Panama Canal Cruise next August

[scrapycruiser]

would love to hear from those that have done this cruise. Being a 14 day cruise, what were some of the extra activities ? Shore excursions you'd recommend ? Would you book port or Starwood cabins ?
Thanks for any comments !

 

[dclpluto]

If you want to look at activities Google Panama Canal Disney cruise navigators and you will get a couple of years of navigators gives you an idea of what activities will be going on

 

[Disneypeach]

Lot's of extras on my cruise (2013)...Capt. Puckett who was a PC pilot for many years, now retired, gave several great lectures on the canal and its history....PC specific menu items....BBQ on deck during canal transit...

my cabin was on the starboard side but I don't think that mattered much for me as I was out on deck the entire time...well, except for the torrential downpour at the last lock...

Great cruise, I'd love to do it again!

 

[mom4fun]

Frozen activities and deck party, character breakfast, late night dessert buffet, princess tea party, Pixar character parties, crew talent show, old classic movies, galley tours, on Panama Canal day there was a barbecue lunch and swim the canal activity. Too many other things to remember.

 

[Gilland18]

Port or starboard won't matter going thru the canal. We were outside much of the time. Our cabin was port on our EBPC. It was the side land was on as we went south from CA. So some days we could see Central America out our windows. Not a huge deal but kind of fun. But we still spent most of the cruise on deck 4.

 

[cisobe]

We just got back from EBPC today. There's so much to do on this cruise and it felt so different from the last 7 day cruise we did. So much more time to get to know your servers and fellow cruisers. There was a lot of activities, tastings, shows etc to go to.

My son is almost 4 and he loved being one of maybe 200 kids onboard. The characters and cast members more time getting to know you and building relationships with you.

It was an awesome experience, and I would love to do it again.

 

[Little Doe]

We love the port side on the Panama Canal as you can see the shore line much of the time as you cruise. ( see you there!)

 

[mom4fun]

I would vote port side for cabo day. Panama Canal day, I don't think it matters because it's just better to be out and about on both sides and front and back.

 

[mmouse37]

We also just got back from the PC cruise. We had done one back in 2005 but this one was one of the top all time favorite DCL cruises we have taken. We had a ball!!! Some many activities each day. We wished it could last for another week. The 2 weeks flew by!! The Wonder crew was fantastic. We had so many crew members that made our trip more magical that we had to get extra blank paper from Guest Services to write about them (comment card has no room for extra comments). Not one bad experience for us onboard.

MJ

 

[PrincessShmoo]

we had to get extra blank paper from Guest Services to write about them (comment card has no room for extra comments)

Welcome back! That's the reason I always take additional paper on my cruises. In a pinch I've used the stationary in the desk drawer, also.

 

[pepe3penelope]

I am curious and love reading the replies! I am dreaming of a PC cruise! One day!!!

 

[GooniesAndy]

I took the westbound PC cruise with my kids in May, and it was just the best ever! There was just too much to even remember it all, but my two favorite special activities had to have been the adults-only pool party they threw the night the kids were invited to sleep in the club and hide-and-seek with the crew. I also really liked that they brought on all sorts of special performers, including someone from Disney on Broadway (we had Chuck Wagner, who was the original Rapunzel's Prince in Into the Woods). We had a very active cruise group that did lots of our own special activities, and we made lots of new friends. In fact, we are meeting up with some of them at Disneyland tomorrow!

I posted all of the Navigators in my trip report if you want to see them.

 

[mmouse37]

Welcome back! That's the reason I always take additional paper on my cruises. In a pinch I've used the stationary in the desk drawer, also.

We used the drawer paper too!! Had lots of good things to write about people!!! Next time I do plan on bringing sheets of paper with me and a small notebook to jot down the CM's names during the cruise we want to write about. We ran into so many it was proving difficult to remember them all!!

MJ

 

[Disneyhenry]

We just booked this cruise today, I chose Port side, we have never done this cruise however we did a 14 night Hawaii cruise in 2012 and there was lots of extra activities to do, we are looking forward to this cruise

 

[OKW Lover]

Would you book port or Starwood cabins ?

You really can't know ahead of time which side will be the best. We happened to get a Starboard cabin (we were *GT) on our WBPC cruise a couple years ago. The ship was in the left set of locks on that trip so we saw lots of activity in the adjoining locks. Which set of locks the ship gets directed to is pretty much random since it just depends on the string of ships heading into the locks.

 

[thumpie's mom]

We just returned from the EBPC (our second) and we absolutely loved it. We loved the first Panama Canal cruise, but out of 7 DCL cruises, this was simply the best one. The crew on the Wonder was EXCEPTIONAL and made the cruise outstanding. We don't get off of the ship, so cannot recommend any excursions, but going through the canal is quite an experience. Our cruise had Susan Egan, who was the original Belle on Broadway and she did two shows, one which was for adults only. She was amazing. There were too many activities to list. If you go to the Disney Cruise Blog, you can bring up the past Navigators for the Panama Canal cruises. Have fun!

 

[christineD186]

We just booked EBPC for next year! Can't wait! It looks like you can't go wrong with this itinerary!

 

[turtle27]

Don't worry about what side your cabin is on, that is why there are open decks! We enjoyed both sides of deck 4, deck 10, deck 9, and our veranda, plus Palo! It really was an experience that I will never forget. There are many activities during the sea days. This can range from the various tastings, napkin folding, art, lectures, other crafting, bingo, lounging by the pool...., movies, etc. You could do nothing or everything! Also, on most nights, they had a few hours that the kids clubs were open for adults. I felt you had to work to be bored.

We were lucky enough to be a part of a great group on this past cruise and did a private excursion in Cartagena, we did an all over city tour with a very knowledgable tour guide. In both Cabo and Puerto Vallarta, we did not book with DCL, rather walked off the ship and negotiated with the locals on a tour and a price. We were happy with both. Our table mates did the camel ride in Cabo and absolutely loved it! They did a city tour in Puerto Vallarta and did not enjoy that as much, through DCL. I enjoyed getting to see Cabo and Puerto Vallarta, but wish DCL would stop in Costa Rica, or, for me at least, more interesting places to see on the way south to the canal.

In Cozumel, again getting tired of this port, we did the Tulum ruins this time out, it was short due to our very short time in port, but worth it. Glad I have seen these ruins once. The ferry ride, well I had taken 1 bonine that morning and popped another before the afternoon return, lol. I know many people did the caves and had a good time doing that. Some went for the beach and enjoyed that. Depends on your preferences.

The ruins on Cozumel were not worth it with the DCL tour the time we did it. Go independently and avoid the rest of the tourist trap tour that you get taken on, this is not Tulum, I do not remember the name of the ruins. The other two times, we just walked around Cozumel and shopped, and then enjoyed margaritas at Pancho's. A friend really enjoyed the atv ride, but I don't know if it is offered on DCL.

There were also people who never got off the ship. Except for Cartagena, I don't blame them, unless you have never been to Mexico. If you have not, get off, enjoy! I think growing up in Texas and visiting frequently, it does not feel special any longer, and there are many other places DCL could stop, but does not.

Overall, the cruise was great. I was ready to turn around and go again! Such a fun time with some amazing people!

 

[OKW Lover]

We love the port side on the Panama Canal as you can see the shore line much of the time as you cruise. ( see you there!)

Which direction were you going and which set (left or right) of locks?