Panama Canal--what to do?

[over50visits]

On the PC last year there was no end of things to do. For all 14 days (or was it 15?) there was a different show i the theater every single night, most that we had not seen before on other cruises. Plenty of talks and classes during the days, lots of port calls...and we had time to see movies (something we don't usually do on cruises), savor the coffee shop, relax in the lounges to the music...it was over so soon. Take a camera, take a book if you want to just sit and relax for a while, and prepare to have some genuine new friendships.

 

[lesroi]

Sure appreciate the information. I like surprises but I LOVE details

Any more information to share? Just trying to decide if this is what we want to do. My DH is worried for leaving work for so long. His motto "commission never sleeps." So that means neither does it's wife

Thanks.

LOL! As a Realtor, I love your husband's motto! Mine always gets on me when I am on the computer or phone at 10:00 pm, but I will do it to close a sale... So I can give more $$ to Mickey of course!

We live here in Central FL but we are taking the 12/9 Panama Canal sailing out of LA because the price is much better than the reverse sailing.

Tracy

 

[eblong]

Did the Canal on the Wonder in Jan 2011, and are doing Hawaii in Oct DH and I said just last night I wonder how we'll ever go back to 7 day cruises. I love sea days (although realize they aren't for everyone) and it's so relaxing. The best part was on day 7 we still had a whole cruise to go. I never played bingo, did one spa treatment, enjoyed the warm sunshine and read a lot early in the mornings (when I didn't run), tried to do a few classes- the cooking ones, Disney ones, of course Ducky Williams lecture, and the Panama Canal classes. Never was bored.

We were also on the Jam 2011 PC cruise. We have also done 2 Transatlantic crossing. The longer cruises are absolutely wonderful, and we were never bored. I always gave a book to read, and a never get around to it except when on the treadmill early in the morning.

Yes, the Sea days are great - but nothing beats the day in the canal. It is a real experience. I took over 800 photos that day alone. Expect to see a Panama Canal expert on borad to talk about the canal history and technology - it will help you get a real appreciation for the canal. I read "The Path between the Seas" by Davide McCullough before the Jan PC cruise, and it really gave me an appreciation for the wonder of the canal.

We also are headed for Hawaii in Oct.

My favorite photo of the cruise:

 

[Manon_Paul_Nina]

The WBTA was our first cruise and we were affraid of the seadays, what would we do 5 days straight at sea. But we loved them, there were alot of entertainment things, workshops and seminars.
We love seadays!!!
They went by so much faster than we tought they would!
We're on for the EBPC this year aswel!
We are looking forward to it!
You will have tons of fun and won't be bored ever!!!

 

[Bookwood]

In January the weather was wonderful (in my opinion), I was up on deck for coffee and reading before breakfast everyday (or running) and only wore capris and a sweatshirt the last 2 days into California, otherwise it was shorts and t-shirts even before 6 am.

 

[Happy Goofy]

We have done the PC twice and we are doing it again in May. It is a wonderful experience and we were never bored. The lectures that Capt. Puckett gave on the canal were great. Make sure you go to them- it will give you an idea of what to expect. He usually has 3 sessions. One is about the history of the canal and thena few days befor you go through he has another session on what is happening as you go through and finally he has a last session which sums things up and answeres any question.

He also has a special lecture just for the kids

 

[Robin"D"]

A good way to see what is happening(happened) is look @ the navigators. They is a great deal of past cruise navigators the webmaster Corey has posted...
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/cruise-new/cr-stateroom-navigator.htm

they is lots to do on longer cruises....not to mention, relax, and enjoy yourself.

Hope this helps

Robin & Angel "D".

 

[Poohbug]

If you have the chance to go on the Panama Canal cruise-DO IT!

You have time to do something many people don't do on vacation-relax.

I was afraid that it would be to long, especially in an inside room. I could have spent another two weeks-no problem.

We got up most every morning and went to the pool. Most of the time the kids had the pool to themselves. We went to a movie, took a nap, saw a character, went to the spa. Seriously, whatever you feel like doing that day, you can. Evening shows were fun. I did not have high expectations for the Susan Egan show-it was incredible. We also saw the performers doing things on the boat and the Canal Captain told my boys a funny story about his punishment when he was a naughty little boy.

So many once in a lifetime experiences.

You think you will be bored, but you will wonder how those 14 nights went so fast.

 

[BethC1952]

We're booked on this cruise and can't wait. The price is less than we just paid for the 5 night Canada cruise, and we aren't booked at the lowest price.

There are so many things to do on sea days, including chatting with all the people you'll be meeting. I live to sit on deck and knit. People always stop to chat. I'm looking forward to seeing the canal in action, to visiting new ports and to learning more about the ship. After 13 cruises in Disney ships, all but 2 on Wonder of Magic, I still have questions about how some things work on the ships!

Beth

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

My favorite photo of the cruise:

That's funny I have almost the same pic from the stern of the Magic in 2008.

 

[DisneyDoc1895]

It was a great cruise. We were on the EB 2008. They added more shows, lots of activities. The Panama Canal crossing was incredible, my wife and I stayed up front starting in the afternoon when other people cleared out. It started to pour and DCL gave us (yes, for free) ponchos. Cabo was great, Acapulco and Cartegena we did not get off and do anything. Aruba was expensive, but nice.

It is a good bargain if you like DCL.

Ken

 

[tweetybabee]

Thanks for all the great information. We're looking forward to our first Disney cruise taking us through the Panama Canal.

 

[LacyBelle]

Hubby & I are considering doing the EBPC in Sept 2013, as we've always wanted to cruise the canal and a 14 day voyage sounds heavenly! We are a bit disappointed in the ports, though. We are not interested in the Riviera ports due to all the reports of crime in recent years and we've been to Cozumel on a couple of trips now. Wished the ship were returning to Miami so we had an opportunity for a visit to Castaway Cay, but at least Cartegena and the Canal will be new to us.

Question...do these trips generally sell out? Are the common areas (pool, lounges, theaters, etc) crowded, or is it a nice, relaxing, not packed ship with room to move around and not fight for space in the gym, hot tub, and for pool chairs?

 

[dclpluto]

i was on the 15 night panama canal repo in aug 08. it was very nice. we had some more ports than the panama cruises now. we had 3 mexico, colombia aruba and castaway cay. what you get now 3 mexico and colombia if i remember right. i love the longer cruises a new show every night. they bring on special preformers we had ally and aj never heard of them before but the kids on the cruise were going crazy over them. im 2007 tran atlantic cruise jim brickman preformed one night. he didnt cruise just performed during a port day got on and off the same day.don ducky williams was on both cruises hes terrific. art of the strory and mickey dream are pretty good shows i will rather see them than toy story and villians.