Panama Canal - onboard activities

[LeslieG]

I'd like to do a Panama Canal cruise, but I'm afraid of getting bored with so many sea days. What are some of the extra activities they have on sea days that may be different from a regular cruise?

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I'd like to do a Panama Canal cruise, but I'm afraid of getting bored with so many sea days. What are some of the extra activities they have on sea days that may be different from a regular cruise?

I have had two DCL Panama cruises and one on Princess there is lots and lots going on you are never ever bored, there are films, talks, bingo, presentations competitions arts and crafts often special guests, there is so so much to do, it's a great cruise done it three times.

 

[Gilland18]

Each of the sea days they had a retired Panama Canal pilot speak in the Walt Disney Theater. Different topics relating to the history and operations of the Canal. The day we went thru the Canal, they had a person doing a commentary over the speakers. There was someone from Panama stamping passports. There were the usual activities like movies, crafts, cooking demos, trivia, bingo....... We spent a lot of time walking laps on the deck 4 "track". Doing that allowed us to see a lot of marine life and to see when a lounger was available. I was not bored at all.

 

[LeslieG]

I have had two DCL Panama cruises and one on Princess there is lots and lots going on you are never ever bored, there are films, talks, bingo, presentations competitions arts and crafts often special guests, there is so so much to do, it's a great cruise done it three times.

How did the onboard activities compare between Disney and Princess?

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

How did the onboard activities compare between Disney and Princess?

Well both did things but in some respects differently,

What was the same is the transit of the canal both the same both had narrators.

Princess was a bit high brow, high dinner serving, napkins folding, ( yes DCL do it but Princess was an art, food cooking demonstrations by head servers, Princess had casinos.

Disney is a bit more family, I recall crew talent shows, and cruisers talent show, making boats that will float in the pool arts and crafts.

Both far better than RCI there very very aimed at the lowest denominator and dumbing down.

 

[LeslieG]

Are there many kids on these sailings?

 

[SchneiderFam]

We did the May 2013 WBPC. As cruisers we really enjoy activities and typically plan our days around trivias, character meets etc. With 2 weeks though, we figured we might have to make our own fun at some point, so we brought iPads loaded with movies and books. Long story short, we barely ever got to the iPads. We didn't go ashore on Day 13 (Cabo). Hubby and I looked at each other that morning and realized we didn't have anything to do for 90 minutes. We classified that as "bored", we did something small and went for an early lunch, problem solved!

As for the kids, we kept hearing that there would be virtually no kids. While there were certainly fewer than normal, our son wasn't the only kid on board. There were still plenty in line with us for characters etc.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Are there many kids on these sailings?

On the January 2011 WBPC cruise we were told there were 400 fewer kids than usual. Very few teens. We did see a few studying up on deck, and in the theatre at the Canal lectures taking notes, presumably to write extra-credit reports.

 

[LeslieG]

I thought the repos were always in May and September. Why did they have one in January? Any other times they may do PC? Trying to figure out how I could take my kids. Have they ever done mid to late May?

 

[gigi1313]

I'm also curious about January...

 

[LeslieG]

Well, I just looked it up. Jan. 2011 the wonder was going to Calif to do west coast cruises before heading for Alaska in the summer.

On another thread someone mentioned a PC that was in December. I'll have to Google that one too.

 

[bobyetman]

Here's a link to a page with a couple of sets of of Navigators for the last 2 Wonder EBPCs:

http://disneycruiselineblog.com/personal-navigators/

One for September 2013, and one for December 2012, which I was on. Plenty of activities on the sea days.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Well, I just looked it up. Jan. 2011 the wonder was going to Calif to do west coast cruises before heading for Alaska in the summer.

On another thread someone mentioned a PC that was in December. I'll have to Google that one too.

Back in the day DCL and other cruise lines sailed the Mexican Riviera during the winter.

 

[Started With a Mouse]

Are there many kids on these sailings?

There were less than 300 kids (0-18) on the EBPC in Dec 2012. Not crowded at all.

 

[Bookwood]

We did the Jan 2011 Wonder Panama Canal and were never bored, DH even watched the Packers playing on the big screen (I went to formal night dinner by myself (with some friends)) and still enjoyed myself. LOL If I remember correctly they opened the kids clubs a couple times to adults only so we could go and make goo and stuff like that. I enjoyed the Panama Canal lectures, Ducky Williams, the games, and the food lectures the most. Once you've sailed for 2 weeks 7 days will never be long enough again, so be careful!

 

[Maddie Lover]

We were on the EBPC last September and were never bored. They had so many activities for people of all ages and everyone I talked to had a blast on this cruise. In fact, there were some activities that I didn't get a chance to participate in because I was busy with other ones and would love to try if I can talk my DH into going on this cruise again.

 

[kdeans1010]

Okay I'm glad I'm reading this thread. My friends and I are taking this cruise (EBPC) and I'm a little worried that we will be bored, we might want to throw each other overboard (2 weeks with your friends sharing one room is a long time), or that... it'll just feel like too long.

How busy were the laundry areas? That was one thing we keep thinking about, thinking that we're going to need to do laundry at some point.

 

[jrabbit]

Have only sailed DCL on the PC cruises. We cruised from LA back to PC the first year the Magic came out to the west coast for Disneyland's 50th birthday. We were a little worried about the 14 nights onboard and only 3 ports. At the end of the cruise we decided that 14 nights is NOT TO LONG to stay onboard. Everyone had a blast, we found lots of things to keep us busy. Loved watching Don "Ducky" Williams sketch characters while we talked about working at WDW.

Last May we were on the Wonder from Miami to LA and there were hardly any kids onboard (school still in session). First stop was CC, then a few sea days to Cartagenia. It seemed like there were fewer organized activities that we were interested in. We spent time up by the pool, reading and just enjoying being unplugged from work and the real world. Never was bored. We also met friends from prior cruises and made a new set of friends from our table mates. We had a blast just hanging out a visiting. After the Canal Transit it seemed like there were a lot of activities that we wanted to participate in, and had to make the tough decision of what NOT to do.

Bottom Line - Will Do This Again!!!!

 

[Gilland18]

How busy were the laundry areas? That was one thing we keep thinking about, thinking that we're going to need to do laundry at some point.

The laundry was pretty popular on our EBPC. To the point that there was fighting about people not coming back when their machine was done and others removing clothes so they could use the machine. They eventually assigned a crew member to babysit the laundry room. This was on deck 2; I don't remember if the others had problems. That being said, I had no problem finding a machine to do a load a couple of different times.

 

[twopeasonepod]

We are on WBPC in May and can't wait! We did EBTA last May and there were 187 kids onboard. Honestly, though, I'd rather have it that way, because the pools and club aren't totally packed. The boys were never bored, and neither were we. Plenty of working out, organized and unorganized activities (many hours spent on Deck 9 sports area), and just plain ole' relaxing. I love not having to rush to port adventures or sightseeing. That part about sailings like Alaska and Med is stressful.