Westbound Panama Cruise question

[kid-at-heart]

Past Westbound Panama cruisers who stayed in rooms with verandahs or portholes, which floor and side were you on and what views did you have from your verandah/porthole? I am curious about views crossing the canal and views in general.

Many thanks!
Kate

 

[Gilland18]

We were on the Eastbound but here's my two cents. We were on deck 2, ocean view, port side. On the EBPC, the port side is land side as you cruise daily. So for the WBPC, the starboard side must be the land side. We could see hazy views of Central America some days in the Pacific. Going through the Canal, there is no way I know of to know which set of locks you will be in so picking a side based on that seems pointless. We did think it was fun to go to the cabin when going through a lock because deck 2 was well below the surface of the lock. We divided our time between the top deck, deck 4 and our cabin, since you spend hours transiting. And we went from port to starboard regularly, too. I didn't see any advantage to cabin side during Canal day, only a slight one on the way down. Others will possibly disagree, but we spend most of our time on deck 4, which ever side is shaded. Hope that helps.

 

[DHSbutcher]

We did the east bound and were on Deck 2 port side with an ocean view. Anyone can go up to the top deck to watch the ship go through the locks, and we did for some of it- but we had a unique view in our room where when we would go through the locks we were inches from the wall- it was too cool to go up and down and watch that. Definitely gave us a neat view for some of it.

 

[Allabouthemouse]

We were on deck 7 starboard. The views of the ports were nice. It really didn't matter in terms of where our room was the day we transited the Panama Canal. We ended up spending the majority of the day up on deck 9 and 10 so that we could get a panoramic view of how the locks open and closed. One of the coolest things we saw was from deck 4 when we looked down and saw how close the ship was to the edge of the locks.

 

[MunFam]

We were on WBPC in 2015. We were deck 2 port side. In Cabo, you tender but our view was of the famous arch. In Columbia, we were in a shipping port but we were on the dock side and people could pretty much see in our windows. In Cozumel, we were on the side that faced the city and the water view was also amazing. Its a long pier. As mentioned, going through the locks, you never know which lane you will end up in. We were on deck the whole day anyways. We did see Cuba when we sailed past. When we boarded in Miami, we were on the canal side, not the pier/loading side and in San Diego we were on the side opposite the pier, but you pull in nose first.

 

[INDY1919A4]

I would like to ask a follow up Panama canal question...

Been waiting for the 2017, so ever so often I go into the upcoming 2016 and pretend to book just to see what it would be like..

And I have noticed that for the only ocean views are in the forward of the ship and none in the Midship or Aft.. I always thought forward cabins

would fill up before aft... So am I missing something????

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I would like to ask a follow up Panama canal question...

Been waiting for the 2017, so ever so often I go into the upcoming 2016 and pretend to book just to see what it would be like..

And I have noticed that for the only ocean views are in the forward of the ship and none in the Midship or Aft.. I always thought forward cabins

would fill up before aft... So am I missing something????

If I had to choose between a forward or aft room (same category), I'd go with aft. Forward bounces a little more in rough seas.

 

[siburdue]

If I had to choose between a forward or aft room (same category), I'd go with aft. Forward bounces a little more in rough seas.

FYI - I've heard the same thing about aft LOL. FYI - Aft prices are usually the cheapest, followed by mid-ship then Forward

 

[INDY1919A4]

FYI - I've heard the same thing about aft LOL. FYI - Aft prices are usually the cheapest, followed by mid-ship then Forward

That is why I was wondering, because I have always heard and read here that the Aft is less desirable because of engine and loading noise???

By the way last cruise we were aft 2nd floor and have no complaints..

 

[PrincessShmoo]

FYI - I've heard the same thing about aft LOL. FYI - Aft prices are usually the cheapest, followed by mid-ship then Forward

Actually midship tends to be higher, followed by just forward and aft of that, then all the way forward and aft.

That is why I was wondering, because I have always heard and read here that the Aft is less desirable because of engine and loading noise???

By the way last cruise we were aft 2nd floor and have no complaints..

We've been aft on several cruises. The only one I had issues with was the Fantasy. Really bad vibration in our aft room there. But she's been reported to have a major aft vibration issue for years (not related to docking, or just "engine noises"). I hope that's something that can be resolved in her dry dock. Or perhaps it's "fixed" since her mechanical issues on her recent cruise. I've not read any reports from anyone on one of the subsequent cruises as to whether there's still a bad vibration since then.

 

[MunFam]

On our 2015 WBPC Cruise we had two full character/production casts onboard because that is when they turn over the contracts...well, all the CMs were in the deck 2 inside and aft cabins. Many of the had family on that sailing too and they were also in those rooms. So perhaps, they have a lot of the cast in those rooms again this year? We ran in to them all the time in the halls.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Mid ship, starboard, I think deck 6, 2014 Westbound!

 

[bobbiwoz]

As we went north after Cabo, we saw these. Captain Fabian had told us to keep looking, because word was that there were some late north heading whales!

 

[OKW Lover]

Past Westbound Panama cruisers who stayed in rooms with verandahs or portholes, which floor and side were you on and what views did you have from your verandah/porthole? I am curious about views crossing the canal and views in general.

Many thanks!
Kate

We did the Westbound PC a few years ago in a veranda room. We were on the starboard side, which faced to the center of the lock pairs. However, that is not something you can plan on. As each ship approaches the canal entrance it is alternatively directed to the left or right set of locks. So, its simply the luck of the draw.

Having said that, I don't think that either side is "better" than the other.

 

[missyp]

Actually midship tends to be higher, followed by just forward and aft of that, then all the way forward and aft.


We've been aft on several cruises. The only one I had issues with was the Fantasy. Really bad vibration in our aft room there. But she's been reported to have a major aft vibration issue for years (not related to docking, or just "engine noises"). I hope that's something that can be resolved in her dry dock. Or perhaps it's "fixed" since her mechanical issues on her recent cruise. I've not read any reports from anyone on one of the subsequent cruises as to whether there's still a bad vibration since then.

We were aft last week on the fantasy. Still noisy.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We stayed in our cabin. The crossing was shown on the TV, and it was a very good view.