Will there ever be another DCL Panama Canal sailing?

[chamberlain]

Thanks! That does sound cool and would be very interesting to watch.

 

[Hubie]

Our second cruise was DCL's WBPC on the Wonder. We celebrated our 50th Anniversary while going through the canal. Below is a shot of the distance between the walls of the old canal and the Wonder's hull.

 

[happycamper47]

Our second cruise was DCL's WBPC on the Wonder. We celebrated our 50th Anniversary while going through the canal. Below is a shot of the distance between the walls of the old canal and the Wonder's hull.

View attachment 862731

Yep, 24 inches on both sides....

 

[auntlynne]

Now, we’re not talking the “old canal.” The little river going off to the side is the original French Cut, before they gave up.



Here is the old locks on the way to Gatun Lake. You are going up from the Caribbean. The mule is the small gray vehicle next to the gate for that lock, using the train tracks. The ropes can be seen connected to the Wonder.

Once we were inside the lock, the gate closed, the lock was filled with additional water and lifted us to the height of the lake as seen beyond the closed gate.



On the western side of the lake, we had to step back down to the Pacific. (This is my memory. From ten years ago this month. If incorrect, I may need another PC cruise.)



Our passing an administrative building was at 3 pm, with school children viewing - with a Disney horn song, of course.



Anyone have photos of the current locks?

The only ones I have are the gates from before they were installed.

 

[Cfabar1]

DCL itineraries are overall quite boring... They'll do PC cruises if they have to, but basically that's it... It is a repositioning cruise.

 

[happycamper47]

Anyone have photos of the current locks?

No one to be seen....except the ships..
Edit to pics, found better one of approach and exit to new locks.

 

[auntlynne]

@happycamper47 - they look so wide.

 

[happycamper47]

@happycamper47 - they look so wide.

They are, 70' wider than the original locks so over 30 ft on each side for the Wonder and Magic compared to 24" in the old locks.

 

[JM_97]

It would be a toss up for them... if they sent another ship and that took the price down a bit, would more people choose to sail Disney to Alaska? Now, many people are priced out and decide to try another line... so would the volume play recover the extra ship cost?

I'm sure there are Disney data analysts who are pondering these very questions!

I don't think they'll do Australia for much longer. My guess is that the Wonder and Dream swap places for a summer in a couple of years.

 

[happycamper47]

I don't think they'll do Australia for much longer.

X-2 I saw a comment, can't remember where, that the CM's said they lost 50% or more of their income in AU since they didn't get the gratuities. Apparently a large majority removed the gratuities from their accounts.

 

[Hubie]

X-2 I saw a comment, can't remember where, that the CM's said they lost 50% or more of their income in AU since they didn't get the gratuities. Apparently a large majority removed the gratuities from their accounts.

That doesn't surprise me since Aussie's don't expect tips. Apparently, unlike here, they pay their service folks a decent wage.