Going west to east through the Canal, which side is better for viewing the canal from your balcony. Port or Starboard?

Both are more or less the same. The best is the front of the ship, sailing into the locks etc.
Or the aft-cabins, but you miss the action of sailing into the locks.

please post a trip report when you return. We are interested in this cruise and would like to read your information.

My experience was that if your cabin is toward the bow of the ship it won't make much difference. We had a port side balcony, but were more than halfway back toward the stern so we opted to go up to one of the front public decks as we entered and left the locks. Once through the locks we felt the port balcony was great.

We did it and it won't make any diff on sides. They both look about the same. In fact, most of what you see in the canal will be the cement walls as you go up/down.

There is usually a huge crowd that rush out to the bow first thing (we did it), but it really is not worth the rush or pushing.

It will take the major part of the day to get through and by the end of the day you will have had enough of the "85 feet" tour talk.

Don't get me wrong, I loved the trip and are about two days from booking another one in January.

But there is soooooo much canal, you won't miss any no matter what side or how early you crowd to the front.

I have to agree with jamesr3939 - once the ship goes through the first lock the novelty wears off very fast and it becomes a bit of a bore so whatever crowding there may be at the front of the ship will dissapate quickly. The view and procedures will be essentially the same at every lock, so if you miss out seeing something at the first lock you'll have three more chances throughout the day.

As for the side views - when going through the locks you'll see the "mules" and cement walls from either side. The process of filling and emptying the locks is about as exciting as watching paint dry or watching a traffic light change colors (perhaps that last analogy is a bit misleading because the lights change frequently while the water flows into and out of the locks V-E-R-Y S-L-O-W-L-Y).

When actually traversing the lake the scenic views are not all that different, however, you'll have adequate time to stroll around your ship and catch all the views. It will take the better part of the day to traverse the locks and lake so you'll have plenty of liesure time on your hands to view everything.

Thank you, James and Roams, good advices! I'm going in January, our window is on... ummm... sorry... left side of the ship... laugh but don't scream at me, which side is it?

Don't laugh at me either. I have taken two Panama Canal cruises, one on the right side and one on the left side. Both were awesome. The best thing was sailing under the Bridge of the Americas which we were up top for that. Both cruises were awesome.

Hi FainaAgain, Port is left and starboard is right. What diference does it make anyway? The ship docks on both sides nowadays so they might as well get rid of the old terms and call it left and right.

What ship in January? We just deposited on the Island Princess for Janaury 13th.

Vision of the seas RCCL out of Los Angeles January 4.

Will be on the port side to see the stars from the cabin window

Having done two or three partials and one full... I can only say...after the first two locks..its up and down, up and down...boring.. Not only that hot and humid with people at the bow on chairs and tables.. So, my best advice is sit by a window for breafast or lunch and see the water go up.. and the water go down..lol

ParrotMom
Since you have done both partial and full, which do you recommmend?

One of the highlights of our first Panama Canal cruise was a stop to visit the Kuna Indians..but now its a tourist attraction and as they say.. it aint what it used to be..(add Cabo San Lucas and Carbo San Jose to that), now that the secret is out about Cartegena (the change in that city and the resurgance of the Old City) makes it a must see for me if we choose an itinerary in that area) being the new Buenas Aires...and I must admit that seeing the Cliff Divers (on our own) in Acapulco was incredible.(Parrot Pop bought magnificent leather belts for a song at the flea market).. The low part of it for me was the rough seas going up to L.A and getting seasick.. BTW we were on the then NCL Sky on its first transit of the Canal..it was scrapped going along..lol Now, I would like to stop in Panama if I were to do it again.. If I were to travel that area again it would be to South America. We are doing trans/atlantics FROM Europe to the U.S.

Thank you, Mom, we'll stop in Cabo and Acapulco.

And I never go on a cruise without some Bonine, should be all right.