Panama Canal Cruise: The Canal
An early start to try and see the sunrise on arrival in Panama, but facing forward (northeast) meant the sun was mostly behind me so all I saw was a gradual lightening of the sky. I was our on deck 11 forward viewing area at 5:45am and was real lucky to squeeze in between two nice people. Mom sensibly slept in and then went to the glassed in viewing area of deck 14 (where she could also have breakfast) and lucked in with timing to take a place of a gentleman that was just leaving the front row!
The morning locks, the Pacific locks, were the dual Miraflores locks followed by the single Pedro Miguel lock. At the entrance we had a full view of the new Calibri locks that are in test mode and scheduled (after an 18 month delay) to open in June. At the exit of Pedro Miguel we also saw the approach channel to those new triple lock set.
We were a bit delayed on the Pacific side resulting in an hours delay from schedule. Here's what we ended up with:
7:15 passing Bridge of Americas (as we sail past Panama City)
8:45 entering Miraflores Locks
10:00 departing Miraflores Locks
10:30 entering Pedro Miguel Locks
11:20 departing Pedro Miguel Locks
11:45 passing Centennial Bridge
14:40 entering Gatun Locks
16:25 departing Gatun Locks
Now in the Caribbean
The onboard destination specialist broadcast loads of stats over the public address system. I only remember a few. The "biggest" one was our fee to use the canal: US$256,000, the highest US$375,000 (for the Norwegian Pearl cruise ship), fees calculated at $US115 per occupied bed + $95 per unoccupied bed, the locks raise/lower us 78 feet. You'll have to take the cruise to get the other stats.
We both had a much easier time to view the Caribbean side "Gatun" locks, as others seemed to be off timing to get to the viewing areas.
