Panama Canal Cruises in trouble

[Girl of the South]

This is probably a temporary condition but in the meantime, I would suspect that container ships would be given preference over cruise ships.

Drought Causing Panama Canal Cruise Cancellations

 

[RedHead0186]

This is probably a temporary condition but in the meantime, I would suspect that container ships would be given preference over cruise ships.

Drought Causing Panama Canal Cruise Cancellations

That headline is missing the "?" at the end. The article makes no claim that the drought is causing the cancellation, the author actually admits they don't know if it's drought-related or due to other port factors. The article also suggests that cruise ships also get preference over cargo ships: "[stated by a canal expert] Cruise ships book windows of time months or even years in advance paying the highest prices to pass through the canal, while a number of cargo ships choose to wait on either side to get a non-reserved slot and thus pay a lot less."

 

[o&smom]

There are two sets of locks. Disney has been going through the new ones since they were finished. The new locks reuse about 80% of their water if I remember correctly. They do not want to waste the water that cannot be recaptured for the old locks. Just my opinion on the situation. Looking forward to my cruise in October.

 

[DisneyConvert]

This is probably a temporary condition but in the meantime, I would suspect that container ships would be given preference over cruise ships.

Drought Causing Panama Canal Cruise Cancellations

I used to work in Port/Shipping economics and I wouldnt be so sure.
Relatively few cruises thru PC, not a lot of displacement (water used in the locks) and high fee$$'s.

Auto or Ro/Ro carriers are 2nd most profitable. Their cargo is super valuable and much of the ships' holds is air.

Then container ships with/out reservations. They pay well. Especially if they are "PanaMax" taking advantage of the latest channel's dimensions.

The heavier bulk ships or tankers that carry less valuable ($/ton) may be the ships "pushed out" or have to wait for an available "slot"

 

[DisneyConvert]

There are two sets of locks. Disney has been going through the new ones since they were finished. The new locks reuse about 80% of their water if I remember correctly. They do not want to waste the water that cannot be recaptured for the old locks. Just my opinion on the situation. Looking forward to my cruise in October.

3rd set was opened 5 or so years ago. Although the original 2 share a few of the '"cuts".

 

[otten]

When we did our PC cruise in 2020 we had to detour back to grand Cayman for a medical emergency. Our captain said he tried to see if we could get to the locks later and therefore still be able to port in Cartagena but we were told that if we missed our time slot we’d be waiting days.

Cruise lines prebook their times and pay a hefty premium to do so. Around the entrances to the canal you will see many cargo ships hanging around waiting their turn to go through.

I will say that Disney Panama Canal cruises may be in trouble if Disney no longer sees a need to have a ship going back and forth between the pacific and the Atlantic.

 

[DisneyConvert]

When we did our PC cruise in 2020 we had to detour back to grand Cayman for a medical emergency. Our captain said he tried to see if we could get to the locks later and therefore still be able to port in Cartagena but we were told that if we missed our time slot we’d be waiting days.

Cruise lines prebook their times and pay a hefty premium to do so. Around the entrances to the canal you will see many cargo ships hanging around waiting their turn to go through.

I will say that Disney Panama Canal cruises may be in trouble if Disney no longer sees a need to have a ship going back and forth between the pacific and the Atlantic.

Figure approx 24~28 slots per week, 10~16 in each direction (I may be off a bit). They are not always used as demand and direction is a factor (one-way service allows for "fleeting"). The 3rd, newest, set of locks takes "New Panamax" ships, while the original two sets will fit the Magic and Wonder. Just like airline and yes, cruise, reservations, there are advantages for booking and paying early. Space is sometimes available for last minute, etc. Cancellations, etc. happen. Ships queue in the bays by Limon and Panama City just as passengers do in terminals waiting for their scheduled time or an open slot.

The ACP (Panama Canal Authority) knows what they are doing and service, efficiency and profit maximization are goals along with environmental preservation.

Good point about "the need" for PC transits wrto DCL. If they can balance a trip to Australia/NZ/Fiji in Oct-March with the Alaska season in June-Sept (and do Hawaii back'n'forths and Mexican Riviera runs out of San Diego during the shoulders) there may be fewer transits. Right now, that's the Wonder. Passenger demand will determine if that's an ongoing schedule, or if maybe another ship in the Pacific is warranted. I am guessing the PC runs don't make much money.

 

[happycamper47]

, while the original two sets will fit the Magic and Wonder.

Not correct. Once the Duck Tails were added to them they can no longer safely use the old locks. That is why the Magic has not done a transition for years and the Wonder was the first passenger vessel to use the Panamax locks when they opened.

 

[DisneyConvert]

Not correct. Once the Duck Tails were added to them they can no longer safely use the old locks. That is why the Magic has not done a transition for years and the Wonder was the first passenger vessel to use the Panamax locks when they opened.

Interesting. Makes sense.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We are booked for the October WBPC sailing. I haven’t heard anything from DCL regarding the inability to transit the PC. I’d like to think that’s a good sign that all is well but you never know.

 

[happycamper47]

As was mentioned DCL makes a priority reservation for the crossing, in 2014 when we did our first DCL Canal crossing the fee was an additional $35,000, (10% of the total fee). Normally, the freighters just line up and hope for the best. There was a recent article that one shipping company paid $2,000,000 for priority access for some of it's ships.