Panama Canal
Having just ticked the transit of the Panama Canal off our bucket list, I thought it would be good to note a few pointers to take into consideration when booking a trip like this.
While we had an amazing time and visited some fabulous countries, a specialist cruise isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Here’s what we loved and didn’t quite like about our recent trip.
We travelled on Royal Caribbean’s “Legend” which in itself is a nice enough ship. The thing with this particular cruise is that the size of the ships that can fit through the locks are limited, so it’s worth choosing a ship that can offer you enough variety of activities to keep you entertained, as these cruises are typically 14 days or longer.
As it is a longer cruise, it’s definitely worth investing in the best cabin that you can afford. An outside or balcony cabin or suite is definitely the way to go and it’s always worth investigating the cruise line’s loyalty programs as many offer upgrades and discounts for frequent cruisers as well as extra benefits such as included drinks packages, shore excursions and room credits.
That being said, it’s important to check the entertainment options on the ship as you will have a few days at sea and there’s nothing worse than being stuck on board with nothing to do! Of course relaxation is the main reason many people cruise, but I personally like a wide and varied program of entertainment options to choose from. Also having a well-equipped gym is a big plus for me as you need to have some way to work off the extra food you are sure to consume.
The average age of patrons on this ship was easily mid to late 60’s so late night parties were not the go and it was certainly a lot quieter than previous Caribbean cruises that I have been on. There were few children which made my children’s time in the Kid’s Club less sociable, but that being said, they certainly made some great friendships with the kids that were there and had personalised care from the attendants.
So with that being said, make sure you can identify what it is you want from your cruise vacation, wherever it may be, before you lock into something as the wrong choice of ship really can make for your expectations not being met.
Now to the destinations we visited. Once we left Fort Lauderdale it was full steam ahead to Colombia and our first port of Cartagena which was beautiful. We took off on our own to explore the old walled city and had a great day. The kids were able to experience a different culture and we were able to do it on our own terms and in our own time. With map in hand, we covered all the main sites that we wanted to visit and did it in a leisurely fashion. Mind you I had done a bit of Google research prior to travelling so had a fair idea of what I wanted to see whilst in port. Highlight for the kids was cuddling a sloth and for me, being able to enjoy one of the finest cups of coffee I have had in ages!
Of course the cruise company will have a list of tours you can book with them and for the most part they are great. Many cater to specific client interests which can really be a highlight of your trip. Be aware though that in most cases you can do similar on your own for a fraction of the cost. Clients that are older, with mobility issues or those that are a bit nervous will love the reassurance of booking through the cruise line as they are guaranteed to get you back on time and hold the cruise company’s “Seal of approval”. The cynic in me however wonders how much each cruise company gets as a kickback from every person they book on their tours.
Second stop was Colon, which was a pointless stop for us at the time. Being Easter holidays the city was pretty much closed down and unless you wanted to do an up close and personal tour of the Locks of the Canal, there was little to do. I suspected this was more of a utility stop for the ship as she was able to unload waste and reload on essentials. We wandered around aimlessly and really just killed the day while the anticipation to traverse the Canal in the morning built.
By 6am the next morning the rails around all the decks were full of cruisers with cameras in hand, all waiting to see sunrise and start our journey through one of the World’s architectural marvels. We were no exception, and the excitement in the air was tangible as we all awaited our day’s adventure.
Over 100 years old, the Locks are still fully operational and a sight to behold. Mind you a new set is almost completed next to the original locks to allow for the more modern larger ships of today to transit safely.
As we started our journey out of Colon and past the shipyards we joined a long convoy of ships who were waiting in queue for their turn to pass. We had a Panamanian canal expert on board who gave us a running commentary of the history, building and upkeep of the locks as well as pointing out places of interest to view along the way.
On entering our first lock at Gatun, I was amazed at the engineering that went into their operation. Watching the locks empty and fill was awe inspiring. Seeing and feeling the ship rise and fall was brilliant and watching the mechanics of the whole operation gave me a great respect for the canal builders of old.
Once we cleared the locks it was a smooth sail through Gatun Lake until about midway where we once again went through a lock at Pedro Miguel which led us to Miraflores Lake and the last Miraflores Locks. Through this process we crossed from the Atlantic Ocean at Panama, were raised above sea level via the Gatun Locks to the Gatun Lake, lowered via lock to the Miraflores Lake and eventually lowered again via the Miraflores locks to sea level just outside Panama City and the Pacific Ocean.
After clearing the Canal it was on to Costa Rica and our stop at Puntarenas. We loved Costa Rica though it is worth noting the West Coast is quite dry, not the tropical forested land that I had imagined, all due to the mountains which run up the spine of the country and trap most of the rain on the East coast. Even so, we had a fun day zip lining through the trees and the kids had a blast.
From Costa Rica it was a short cruise to Puerto Quetzal in Guatemala where we did book a cruise tour to the fantastic Pacaya Volcano. What a fabulous day hiking up the side of the active volcano that had just erupted 2 years prior. Unfortunately there was no active lava flows for us to see, but the lava from the previous eruption was still hot enough that the kids could roast marshmallows and heat coming off them was tangible.
The cruise port had a wonderful market set up and again, a chance to sample fantastic coffee and just a little of the local rum! Souvenir shopping was done, many photos were taken and it was a great day.
I would love to return to both Guatemala and Costa Rica as we really didn’t have time to see enough. I guess that’s what cruises are good for, think of it as a tasting platter to just try a bit of this and a bit of that before you go back for your main meal. There were so many options of tours to do in both ports but for us with two young kids having a keen interest in volcanology, the tours we did were no-brainers. I would have loved to have visited Antigua and Lake Atitlan in Guatemala and the jungles of Costa Rica.
On to Mexico and our first stop at Punta Arenas. I was surprised how clean and organised the city was and a short taxi ride saw us strolling the esplanade downtown, admiring the fantastic sculptures that lined the promenade. Once you get over all the hype the cruise lines feed you about shopping for diamonds or tanzanite, I found the shopping here was reasonable, though a little more expensive than I had been led to believe. Most products were priced in $US which didn’t make for great value from a weaker Australian dollar.
Still it was wonderful walking into the artisanal stores which showcased the beautiful bead work and pottery from the local areas. Skeletons are a big thing in Mexico and we asked one of the storekeepers to explain why. The notion of the well-dressed skeletons was conceived many years ago by a local satirist who liked to mimic the rich and powerful by drawing caricatures of them as skeletons in flowing robes and adorned in rich jewels. His point was that no matter what you portrayed on the outside or how lucky you may be in your lifestyle, we are all just skeletons and the same on the inside. A wise man indeed.
Cabo San Lucas, our next stop was far and away my favourite. From the harbour where we were at tender, we watched the local fisherman come and go from the marina, with large seals chasing their boats and jumping up on the back boards for a free ride into port. Even as we took our tender into the marina, we were flanked by the seals looking to hitch. It was fun to watch and a highlight for the kids.
The marina at Cabo was beautiful, again clean, easy to walk around and so much to see and do. We enjoyed strolling and took time out to have our first swim in the beautiful, crystal blue Mexican waters.
We took a short tour out to visit Lover’s Beach and the seals at Land’s End on the tip of the Baja Peninsula. Fish feeding and chasing the seals were the highlight of the kid’s day but I have to say, I really enjoyed it too! We decided our time in Cabo just wasn’t long enough and we would love to come back and spend more time exploring the beautiful beaches and culture a little more.
Nearing the end of the cruise it was full steam ahead to San Diego where we would be disembarking. I must say I loved the cruise and the ports but must impress how important it is to choose the right ship. We had little leeway with our choice as we only had a short window when we could go, but the adage here is certainly true, you do get what you pay for.