Panama Canal Cruises - Looking for Input
 

A group of us are thinking about a Canal Cruise in 2001. I noticed there are no cruises in June - only May and July. Are these good months to go or is it too hot? Also looking for input from anyone who has been on the line they took and the departure point. Our preference would be Ft. Lauderdale/Miami.

Mike, <BR>March of 98 we took a Princess cruise (Regal) from Ft. Lauderdale to Los Angeles thru the Canal. It was wonderful and the Canal certainly a work of engineering. March temperatures were in the low 90s during our stops in Cartegena, thru the Canal and up to Costa Rica. It was very hot in the sun and several passengers made trip to visit the ship doctor for dehydration and sunstroke. It is easy to forget about how long you have stood in the sun watching the transit. Imagine that the temperatures don't change much all year but there may be more rain between May and Nov. and more humidity than in the winter. It is the rainy season. <BR>

(I could swear my message posted and then disappeared! I'll try to remember what I wrote:) <BR> <BR>We took the Holland America Maasdam from Acapulco to Fort Lauderdale and enjoyed it very much. It also goes in the other direction. I believe they now have cruises which omit the Mexico part and begin in Costa Rica where you can spend a few days. <BR> <BR>We went in November and it was still quite hot. I was happy to have a cabin with a balcony so at times we could return to the cool room and just watch the canal 'pass by'. Even so, I changed clothes three times that day. <BR> <BR>More important to me than the departure point would be the stops the ship makes along the way. Do you have any preference for Caribbean islands or for Central America or South America? <BR>

We sailed the Vision of the Seas last year (Jan.30th). I think the summer months are too hot and the ships go to Alaska. Our weather was perfect every day in Jan. RCCL web page gives great information. <BR> <BR>I would highly recommend this ship where ever you go. Been on many and this was wonderful. We had a balcony and it was worth the extra money. The ship is beautiful and the rooms were much bigger than the last Princess ship we were on. <BR> <BR>Lana

I just went on the Vision of the Sea through the Panama Canal this Feb. It is a lovely ship. The food wasn't as good as I had hoped but heard that from others who had traveled earlier. I would recommend you go in Jan. or Feb. The weather was great and not too hot. I had friends who went last Nov. and they about died from the heat. The ships do go to other places for the summer. We took an 11 day from Acapulco to Costa Rica, through the canal, to Aruba, Curacoa, St. Thomas and San Juan.