Panama Canal

[MelDane]

I'm looking at taking a Panama Canal cruise in 2015. Does anyone have any info or tips? Is Eastbound better than Westbound? Or is Westbound better than Eastbound? It will be me (DW), my DH, and our DD (will be 5 for the Panama Canal sailings).

 

[sejejoemmiev]

I wrote a trip report about our experience back in 2008. We had a great time. Favorite vacation to date. We did the eastbound which gave us a chance to fly out to LA and check out Disneyland.

 

[Gilland18]

We did the EBPC in 2012. LOVED it!! Best vacation ever! One difference is that on the EB you lose an hour several days during the cruise (at least 3), on the WB you gain an hour. The ports may be different next year so that may make one more attractive to you. The DIS meet threads seem to be very active for the 2 week repo cruises so get involved with those - lots of tastings, cabin crawl, meets, dining.... It's a great cruise!

 

[kdeans1010]

What are cabin crawls?

 

[jdb in AZ]

What are cabin crawls?

Visiting each other's cabins -- this is especially fun if someone in your group has the Walt Suite; you get to see how the wealthy cruisers live.

We also prefer the westbound Canal cruise and gaining three hours instead of losing them.

We started out at WDW then ended up at DLR.

 

[pgbear]

I am interested in May 2015. Have family of 4. 2 boys:10 and 8. How is entertainment over 15 nites? Would it get boring? Only done magic for 8 nites and fantasy for 7. Would Wonder seem outdated ?

 

[dsnydaddy]

I've been on the Wonder more often than any of the other ships. It's a fine vessel and I never felt like it was outdated. I try not to compare one ship to the others because they are all a different experience. But I'll admit that the Dream is very cool.

 

[ACDSNY]

I was on the Wonder WBPC Jan 2011 and last month was on a WBPC with Princess. Hands down the Wonder was more fun for us and we're in our fifties.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I was on the Wonder WBPC Jan 2011 and last month was on a WBPC with Princess. Hands down the Wonder was more fun for us and we're in our fifties.

This is good to know. Princess would have been our other choice of cruise lines. We are in our 60's, did DCL EBTA last May and thought it was great!

We did not like losing an hour for about 5 days. It bothered DH much more than we ever imagined. That's why we are doing the WBPC cruise in 60 days!

 

[jrabbit]

Last May took the Wonder from Miami to LA.

GREAT TWO WEEKS!!! The classic ships are different from the new ships - but they are all still filled with the Disney Magic.

No one should get bored on the 14 night cruise - the cruise staff works really hard to put on a great "show". And the nightly shows were very good - no repeated performers (but we did have two different hypnotist types). On our cruise one of the Highlights was the Crew Talent Show - WOW WOW WOW - They are Good!! And I didn't know that the Captain was the world class gymnast

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I'm looking at taking a Panama Canal cruise in 2015. Does anyone have any info or tips? Is Eastbound better than Westbound? Or is Westbound better than Eastbound? It will be me (DW), my DH, and our DD (will be 5 for the Panama Canal sailings).

We did a Westbound PC cruise in 2008. I like going west bound on the long, repo cruises because (just as jdb in AZ said) you gain those extra hours.

We recently did the Panama Canal again (this time on Holland America). We had a lot more ports on this cruise, different ones.

I'd do either one of them again.

 

[Bree]

Panama Canal is on my bucket list. We will most likely end up on an eastbound one due to my kids being in school. We always have mandatory state testing in May that we can't miss. I also thought that September might be better since the beginning of the school year is always just reviewing old material.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

And I have always thought I would like the Eastbound because then I would have to fly back cross country to get home, but the gaining hours deal sounds like a winner as well.

 

[danfromca]

I'm looking at taking a Panama Canal cruise in 2015. Does anyone have any info or tips? Is Eastbound better than Westbound? Or is Westbound better than Eastbound? It will be me (DW), my DH, and our DD (will be 5 for the Panama Canal sailings).

I've done both. My suggestions is that you choose based on the ports visited.