Cruise Talk: When to travel the Panama

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»	Cruise Talk » Ports of Call and Destinations » When to travel the Panama

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Topic: When to travel the Panama

victoriabc1
Just Boarded
Member # 920

posted 07-25-2001 06:07 PM

My 25th wedding anniversary is June 2003. I know that is still 2 years away, but we plan to cruise the Panama Canal with family & friends (could be up to 10 couples) and will need to book by next summer. As there isn't cruises during that time of year, what is the best time to go. Any thoughts on the best line (please don't say Holland America as I've had a bad experience with them). We would prefer to go from Ft Lauderdale to San Diego. Thanks

Posts: 8 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

Carole
First Class Passenger
Member # 1750

posted 07-28-2001 12:00 PM

Hello,

My husband and I will be sailing the canal in October on the Carnival Spirit. From what I have read, these are usually repositioning trips. In the spring the cruise lines move their ships from the Caribbean to Alaska, so the canal is travelled in May. In the fall they leave Alaska, so travel is usually in September or October. I guess you would have to plan on a spring transit if you want to sail from the east coast to the west. If you like, I can let you know the details when I get back. Weather wise, I think it would be about the same either season.

As far as lines, I love RCI, Celebrity and Carnival. I traveled Holland America once and was not greatly impressed. Which other ones have you been on?

We are very excited about the new ship. I am disappointed, however, in the shore excursions. Carnival faxed them to me yesterday and I thought there should have been more of them, and more varied activites. If anyone has any suggestions of what to do, please email me!

[/LIST]

Posts: 11 | From: Manchester, MD, USA | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 07-28-2001 12:17 PM

I have travelled the Canal on HAL ships in September and October. September was extremely humid, and October not as bad but then we had cloud cover all the way through the Canal and even though it was humid, it didn't seem so bad.
Most of the repositioning is done in April and that may be a little cooler, but not much.
Have sailed many, many times on HAL and we love their ships. I know some people don't like HAL, but to each his own. HAL does have a large following.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

billybob
First Class Passenger
Member # 1902

posted 07-28-2001 10:47 PM

Carole....

My wife and I are doing the Spirit from Vancouver to Honolulu (9/26 - 10/8) just before you take it to Panama.

From what I have read and heard, it sounds like a beautiful ship...haven't read a bad review yet.

Keep your eyes peeled to this site...I'll try and do a review when I return and before you leave.

aloha...or is it mahalo for goodbye and aloha for hello?? I guess I'll soon learn!

Posts: 52 | From: Massachusetts | Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged

Carole
First Class Passenger
Member # 1750

posted 07-29-2001 12:37 AM

Billybob,

Can't wait to hear about her! Enjoy your cruise - we did the same itinerary last September on RCI Vision of the Seas. It was fabulous!

Posts: 11 | From: Manchester, MD, USA | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 07-29-2001 08:05 AM

billybob - "Mahalo" is "Thank you". My friend in Honolulu uses, Aloh for both "hello" and "goodbye".
Have a wonderful time in Honolulu. There is so much to see - done it twice on HAL ships. Do take the tour to Volcanos National Park - it is very fascinating. I LOVED the Macadamia nut factory and the delicious ice cream they served - we stopped there during one of our tours.
We are very fortunte to have a friend who lives in Honolulu and she took us for a drive up the east coast - we saw things we would never see on a ship's excursion
ALOHA!

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Frank X. Prudent
First Class Passenger
Member # 1723

posted 07-30-2001 02:04 PM

quote:
Originally posted by billybob:
aloha...or is it mahalo for goodbye and aloha for hello?? I guess I'll soon learn!

Aloha is both hello and goodbye. It also has the connotations of love you and peace be with you. It truly is a beautiful word, and it's used quite freely in the Islands. Mahalo means thank you, and this word too is not forgotten in the Hawaiian Islands....Aloha!

Posts: 577 | From: Covington, Kentucky, U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 2000 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 07-30-2001 03:28 PM

Frank - that is exactly what I said! See I spelt Aloha wrong - left off the "a".

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 07-30-2001 05:52 PM

quote:
Originally posted by sympatico:
Frank - that is exactly what I said! I see I spelled Aloha wrong - left off the "a".

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Marcia
First Class Passenger
Member # 1198

posted 07-31-2001 06:51 PM

We did the Panama Canal on Royal Caribbean "Legend of the Seas" leaving San Diego in mid-April and ending up in Ft. Lauderdale the first of May. The weather was wonderful, seas were smooth as glass and we had a wonderful trip. Not to hot at all. We arranged to spend a few days in S.D. before sailing. See report I made at the time. Have a wonderful trip.

Posts: 101 | From: Hamilton, Oh. U.S.A. | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

victoriabc1
Just Boarded
Member # 920

posted 08-07-2001 02:43 PM

Thanks, everyone. Our 1st thought was to go in April as I had heard that is the nicest weather conditions. Still can't decide whether it will be RCC or Princess.

Posts: 8 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

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