Eastbound or Westbound Panama Canal?

[ahain]

I know many on these boards have been on numerous Panama Canal Cruises. So, In your opinion, which did you prefer - EB or WB - and why? Thanks for your insights!

 

[mocodis]

WB, time change, you gain hours

 

[Ofinn]

You're only going to lose 2 hours in 14 days going from san diego to Galveston. Id go with whatever is cheaper.

 

[Quellman]

When ever the temperature will be cooler, so whichever is in a cooler month. It gets hot near the equator!

 

[Shock13]

I haven't done any of the PC cruises yet but have one booked. Just today I switched from WB to EB. One of the main reasons was due to where the ship is departing and arriving. Living in Phoenix, I can fly into San Diego the day of departure and then at the end of the cruise it's just a 2 hour flight home from Houston. I not only save myself an extra vacation day but also a hotel expense.

 

[KalamityJane]

We are doing the WBPC because I have family in Orlando so we can kill 2 birds with one stone - see family first, then jump on the cruise

 

[bobbiwoz]

The WBPC has been my favorite cruise ever, but we're going to try EBPC next year.

 

[PrincessNP]

We have been on the Fantasy several times for 7 nights and love it, but I worry a bit about the Wonder for twice as long since it is "smaller". Any thoughts?

 

[dclpluto]

We have been on the Fantasy several times for 7 nights and love it, but I worry a bit about the Wonder for twice as long since it is "smaller". Any thoughts?

No need to worry. It might be smaller but it will feel more open. Newer ships seems crowded to me where the classic ships don't. Plus the wonder will be just reimagined. Very nice

 

[Shelley Chiarats]

I've not been on the PC yet but my choice right now is to go EB because it just seems like getting home will be easier from the East even though I kinda live in the middle in Illinois.

 

[Flossbolna]

We did the Westbound and I liked it that the long stretch of four sea days was in the second half of the cruise. I felt the beginning of our cruise was more activity filled, but our itinerary also included a stop in Key West, so we had three ports before the Panama Canal. And then after the Canal things got lazy with the four port days. I liked that, but can see that others would prefer to do it the other way around: Get totally rested and then do fun things.

 

[shelbell77]

We've done WB. If we did again I'd do EB instead. I live on the East Coast, and it was a miserable travel day home from San Diego. Made worse by the fact that I was sick and the airline screwed up my seats and put me in a no legroom window seat even though I'd paid extra for a extra space aisle seat. Between that and how late I got home on the travel day I was a zombie for 3 days after my trip. I think travel home would be less stressful/tiresome from EB cruise.

But if I lived on the West Coast, for same reason I'd do WB again.

 

[shelbell77]

We have been on the Fantasy several times for 7 nights and love it, but I worry a bit about the Wonder for twice as long since it is "smaller". Any thoughts?

Definitely nothing to worry about. Ship is plenty big enough and there are so many activities planned during these special longer cruises.