My husband would like us to take a Panama Canal cruise later this year. We are in our late sixties but healthy and active. Any ideas on the best cruise for us?

We're 60 & 63, and have done the Panama Canal twice. First time on the Ocean Princess in April 2000, and just on Carnival Spirit in April of this year. Princess is the only way to go. We've done 7 cruises, and this past one on the Spirit was by far the worst. Many problems with the ship, even though it's only a year old, such as electrical, elevators, air-conditioning (the following cruise to Hawaii was cut short, and the next cancelled altogether) Treat yourself, and go on any of the Princess ships. We've done the Ocean, Sun and Dawn, and would highly recommend them to anyone. Please write a review when you return. Good luck!

Whatever line you choose to sail through the Panama Canal I would make sure the cruise goes all the way through the Canal. We sailed through the Canal from San Diego to Fort Lauderdale and it was well worth the trip.

Have never done the whole canal trip.
But we totally enjoyed Ft Lauderdale
to canal and return trip to Lauderdale. You
go through three locks, cruise the inner lake
and come out the same three locks. Trip
was very interesting. Made it on Crown Princess.
We will repeat the trip next February 2003
on the new Coral Princess. The canal is still
an enginering marvel of the world. Bill

We did the Panama Canal Transit on the AMSTERDAM in Dec 2001. We flew into Costa Rica for 2 night pre tour of Rain Forest. We spent 1 day at Port of Panama City before making the transit. Very interesting to see the landside of the canal operations before going through on the ship. Also ejoyed the beautiful port of Wilmstead, Curacao. Curacao very clean and no pushy shop keepers. I walked alone in the shop areas with NO HASSLES!
I would suggest a cruise with the full transit of the canal.
Cruise was great. We did enjoy our balcony for the canal transit.

Happy Cruising,
MSEm
CONQUEST Feb 2003
Amsterdam Dec 2001
Norwegian Wind Dec 2002
Westerdam March 1999
Westerdam Mar 1999