Panama Canal 2017

[hotfiregal]

Any rumors/ideas if Disney will cruise the canal again in 2017, if do, what dates? And... When should we expect the dates to be released. My kids and I are really looking forward to it.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Any rumors/ideas if Disney will cruise the canal again in 2017, if do, what dates? And... When should we expect the dates to be released. My kids and I are really looking forward to it.

I believe the general feeling is there will be Panama Canal cruises in 2017. It's doubtful that DCL will skip Alaska.

Generally the westbound cruise in in May, while the eastbound one could be Sept/Oct.

Rumor is currently running that summer itineraries will be out in March.

 

[dclpluto]

yes there will be Panama Canal cruises in 2017. Alaska is the wonders bread and butter they are not going to give that up and DCL doesn't want to sail around South America. Just don't except good ports probably the same old ports like this year. I'm in the May repo and the ports suck. I'm just on it for the cheap price. 14 nights for the cost of fantasy for 7 nights. I went on the Panama Canal repo in 08 now that had some good ports. More money but it was worth it.

 

[su_A_ve]

Wonder is going on Dry Dock this fall. The locks expansion has been pushed back for completion until April of this year. DCL could play it safe and not add anything like AquaDunk which required the addition of the duck tail. But they do have a cushion of a year until the Wonder would require to sail over to the Pacific.

 

[truck1]

From another thread somewhat related, several things have come up.
1, is the canal lock issues. Since there is no definite time to completion, DCL is studying its options for the Wonder. That comes from Capt Robert on the Wonder during the CC meeting. Apparently DCL is having serious talks in Celebration on what to do.
2. If the Wonder does get her full upgrade that the Magic got she will not do a canal crossing.
3. This is a personal observation, but the company that is doing the work, has a habit of downplaying issues, and then delaying the opening to fix them. One of the suppositions, is that they are going to do a quick fix, then milk the canal authority later for money to do a complete repair. It all depends on which way the canal authority is leaning.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

One of the suppositions, is that they are going to do a quick fix, then milk the canal authority later for money to do a complete repair

Wow, that's real comforting for anyone who may be transiting those locks.

 

[truck1]

Wow, that's real comforting for anyone who may be transiting those locks.

I thought so too. When I looked to see what the opening date was, I found a page that showed a core sample. The fix that is being considered, prob wont cover the issue.

 

[truck1]

http://gcaptain.com/a-concrete-samp...locks-and-it-does-not-look-good/#.Vhu_rpRHaK0

I'm no expert, but this don't look right.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

http://gcaptain.com/a-concrete-samp...locks-and-it-does-not-look-good/#.Vhu_rpRHaK0

I'm no expert, but this don't look right.

Yikes!

 

[jdb in AZ]

I believe the general feeling is there will be Panama Canal cruises in 2017. It's doubtful that DCL will skip Alaska.

Generally the eastbound cruise in in May, while the westbound one could be Sept/Oct.

Rumor is currently running that summer itineraries will be out in March.

I believe you have that backwards -- the Wonder is already on the east coast, so in May she'll need to head west. After the Alaska season she heads east for the winter.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I believe you have that backwards -- the Wonder is already on the east coast, so in May she'll need to head west. After the Alaska season she heads east for the winter.

Duh. Fixed it. Thanks. I should know better I've been on 2 westbond PC cruises.

 

[MunFam]

yes there will be Panama Canal cruises in 2017. Alaska is the wonders bread and butter they are not going to give that up and DCL doesn't want to sail around South America. Just don't except good ports probably the same old ports like this year. I'm in the May repo and the ports suck. I'm just on it for the cheap price. 14 nights for the cost of fantasy for 7 nights. I went on the Panama Canal repo in 08 now that had some good ports. More money but it was worth it.

We LOVED Cartagena. We booked a private tour with Dora the Explorer at CartagenaTours. We liked it so much we will likely go to Columbia for a family vacation at some point. We missed PV, but Cabo was nice as was Cozumel.

 

[jrabbit]

... Just don't except good ports probably the same old ports like this year. I'm in the May repo and the ports suck. ....

Wow, we enjoyed those ports on our last PC cruise. Well we got to go to CC and skip Coz.

In Cartagena we did a walking tour - very interesting. and there's a couple of different Zip line excursions in Puerto Vallarta. And in Cabo we had one of the funnest snorkeling excursions ever: Speed boat ride to the location where there was snokeling (and they had the "torpedo" things that can pull you through the water, kayaks, stand up paddle boards, the beach, etc. we had a great time. Before we left Cabo, we walked to the aquarium to pick up our gear. They offered anyone that wanted a wet suit. (no extra charges for anything that I've mentioned). After the snorkeling they took us by the Arch and then back to the aquarium. They feed us and they let us go up and watch the dolphin encounters.

Hope that you have a great trip.