it seems that the other ports are the same.

4. Since I will be booking a place holder dummy cruise, should I do this during my upcoming October cruise or wait until my May 2018 cruise? I don't know what the timeframe is for holding onto a placeholder booking.

Placeholder cruises are only good for 2 years IIRC.

 

[MunFam]

I will answer your East/West question. We really liked doing the flying first and sailing second...but if you have to fly both ways, I would sail towards the West. It is typically cooler/nicer weather. You also gain a few hours. We were able to fly to Miami and walk home from the port in San Diego.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I will answer your East/West question. We really liked doing the flying first and sailing second...but if you have to fly both ways, I would sail towards the West. It is typically cooler/nicer weather. You also gain a few hours. We were able to fly to Miami and walk home from the port in San Diego.

Yes we have to fly to/from which ever port. Panama sailings leave from Miami? Sounds like a plan. We will be flying home from San Diego port after next May's Baja cruise so we will be familiar with that airport. Thanks!

 

[MunFam]

Yes we have to fly to/from which ever port. Panama sailings leave from Miami? Sounds like a plan. We will be flying home from San Diego port after next May's Baja cruise so we will be familiar with that airport. Thanks!

The 2015 one left from Miami. My only suggestion for flying in/out of San Diego is to allow about an extra hour or two for arrival/departure times if you are on a Southwest flight. On cruise ship days, Fridays and Mondays, the wait to check bags and get through security is a good 2+ hour wait. Part of terminal one gates do not have TSA Precheck, so you have to wait with the commoners (LOL!). Upon arrival, Southwest uses only one of the carousels in terminal one...sometimes they add a second one. But there are typically 3-5 flights dropping on one carousel and waits can be 45+ for your baggage.

I am a corporate travel agent, so I spend many days at the airport meeting large groups as they arrive, so I see it first hand all the time. BUT...I still Southwest because I like 2 free bags

 

[jdb in AZ]

The West-Bound Panama Canal cruises usually leave from Port Canaveral and next spring they include a stop in Costa Rica. They don't always do that. This fall they include stops on the Mexican Gulf Coast and end up in Galveston without a stop at Castaway Cay.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We did the East to West in 2014, and will do the West to East this fall. We live on the East Coast. We spent a week in California after the 2014 cruise and will spend 5 nights in California this year before the cruise.

The TA cruises have more time changes, and we were not bothered by the time changes in 2014 on the PC cruise, and hope for the same good experience this year.

We have been to Cartehegna twice so far, and we look forward to going there again. We are not crazy about the Puerto Vallarta, Mexico stop, but this trip is all about seeing the new Canal!

 

[SnowWhite2]

My tip is to book early. The Panama Canal cruises fill fast. Our Oct East bound PC cruise has been sold out for months and the Westbound next April is also sold out.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

My tip is to book early. The Panama Canal cruises fill fast. Our Oct East bound PC cruise has been sold out for months and the Westbound next April is also sold out.

Ok I did not know! I'll book a dummy cruise this October as a placeholder for whenever the next Panama Canal cruises are released. Are they usually always April and October?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Ok I did not know! I'll book a dummy cruise this October as a placeholder for whenever the next Panama Canal cruises are released. Are they usually always April and October?

No. But around there. We did the westbound Panama Canal in May when we did it.

 

[Msmit002]

The EBPC this fall has cabins available in all major categories except concierge. While it is true that they will sell out early on; historically, cabins free up as you near the PIF date.

I wish my work schedule allows me to sail in the spring (WBPC) because, Castaway Cay. The EBPC has been and will again disembark in Galveston, TX. this fall. *sigh*

 

[Evil Queen 2]

We did the PC cruise out of San Diego in Sept. 2014. Didn't think about it when we booked but it was hurricane season. That was the cruise were we detoured to avoid Hurricane Odile and caught the edge of the tropical storm that followed it. DCL set records on that trip. We had to miss the first 2 ports because they had taken heavy damage from Odile; Had 7 days at sea before entering the Panama Canal so didn't really hit 'land' until the port stop in Cartagena; started the cruise with Captain Gus who switch with Captain Fabian before we entered the Panama Canal. They were supposed to switch out at Cabo San Lucas or Puerto Vallarta (I forget which) but because the airport took a hit there were no flights in or out. Captain Gus was filling in for Captain Fabian who had been on family emergency leave. I know we had a couple of heavy rain storm days but being crazy Midwesterners we loved it!

Saw Captain Gus on a cruise this past January and we had a good time talking about that trip!

That year was an unusual hurricane season but you might want to consider the weather for a fall cruise. But rest assure that DCL would never take the ship or it's passengers into harm's way.

We're going to do the Spring 2018 PC cruise out of Port Canaveral to San Diego. We love the longer cruises.

Also, the fall PC cruises usually have less children because most schools have started back up.

 

[Geomom]

Ok I did not know! I'll book a dummy cruise this October as a placeholder for whenever the next Panama Canal cruises are released. Are they usually always April and October?

Not sure when you lasted cruised DCL, but quite a while back they started letting you do a 'placeholder' booking onboard for $250/stateroom--no actual cruise attached to it--so no need to book a 'dummy cruise' anymore! With a placeholder booking, when you book an actual cruise, that cruise must start within 24 mths (to the day) of when you booked the placeholder. You still get the 10% discount (except for blackout dates--mostly holidays), and the $100 OBC for cruises less than 7 days, and $200 OBC for cruises 7 days or more. The $250 is a deposit on your future cruise and will be refunded if you don't use it in 24 mths.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

We did the PC cruise out of San Diego in Sept. 2014. Didn't think about it when we booked but it was hurricane season. That was the cruise were we detoured to avoid Hurricane Odile and caught the edge of the tropical storm that followed it. DCL set records on that trip. We had to miss the first 2 ports because they had taken heavy damage from Odile; Had 7 days at sea before entering the Panama Canal so didn't really hit 'land' until the port stop in Cartagena; started the cruise with Captain Gus who switch with Captain Fabian before we entered the Panama Canal. They were supposed to switch out at Cabo San Lucas or Puerto Vallarta (I forget which) but because the airport took a hit there were no flights in or out. Captain Gus was filling in for Captain Fabian who had been on family emergency leave. I know we had a couple of heavy rain storm days but being crazy Midwesterners we loved it!

Saw Captain Gus on a cruise this past January and we had a good time talking about that trip!

That year was an unusual hurricane season but you might want to consider the weather for a fall cruise. But rest assure that DCL would never take the ship or it's passengers into harm's way.

We're going to do the Spring 2018 PC cruise out of Port Canaveral to San Diego. We love the longer cruises.

Also, the fall PC cruises usually have less children because most schools have started back up.

Great info. WE are leaning towards the WBPC leaving from Port Canaveral.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Not sure when you lasted cruised DCL, but quite a while back they started letting you do a 'placeholder' booking onboard for $250/stateroom--no actual cruise attached to it--so no need to book a 'dummy cruise' anymore! With a placeholder booking, when you book an actual cruise, that cruise must start within 24 mths (to the day) of when you booked the placeholder. You still get the 10% discount (except for blackout dates--mostly holidays), and the $100 OBC for cruises less than 7 days, and $200 OBC for cruises 7 days or more. The $250 is a deposit on your future cruise and will be refunded if you don't use it in 24 mths.

Thank you!! Yes last cruise in 2011.. the place holder is much better!

 

[MickeyEarrings]

I would suggest reading trip reports to get some inside advice about both trips. I found it very helpful up in planning my own Pc cruise.

 

[jrabbit]

.... The EBPC has been and will again disembark in Galveston, TX. this fall. *sigh*

You can always pray for fog and extend your cruise into Galveston by a day - or at least a few extra hours.

 

[Msmit002]

You can always pray for fog and extend your cruise into Galveston by a day - or at least a few extra hours.

While I wouldn't complain, I'd much rather make a stop at Castaway Cay.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

We did the PC cruise out of San Diego in Sept. 2014. Didn't think about it when we booked but it was hurricane season. That was the cruise were we detoured to avoid Hurricane Odile and caught the edge of the tropical storm that followed it. DCL set records on that trip. We had to miss the first 2 ports because they had taken heavy damage from Odile; Had 7 days at sea before entering the Panama Canal so didn't really hit 'land' until the port stop in Cartagena; started the cruise with Captain Gus who switch with Captain Fabian before we entered the Panama Canal. They were supposed to switch out at Cabo San Lucas or Puerto Vallarta (I forget which) but because the airport took a hit there were no flights in or out. Captain Gus was filling in for Captain Fabian who had been on family emergency leave. I know we had a couple of heavy rain storm days but being crazy Midwesterners we loved it!

Saw Captain Gus on a cruise this past January and we had a good time talking about that trip!

That year was an unusual hurricane season but you might want to consider the weather for a fall cruise. But rest assure that DCL would never take the ship or it's passengers into harm's way.

We're going to do the Spring 2018 PC cruise out of Port Canaveral to San Diego. We love the longer cruises.

Also, the fall PC cruises usually have less children because most schools have started back up.

Note the timing here. In 2014, the EBPC left in mid-September (9/12). This year, the San Diego departure is not until 10/27/2017. This is later in terms of the hurricane season, although still within the traditional window for both eastern Pacific and the Atlantic-Caribbean regions. Peak months are August through September into early October.

 

[MickeyEarrings]

Also of note is the rainy season in Panama: fall gets it worse than spring ( and of course I know there are exceptions...)