Suzyque

We are thinking of cruising to the canal in late Nov. early Dec. 2013. Has anyone been there at this time and how was the trip? What is this weather like? Anyone go on the Coral Princess? Any and all help will be appreciated!

Thanks,
Suzyque

lseldon

For a Tour guide & van/Chauffeur service consider:
Jesus played base ball in the U.S. and his English is good. He charges $15 per hour for his service which includes taking you to tourist areas & $25 to & from the airport IF you tell him I referred you. Jesus Cell # is 011 (507) 6754-3378, Jesus has a van/taxi/tour service, I met him when he was a security guard (suit) at the Marriott Hotel in Panama City. Jesus does not do email but if you text him a message to call you, he will call you back. He has an international calling plan on his cell phone.
Take a look at my Panama website & blog, If I can be of any assistance with your visit to Panama don't hesitate to contact me. I also have about 11 page info on Panama if printed out available on request.:
Louis Seldon
Cell # 954-610-5121
Eamil: [email protected]
Website: http://panamalou.com/
Blog: http://panamalou.blogspot.com/

Eschew

For Panama Canal cruise, the weather around the Canal Zone is quite predictable: expect at least 50% chance for rain, and December is the start of their dry season, and November is near the end of the wet season.

Temperature would be warm around 80F+ day time, and humid. The Coral Princess is a PanaMax size ship, meaning it is the maximum size that would fit in the current lock system. They are building a new (and much larger) lock system so PanaMax maybe a thing of the past. When going through teh lock,s youa re talking about literally inches (okay, maybe a foot) from scraping the wall.

The ship hold about 2000 passengers and has lots of public area so it doesn't feel crowded. If you want a balcony cabin, make sure you book it for the higher decks for privacy. The decor and layout is very typical Princess. The Coral is about 10 years old and nicely decorated. You will find info on the Coral Princess on the Fodors link below.

http://www.fodors.com/cruises/prince...incess-676666/

Are you planing a round trip or full transit? Eitehr way, the approach to the lock is very early in the morning. We were up at 5 a.m. so we can watch the whole approach at the front of the ship starting around 6. Best location to watch the approach: deck 10 and 11 forward oper area. You have to look for it, it is sort of on the deck plan.

There are 2 school of thoughts on the Canal. One is go ashore and take excursison, teh otehr is stay on baord and enjoy the passage/transit. What I would recommend would be based on if you are going round trip or full transit.

lseldon

My favorite places to eat in Panama City:
Balboa Yacht Club, Amador beside Country Inn & Suites & FGI Fridays on the Panama Canal (typical Panama food +), great for sunset drink, week end live live music with local groups.
Calle Uruguay has many good restaurants, clubs and bars, it is like the “South Beach“ of the city. Located one block east of Frederico Boyd & south of Calle 50.
Vegetarian Restaurants in Panama City.
Costa Azul Restaurant (typical Panama food +), on side street from Via España between the Continental Hotel & the Marriott Hotel, Banking District
Jimmy’s Parrilla Restaurant (typical Panama food +), , two locations Banking District & San Francisco, see: http://www.parrilladajimmy.com/
Lung Fung (Chinese) Restaurant, Betania area, Vía Simón Bolívar (Transístmica) and Calle 62 C. Oeste Take a taxi, parking is tight under the building, but there is a parking lot up the street. Taxi drivers know the name.
Manolo’s Cafes, several in the city, Via Veneto (this one has the best prices), Via Argentina, etc.
Martin Fierro (Argentine cruise), El Cangrejo, Calle Eusebio Morales, down the street from the Las Vegas Hotel
see: http://panama.mydestinationinfo.com/...-martin-fierro
Me gusta Comida Vegetariana is off via España on the side street between the Continental Hotel & Marriott Hotel (across the street from Restaurant Costa Azul on the “rounded“ corner).
Mi Ranchito (typical Panama food +), on the first island on the Amador Causeway, see: http://www.restaurantemiranchito.com/en/home.html
Napoli Italian Restaurant, original off Avenida de Martes near the old Canal Zone & the new one south of Via España on a side street in Obarrio
Niko’s Cafes (buffet-cafeteria style), all over Panama City & Balboa, see:
http://www.nikoscafe.com/
Pomodoro Restaurant Italian cuisine in a bohemian cafe atmosphere, located on the left side of the entrance to the Las Vegas Hotel lobby on Via Veneto see:
http://lasvegaspanama.com/en/restaurant
Rincon Aleman, Germany Restaurant, one block off Frederico Boyd & one block north of Calle 50 beside Tinajas Restaurant, see: http://www.1985.com/restaurant_rincon_aleman.html
Rincon Suizo, Swiss Restaurant, El Cangrejo, Calle Eusebio Morales, down the street from the Las Vegas Hotel, see:
http://www.1985.com/restaurant_rincon_suizo.html
Rino’s Italian & International cuisine, Banking District, Ave Federico Boyd & Calle 49.
Tinajas Restaurant, (typical Panama food with typical Panama dance shows most nights), one block off Frederico Boyd & one block north of Calle 50 beside Rincon Aleman Restaurant, see:
http://www.tinajaspanama.com/en/about-us
Wine Bar, on the right side of the entrance to Las Vegas Hotel lobby offers pizzas, great wines and other Italian menu items along with live music of local groups. See:
http://lasvegaspanama.com/en/restaurant
U.S. Chain restaurant:
TGI Fridays, Bennigan’s, Hooters + many U.S. chain fast foods: KFC, McDonalds, Subway, NY Bagel etc.
Louis Seldon
Cell # 954-610-5121
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://panamalou.com/
Blog: http://panamalou.blogspot.com/

lseldon

Eco/Nature/Birds/Fish Sites in Panamá:
Barro Colorado Island: Gatun Lake, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, see:
http://www.stri.si.edu/english/visit...rado/index.php
Canopy Tower Bird watching: near Gamboa, see:
http://www.canopytower.com/error.lasso
Eco Tours:
http://panamatraveltours.com/about_us.html
Embera Village, see:
http://www.emberavillagetours.com
Gamboa Rain Forrest Resort: see:
http://www.gamboaresort.com/
Gamboa Ivan’s B&B: Birding Lodge (Bird Watching), see:
http://www.gamboaecotours.com/birding_tour.html
Panama Railroad, Though not eco itself, you will see a lot by riding the train. see:
http://www.panarail.com/home.html
Playa Venao: Azuero Peninsular, El Sitio beach & surf resort, see:
http://elsitiopv.com/
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Ancon, see:
http://www.stri.si.edu/
http://www.taboga.panamanow.com/ferry/boats.html
Taboga Island: Located just south of the Pacific entrance to the canal, about a 35 minute launch ride to the island. See: http://www.tabogaislandpanama.com/
Torti, Panama: about 2 hour drive east of Panama City toward the Darien includes the Hotel Avicar and Restaurant Avicar. The hotel, is a 10 room hotel with swimming pool. Prices ranges depending on the occupancy (beds) from 35.00 to 50.00 US Dollars. The food at the restaurant is a la carte and it ranges from 3.00 to 5.00 US Dollars (steak with rice and salad). Bird watching & jungle tours, for more information contact Luis Gonzalez Nelson at [email protected] or see: www.hotelavicar.com
Tranquilo Bay Eco Lodge
: Bocas del Toro, see:
http://www.tranquilobay.com/home.htm
Tropic Star Lodge, Piñas Bay, World class Marlin fishing: http://www.tropicstar.com/?source=navyleague
Whale Watching:
www.WhaleWatchingPanama.com

Louis Seldon
Cell # 954-610-5121
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://panamalou.com/
Blog: http://panamalou.blogspot.com/

GRANNYB87

We did a 17day cruise on Princess Coral 3 years ago and it was the most fabulous of trips. We loved going through the canal and all of the other stops as well. We did some Mexico stops that I don't think they do anymore for safety reasons. We went west coast u.s. to Florida. Hot and humid in Panama during mid Nov. We do not live near an ocean or seaport, so the sea life was an education for us. Seeing all the people and ships who make a living on the sea was amazing. I would take the same trip again. Other stops Columbia, Aruba, Costa Rica, Acapulco and others in Mexico.