Panama Canal -Which Side of the Ship?

[TexasMouseFan]

I'm looking at doing a Panama Canal cruise..from California to Florida. Is there a better side of the ship to book an ocean view or verandah on? Is it better to be on the South America side or the North America side when cruising to Florida? I have seen that the ships photographers may get off the ship while in the locks to take pictures of people on their verandah. Would this happen on both sides or just on one specific side? TIA

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I'm looking at doing a Panama Canal cruise..from California to Florida. Is there a better side of the ship to book an ocean view or verandah on? Is it better to be on the South America side or the North America side when cruising to Florida? I have seen that the ships photographers may get off the ship while in the locks to take pictures of people on their verandah. Would this happen on both sides or just on one specific side? TIA

Either side is fine. In our experience, the photographers take pictures on both sides of the ship. But don't spend all your time on your verandah, walk about the ship getting the full view.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I have traveled the Panama Canal three times two West to East once the other way.

Going West to East LA > PC Florida starboard was clearly better.

• The viewing galleries where people see you is starboard.
• The transfer continental Panama railroad is starboard.
• You see waterfalls and lakes.
• The roads that are next to the canal is starboard snd people stop and shout Mickey to get the ship to sound it's horn.
• The control rooms are all starboard.

Going East Port is best.

The top decks of the ship were very crowded from 5am and people got sunburnt then they had the tropical thunderstorm come on both cruises, verandah was clearly the best. No sun stroke can visit the bathroom, get sir con, room service and walk on deck if you want to.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Going through the Canal locks pretty much takes all day long. We spent part of the time on our verandah, part on the Promenade deck checking out different vantage points, part in a lounge sipping a cooling beverage, and part up on the top deck where they had a marvelous barbeque/picnic.

 

[TexasMouseFan]

Awesome! This is exactly what I was looking for. Disboards rocks!

 

[OKW Lover]

I have traveled the Panama Canal three times two West to East once the other way.

Going West to East LA > PC Florida starboard was clearly better.

• The viewing galleries where people see you is starboard.
• The transfer continental Panama railroad is starboard.
• You see waterfalls and lakes.
• The roads that are next to the canal is starboard snd people stop and shout Mickey to get the ship to sound it's horn.
• The control rooms are all starboard.

Going East Port is best.

The top decks of the ship were very crowded from 5am and people got sunburnt then they had the tropical thunderstorm come on both cruises, verandah was clearly the best. No sun stroke can visit the bathroom, get sir con, room service and walk on deck if you want to.

That is all dependent on which set of locks the ship is assigned. When we went through going the other way (Atlantic to Pacific) we were on the starboard side and saw all the activity in the center and "south" side of the canal.

You can't know before-and which set of locks the ship is going to be assigned to go through.

 

[jrabbit]

The important thing is Being ON the Ship!!

We spent the morning up on Deck 10 - mostly forward (but not in front of the wind screen - to many bodies for my liking ) and we walked from side to side forwards to aft.

In the afternoon going through the Pacific side locks we stayed on deck 4. We were able to go through the ship to the other side when we felt like it.

Deck 10 and deck 4 give remarkably different perspectives of the "same" trip. I highly recommend experiencing the Canal Transit from both areas.

 

[bobyetman]

Another thing to think about is the at sea days, if you want to sit on the veranda during the day, the side facing west can get very warm during the afternoon.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

That is all dependent on which set of locks the ship is assigned. When we went through going the other way (Atlantic to Pacific) we were on the starboard side and saw all the activity in the center and "south" side of the canal.

You can't know before-and which set of locks the ship is going to be assigned to go through.

The viewing gallery and railway will always be on the sides quoted whatever set of locks are used.