WBPC best verandah room for view of locks

[MeliMel702]

Definitely considering a WBPC cruise. Which verandah stateroom would you consider the best to view the locks? Or should I go for an ocean view stateroom and why? Is there a specific deck to view the locks? Is it better to view them indoors or outdoors?

 

[mom4fun]

There isn't one. You have to walk around the ship. You need to go port side, starboard side, front, back, and different floors for different perspective.

 

[MunFam]

Let me tell you why I think a midship deck 2 is the best. You never know which side of the locks you are going to go through, so your room may or may not have an amazing view. We spent Lock 1-1 on deck 4 midship going back and forth between the two sides to get different views. On your stateroom balcony, you get one view. Then for locks 1-2 and 1-3 we went in to Tritons and brunch with a great view of the lock and then sailing in the lake.

For lock 2-1, we went to our SR and watched the walls go by. For 2-2 and 2-3, we got a spot at the rear of the ship at Cabanas and set up shop for the rest of the day there. It got busy during lunch (grills), but then was EMPTY, so we did not feel like we were "hogging a table". We had great views of all the bridges and both sides of the canal at the same time.

Then for the rest of the cruise, we had an oceanview, where we constantly saw dolphins swimming and jumping in the ships' wakes. It was alos super easy to get to all of the activities because we were just one deck up...and there is a laundry room on deck 2. And with all the money you saved getting an oceanview instead of a verandah you can hire a private guide in Columbia (Dora is the BEST!!!) and buy lots and lots of souvenirs without feeling guilty.

 

[MeliMel702]

Thanks for the advice!! Any specific stateroom #?

 

[cisobe]

We had 6048 on our EBPC last year., and we spent a good portion of our day in our room as we had our two young kids with us (3.5 yo and 13 months). I did pop up to the top deck as we headed in on the Pacific side to see panama city. We also went down to deck 3 as we started down the Atlantic side we hung at the seat windows by route 66. It was neat seeing the ship drop down into the lock, then slowly cruise into the next lock, and drop down again. On our way out of the final set of locks, I went to the back of the ship on deck 6 or 7 (whichever one has the open verandah) and watched as we sailed out into the way to the atlantic....

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I have done it three times, I would say deck 8 and port side, midship. Deck5 and above a great.

Whilst you can go into any lock, the port side has had great views of the land, the railway, some buildings, the starboard side is good but mostly just land.

Now there are new locks opening, but I will would say port martini ally has it.

It's a very very long day, you would have to be up on deck very very early to try to snag a place to view on deck, as the cruisers were staking out thier places from 5 am on our cruises.

In a verandah you are protected from the sun, your near the equator there so very powerful, even if it's cloudy you get burnt. You also get protected from the tropical rain storms that come in fast. This water supplies the canal and locks and gates and lakes so you can see how much comes down.

On deck you can get sunburnt, wet from heavy rain, and loose your place if you go to the restroom, or lunch. In your own room you can call room service, the kids can watch a movie you can refresh with aircon inside, and still walk the ship, see both sides, eat the lunch BBQ and come face to your space in the shade.

Ships photography took photos of us on our verandah as we waved to them, they were on the walls on the locks.

Lower decks can just get views of walls either side in the deep loves until the water brings the ship up.

The Panama day is long, often starting around 6 am and lasting to 6 pm, it's a port adventure in itself, enjoy it on your verandah, and gave the best of everything, being able to walk the ship and gave your own space and no need to join the " Disney parade" style stakeout of some space on deck in the crowds and have everyone close by in your photos.

 

[mmouse37]

I found being up on deck gave you the best overall views of the locks ahead and all around. Also deck 4 was a good place to watch from. A verandah cabin could be great to watch but not necessary unless you just want a verandah, but there are many places onboard that you can watch and see great views of the locks without being in a verandah cabin.

MJ

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Just a reminder, when you get a verandah room, you are not stuck to the room, you have extra freedom, freedom to walk around, see both sides, and eat then come back and have your covered space, just you, out of the harsh sunshine, and potential tropical rain.

I personally found on three Panama crossings all public decks busy from very early on. We saw that when we went to breakfast and had a stroll around. Those staking out areas, would let you in for one photo, either side, but not let you permanently into thier space. DCL had to lock up the deck chairs as some cruisers pulled them along side the sides of the public decks to try to reserve thier space off.

 

[TrySomethingNew]

DCL had to lock up the deck chairs as some cruisers pulled them along side the sides of the public decks to try to reserve thier space off.[/QUOTE]

LOL. This makes me laugh. The things people will do - happens everywhere, but glad DCL reigned it in and didn't allow the space hogs to rule the deck.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

DCL had to lock up the deck chairs as some cruisers pulled them along side the sides of the public decks to try to reserve thier space off.

LOL. This makes me laugh. The things people will do - happens everywhere, but glad DCL reigned it in and didn't allow the space hogs to rule the deck.

Yes occurred! They had to lock up the deck chairs on the deck 10, area, to stop cruisers using them to cordon off thier own private areas, to prevent other cruisers coming in! There were signs up, saying why, and not to remove from pool deck areas. canny cruisers did find other things to mark out their claimed deck!

 

[MeliMel702]

Thanks all for the great advice!! I imagined there would be a crowd at the decks. I've been to Guatemala and El Salvador several times and definitely know how the weather is. I could save some money in a large porthole stateroom or splurge on the verandah since I could have a little more privacy.

 

[MickeyEarrings]

I once read an Alaskan trip report where the writers were assigned room 8502. It was literally behind the bridge, and they had beautiful photos from Tracey Arm... Just FYI.

 

[MunFam]

I never went to the bow of the ship. I don't like crowds, so I cannot speak to that. But deck 4 always had rail space available on our 2015 WBPC cruise. What Disney Fantasy describes is nothing like we experienced, so I guess it just depends on the people you end up sailing with and your perspective. The day we went through was cloudy and I never felt crowded anywhere we went. People were nice and it was a great experience. For us, a veranda would have been a total waste of money (unless we were able to score an aft balcony).

 

[OKW Lover]

There isn't one. You have to walk around the ship. You need to go port side, starboard side, front, back, and different floors for different perspective.

Good answer. In addition to this, you can't know beforehand if your stateroom will be on the "outside" of the canal or if you'll be looking at the adjacent set of locks. You'll want to see both sides of the ship during your transit.