Panama Canal

January 30, 2023

Since I've been retired, there have been very few mornings that I have set an alarm for 5:30 am, but today was one of those days. And I wasn't even dreading getting up that early because I didn't want to miss any part of our trip through the Panama Canal!

Ryan, the CD, was scheduled to start his commentary on our transit of the canal at 6 am, but he began earlier. The commentary could be heard on any of the outside decks of the ship, the Crow's Nest or in the staterooms on the bow cam TV channel. The ship was ready to go under the Bridge of Americas on the Pacific side and it was still dark. Later in the week (at the Captain's talk) he mentioned that HAL had to pay $35,000 just for a "daytime" reservation plus $375/passenger. That amounted to over $440,000! No wonder the port fees are so high for a Panama Canal cruise!

The Bridge of Americas across the Panama Canal. This bridge is part of the Pan-American Highway.

Bob and I went to the bow which was open for the transit. Coffee and Panama Rolls (jelly filled buns) were being served and the temperature was very pleasant with a little wind. If only those conditions would last for the rest of the day! The rolls, coffee and orange juice were also being served in the Crow's Nest, the Atrium, and by the Sea View pool.

Even before sunrise there was a crowd on the bow of the Zaandam.

The bow was crowded and it was hard to get much of a view through all of the heads so after checking our back deck (too hot) we eventually we moved down to the Promenade Deck (deck 3). While we were on the bow I had a flashback to being there in Antarctica and tripping and falling flat on my face. Only my dignity was injured but it made me extra careful with my footing this time!

Entering the first of the Miraflores locks as the sun comes up. The green and gold arrow indicates which lane the ship should enter. The two men in the rowboat were waiting to catch the lines from our ship that would then be attached to the mules (locomotives) on shore. Mules on either side would help keep the ship centered as it went through the locks.

Getting a little help from a tug.

A mule tied to the Zaandam goes uphill as the ship is raised in the lock.

The bow of the Zaandam. The brown building is the visitor's center at the Miraflores Locks. Normally each level would be filled with onlookers, but it wasn't yet open at the early hour we went through.

Taken from our aft deck. The sun made us decide to look elsewhere for a place to view the canal.

We were fortunate to find two of the padded loungers on the shaded side of the promenade deck and stayed there until 11:30. On our first transit of the canal I was all over the place taking photos and video so this time I didn't feel the need to take"quite as many" pictures. During the time we were there we made it through the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel locks and a good part of Gatun Lake.

A tight fit! The Zaandam is 106.5 feet wide and the canal is 110 feet wide. 

Approaching the Centennial Bridge

Centennial Bridge

Culebra Cut...where the Panama Canal crosses the continental divide.

Sailing through Gatun Lake

We passed by Le Bellot, a Ponant Cruise Ship that holds up to 184 passengers.

As soon as the buffet opened at 11:30, we were eating lunch. I wanted to be finished and back outside for when the Zaandam passed through the Gatun Locks. We first went to the bow, but it was still quite crowded and had gotten uncomfortably hot. OUR private deck seemed the best place to experience the last set of three locks. Our lounge chairs were now in the shade, but the ship was going slow and there was not even a hint of a breeze.

Gatun Locks

The mules were turned around by using a turn table built into the wall of the locks.

While the Zaandam was being lowered 85 feet to sea level, we watched as other ships going in the opposite direction in the adjacent lane were being raised the same 85 feet to sail into Gatun Lake.

Bob left before we were completely out of the canal to go play pickleball. (He wanted to say he played in the Panama Canal!) I stuck it out till the end and the heat was just about more than I could handle. One saving factor...two crew members were nearby with cold, wet towels! 

Cold towels being offered as I sat in my lounge chair on MY deck!

I went up to the sports deck to get some photos of Bob. Its not every day that you can say you played pickleball in the Panama Canal! On my way back down, Ryan announced that an alligator was sunning himself on shore!

I was having trouble seeing the alligator through my camera lens. 

But I zoomed in all of the way and got this photo!

Atlantic Bridge

In 2018, the Atlantic Bridge was not yet complete as we began our transit of the Panama Canal in the opposite direction.

Three canals. 1) On the left is the new, wider Panama Canal. 2) The middle is the original canal and 3) on the far right is the canal started by the French but never completed.

A better view of the canal that the French began but never completed.

My sister was able to get this shot from the webcam as the Zaandam sailed through the canal!

At 2:30, anyone that wanted could go to the aft pool for an activity being billed as "Swim Across the Panama Canal." All they were doing was swimming across the pool and I didn't stick around to see if there were many that participated or not.

I showered and snuck in a little nap before Bob got back to the cabin. I have no idea how he was able to endure the heat AND play an aggressive game of pickleball (because he NEVER doesn't play to win.)

Nothing really stood out to us on the MDR menu, but we ate there anyway. Sometimes it is just nice to be served. We were able to get seated at our favorite table with our favorite waiter, Garis, and were in and out in plenty of time to get to the early show. 

Nestor Santurio was the headliner on the World Stage and his write up in the Daily Program (which USED to be called the When & Where) said he was a Latin guitar player, vocal artist and comedian. He was probably my least favorite of all of the entertainers we saw on the cruise. Not bad, just not the best.

Nestor Santurio

Normally we sat in the balcony at the theater, but the lady in the row ahead of us was constantly blowing her nose and just gave me vibes that she wasn't well. I made Bob switch seats and since there were no other seats in the balcony we moved down to the lower level. I felt more comfortable and we had a better view as well!

I could just copy and paste from previous posts to describe the rest of our evening...we were defintely into a routine. Leave the theater, listen to a set or two from Clara, the piano bar entertainer in the Mix Bar or maybe the classical duo performing in the Explorer's Lounge. Then we moved up to the lido and got a cup of tea which we drank under the stars and moon (a full moon even!) sitting next to the pool.

Tomorrow we had the best of both worlds...a sea day and a port day. Our arrival in Cartagena, Columbia wasn't until noon so we could sleep late but yet still have the afternoon to get off the ship and explore!