Which cruise?

[gismo1554]

So having such a dilemma choosing (I know first world problems today but hey its a good COVID distraction)

If money was no object:

• Panama Canal Eastbound
• Panama Canal Westbound
• Vancouver to Hawaii

and more importantly why?

 

[Marc D]

Do you intend spending time in Vancouver and/or Hawaii before or after the cruise ? That would be the only reason for us to do the third one, considering the cost/length of the flights and the duration of the cruise in the middle of the Pacific. We love sea days but you’ll be paying a hefty premium compared to regular TA cruises.

Between the PC cruises, I would choose the WB simply because I prefer the way you gain hours going that way. If you are considering the upcoming cruises, the fact that one sails from NOLA and the other ends in Galveston might be impactful on flight prices.

 

[gismo1554]

Yeah probably not on the extra time to be honest as not sure I've got enough leave to cover it.

I've looked at flights and both are about the same to be honest back to the UK so not really a huge amount of difference. The time thing is a sway I feel but then on the other hand the EB is a Christmas cruise

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

It really will depend on personal preference above anything else.

Out of all three, the Westbound Panama Canal would be my choice. People rave about that sailing all the time. The eastbound doesn't seem to have the same level of popularity. Also, Galveston is a bit more challenging with flights from what I have found. The time gain is also a great topic from what was mentioned up above.

Hawaii doesn't have the allure for us that the Panama canal does. Plus, that time change coming back is not appealing either.

 

[vegs1]

I would pick Hawaii (and just did actually). We would spend a week or two in Hawaii prior to the cruise.

Would also love to do WB Panama Canal.

 

[gismo1554]

I would pick Hawaii (and just did actually). We would spend a week or two in Hawaii prior to the cruise.

Would also love to do WB Panama Canal.

Thanks. Unfortunately wouldn't be able to spend any time in Hawaii (also its the one the other way I'm looking at as dates don't work for the other one) which is really whats making me think this one is ruled out which then just actually leaves 2 lol

 

[vegs1]

Thanks. Unfortunately wouldn't be able to spend any time in Hawaii (also its the one the other way I'm looking at as dates don't work for the other one) which is really whats making me think this one is ruled out which then just actually leaves 2 lol

If you can’t really spend time in Hawaii at all, then I would probably pick WB Panama Canal. Would love to do the one that starts in New Orleans and ends in SAN Diego. Great cities with lots to see!

 

[OKW Lover]

Tough choice. Between the two PC cruises I'd go with the west bound. We've actually done that one and enjoyed ending on the west coast. We are on the east coast and this gave us a chance to spend a few days at DL as well. Obviously you could do that in reverse but for us it worked out well.

But the Vancouver to Hawaii trip is probably the one I'd vote for. Nice relaxing cruise to Hawaii. You arrive in Hawaii without jet lag and can spend several days enjoying the islands.

 

[tvguy]

We almost did a Vancouver to Honolulu cruise on HAL this time last year. It was only $600 a person for a balcony stateroom, so money wouldn't be a an issue. We did Vancouver to Victoria, to San Francisco, to Santa Barbara to Los Angeles instead on Celebrity, also $600 for an balcony stateroom.

 

[Drfate102]

For us, EB Panama Canal. It would end closer to home and we have already done a cruise to Hawaii and back, not on DCL though.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

If you haven't booked Hawaii yet, it's nearly off the table anyway. Most categories are in GTY and the pricing has gotten insane.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So having such a dilemma choosing (I know first world problems today but hey its a good COVID distraction)

If money was no object:

• Panama Canal Eastbound
• Panama Canal Westbound
• Vancouver to Hawaii

and more importantly why?

In order of preference:

Panama Canal Westbound (it's nice getting the hours added with the time changes).
Vancouver to Hawaii (same reasoning, and Vancouver & Hawaii are fun places to visit pre/post cruise
Panama Canal Eastbound

Now, depending on the ports on the PC cruise (how many, what they are) I might flip PCWB with Hawaii.

 

[braysmommy]

I would pick Westbound Panama Cana, which we have done previously, you should have great weather and going through the canal is amazing.

 

[mousefan73]

We were going to book Hawaii, but the more we think about what we would pay and for what we get we dont know now.. The pricing has imply gotten INSANE. Keep in mind our main thing is seeing Hawaii. My mom is elderly and the cruise would have made getting there in one direction easy... But she is willing to limit to two islands.. which is actually ok, as our focus is Oahu and Maui anyways.

For what we would have to pay for the cruise we can do the below and more.

Fly into LA, maybe Disneyland a day then do a baja sailing on DCL, they are so cheap!!! (3 nights). This give my mom some time to relax and avoids another long flight right away. and then fly to HNL from San Diego. We can stay at Aulani for 3 nights or so. or maybe something cheaper. Fly to Maui and spend 4-5 days there.

Seeing we need to overnight anyways a day or two either direction and we are not happy how the cruise only give you a day on Maui, the above is how we will most likely go...

The goal for us is Hawaii, NOT a DCL cruise.. I get the feeling many of the plantinum bookers dont really care about where the ship goes, how many sea days or the price.. As long as they are on board.. For us other things are important too.

Also doing this gives us more flexibility on WHEN we go.

We would love to do the Panama if our budget wasnt already taken on other thing we would as a family jump on this.. So much to see and do on this sailings. And its a trip you really cant do as a land.

 

[AquaDame]

Interesting to see so many say Westbound specifically..! I want to do one sometime and was leaning towards WB just because I'm on the west coast and would have a shorter flight home. I know people have said you "gain" time as well, but its only three hours which isn't a deal breaker for me one way or the other to be honest. Are there other reasons people prefer it? Does the time of year matter a lot in terms of weather or ocean movement?

FWIW I am not interested in the Hawaii one ways since we do not have the luxury of time. Evenings in Hawaii are magical and I would not want to spend sunsets on a ship instead of on land, or spend dinner eating on the ship instead of local restaurants. If I could do the cruise AND spend at least a week there before heading home that would be a different story. Our first trip we spent eight days on Maui and were told by more than one local while sadly shaking their heads at us that it is a ten day island...they were right, we did not do everything we had planned to. Gee darn, we had to go back...

 

[DietCokeMommy]

If there's still availability and you equally want to do Hawaii and the PC cruises, I'd say Hawaii. Mostly because those cruises can't be counted on, unlike the PC cruises which consistently happen every year.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

Definitely WBPC first choice. We have cruised the EBPC through the original locks. Our next trip will be WBPC to see the new lock system (after finishing graduate school). Since we live in New Mexico, there isn't much difference in travel (San Diego v.s. Galveston). EBPC was fantastic to see and experience. Gaining an extra hour each day going WB is also appealing.
Hawaii almost requires another week to see the islands to justify the long voyage and cost. Jump off the ship and head for the airport!

 

[Peaseblossom36]

I would love to do the Westbound one year, purely because it always includes my birthday

I love reading all the trip reports from PC cruises, all the things to see and do. Sea days are also my favorite so the longer cruises seem like a dream.

 

[Intr3pid]

Interesting to see so many say Westbound specifically..! I want to do one sometime and was leaning towards WB just because I'm on the west coast and would have a shorter flight home. I know people have said you "gain" time as well, but its only three hours which isn't a deal breaker for me one way or the other to be honest. Are there other reasons people prefer it? Does the time of year matter a lot in terms of weather or ocean movement?

FWIW I am not interested in the Hawaii one ways since we do not have the luxury of time. Evenings in Hawaii are magical and I would not want to spend sunsets on a ship instead of on land, or spend dinner eating on the ship instead of local restaurants. If I could do the cruise AND spend at least a week there before heading home that would be a different story. Our first trip we spent eight days on Maui and were told by more than one local while sadly shaking their heads at us that it is a ten day island...they were right, we did not do everything we had planned to. Gee darn, we had to go back...

You can always find someone to tell you to stay in a place a little longer.

To be honest, Hawaii today is way oversold. Oahu and Maui prices don't quite reflect what you are expecting to see there, and you can find drugs more easily in Hilo than clean water. Kaua'i today is what Maui was 20 years ago and even that is now seeing tourist numbers (minus COVID) like never before.

French Polynesia is the true Pacific escape these days. Few flights, exotic location, clear lagoons - and those overwater bungalows!

 

[AquaDame]

You can always find someone to tell you to stay in a place a little longer.

To be honest, Hawaii today is way oversold. Oahu and Maui prices don't quite reflect what you are expecting to see there, and you can find drugs more easily in Hilo than clean water. Kaua'i today is what Maui was 20 years ago and even that is now seeing tourist numbers (minus COVID) like never before.

French Polynesia is the true Pacific escape these days. Few flights, exotic location, clear lagoons - and those overwater bungalows!

We only started going in 2008 so I don't have the past to compare it to... My husband's grandpa came with us to Maui for our wedding and felt the same about how much it had changed. We've been to the four larger islands and Lanai, but still prefer Maui. Likely because it was our first? It just feels like a nice middle ground of some busier areas and some quieter... we didn't really have expectations besides nice beaches since its still the US. We certainly still felt "island time" though. We usually rent a condo in Kihei and have a great time every time, its not expensive at all. Oahu was too busy for us also - getting out of Honolulu can be a pain as is parking.

FWIW we've been to the Cook Islands and French Polynesia as well - Hawaii still has a special place in my heart. Bora Bora is what I would call way oversold, but I'd happily go back to other islands there too.