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MeznG. In the air, on the road, river or sea again
While Australia was sleeping we were doing a full transit of the Panama Canal. What a day!
We woke at 5.30am, well we were actually awake way before then but was much too early to start moving about. It was still dark but we could see lights in the distance indicating that we were slowly approaching the Panama Canal. We witnessed a beautiful sunrise as we downed our breakfast. The Horizon Court was abuzz with anticipation as everyone was preparing themselves for this epic day.
The bay preceding the canal is dotted with cargo ships either waiting to off load onto the Panama Canal Railway or to pass through the canal. Passenger ships have priority.
We are the last Princess Cruise to be going through the canal for this season as this ship is relocating to the Alaska itineraries for the coming cruise season up there.
So many opinions of where to watch the entrance to the canal and as we go up to the outside decks it's clear that some people had staked their claim to a vantage spot very early. It's not difficult at all to see and everyone is very accommodating if you want to squeeze in for a photo.
The story of the canal goes along way back in history when the Spaniards in the 16th Century arrived on the isthmus that divided the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, however the first attempt to build an all water route through Panama was in 1880. During the 400 years from conception to construction the project changed hands several times. Thousands of workers,up to 50000 at one time carved through 51 miles of dirt and granite. Several thousands of lives were lost during construction mainly to malaria and yellow fever.
It was the French that due to financial difficulties and disease failed at this first attempt. Panama gained independence in 1903 and they negotiated a deal with the United States for the construction of the Canal which was completed by the US on 15th August 1914. The US managed the canal until 1999 when they handed it back to Panama.
The cost of construction was over $350 million.
The cost for our ship to transit the Canal is $USD256,000. The crossing is booked 18 months in advance with a booking fee of $USD35,000. If you need to use a tug that is on standby that will be an extra expense of $USD13,000.
These cost are paid to the Panama Canal Authority, an autonomous government entity.
The Panama Canal is an 80km waterway, connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans in one of the narrowest points of the Isthmus of Panama and the American Continent. It saves time and transport costs by cutting thousands of miles off the journey.
The canal is a series of locks with two lanes that operate as water elevators raising the ships from sea level to the level of the Gatun Lakes (26 metres or 85 ft above sea level) on the Atlantic side and then after crossing the Continental Divide lowers the ship back down to sea level on the Pacific side.
The pilot ( in fact there are 5 pilots on board for a ship this size) comes on board at 6am and takes control of the ship. It's a magnificent view as we approach the first of the 3 Gatun Locks. From here we can also see the beginning of the construction of a new bridge and to the left was the entrance to the new Panama Canal expansion which began construction in 2007.
Once we have transited the first 3 locks known as the Gatun Locks so the ship has been raised 26 metres, we enter the man made Gatun Lake fed by the Chagress River. It reminds me a bit of the River cruise as we can easily see both banks and on our side we have lush thick jungle vegetation. We take this time to get out of the sun and sit on our balcony and enjoy the view.
Just to get a bit of perspective of the transit. Our ship, the Island Princess is a Panamax ship (is built to the maximum size possible for the transit), it is 965 feet long and 106 feet wide. Each of the locks are 1050 feet long and 110 feet wide. Not a lot of breathing space!
The full transit will take at least 8 hours and so far we are pretty much on time.
The bow of the ship at deck 10 is a good place to watch as we enter the locks and the deck 7 or 5 give you the best appreciation of the raising and lowering of the ship. It's a busy time going from deck to deck all day. You can't help but be amazed at the engineering marvel this canal is and to think that it was done in the early 1900s.
We pass through the Culebra Cut which is the narrowest part and was excavated through limestone and granite of the Continental Divide.
3 locks to go, the Pedro Miguel lock, then pass under the Centennial Bridge through the Miraflores Lake and into the remaining 2 Miraflores Locks, under the Bridge of the Americas, past Panama City and into the Pacific Ocean!
It is 4.30pm by the time we are admiring the view of the new water saving ponds and locks of the new canal extension and 5.30 by the time we have reached the Bay of Panama.
Whew! What a day! My legs are aching, we are so hot and sweaty but very happy that we have seen this Wonder of the Modern World.
At dinner we are all very weary from such an early start and exhausting day. The sun was very hot all day.
When we returned to our cabin after dinner we have Certificates waiting for us commemorating our crossing. A nice touch as we all feel that we were on navigational watch all day.
A very welcome sea day tomorrow.
We woke at 5.30am, well we were actually awake way before then but was much too early to start moving about. It was still dark but we could see lights in the distance indicating that we were slowly approaching the Panama Canal. We witnessed a beautiful sunrise as we downed our breakfast. The Horizon Court was abuzz with anticipation as everyone was preparing themselves for this epic day.
The bay preceding the canal is dotted with cargo ships either waiting to off load onto the Panama Canal Railway or to pass through the canal. Passenger ships have priority.
We are the last Princess Cruise to be going through the canal for this season as this ship is relocating to the Alaska itineraries for the coming cruise season up there.
So many opinions of where to watch the entrance to the canal and as we go up to the outside decks it's clear that some people had staked their claim to a vantage spot very early. It's not difficult at all to see and everyone is very accommodating if you want to squeeze in for a photo.
The story of the canal goes along way back in history when the Spaniards in the 16th Century arrived on the isthmus that divided the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, however the first attempt to build an all water route through Panama was in 1880. During the 400 years from conception to construction the project changed hands several times. Thousands of workers,up to 50000 at one time carved through 51 miles of dirt and granite. Several thousands of lives were lost during construction mainly to malaria and yellow fever.
It was the French that due to financial difficulties and disease failed at this first attempt. Panama gained independence in 1903 and they negotiated a deal with the United States for the construction of the Canal which was completed by the US on 15th August 1914. The US managed the canal until 1999 when they handed it back to Panama.
The cost of construction was over $350 million.
The cost for our ship to transit the Canal is $USD256,000. The crossing is booked 18 months in advance with a booking fee of $USD35,000. If you need to use a tug that is on standby that will be an extra expense of $USD13,000.
These cost are paid to the Panama Canal Authority, an autonomous government entity.
The Panama Canal is an 80km waterway, connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans in one of the narrowest points of the Isthmus of Panama and the American Continent. It saves time and transport costs by cutting thousands of miles off the journey.
The canal is a series of locks with two lanes that operate as water elevators raising the ships from sea level to the level of the Gatun Lakes (26 metres or 85 ft above sea level) on the Atlantic side and then after crossing the Continental Divide lowers the ship back down to sea level on the Pacific side.
The pilot ( in fact there are 5 pilots on board for a ship this size) comes on board at 6am and takes control of the ship. It's a magnificent view as we approach the first of the 3 Gatun Locks. From here we can also see the beginning of the construction of a new bridge and to the left was the entrance to the new Panama Canal expansion which began construction in 2007.
Once we have transited the first 3 locks known as the Gatun Locks so the ship has been raised 26 metres, we enter the man made Gatun Lake fed by the Chagress River. It reminds me a bit of the River cruise as we can easily see both banks and on our side we have lush thick jungle vegetation. We take this time to get out of the sun and sit on our balcony and enjoy the view.
Just to get a bit of perspective of the transit. Our ship, the Island Princess is a Panamax ship (is built to the maximum size possible for the transit), it is 965 feet long and 106 feet wide. Each of the locks are 1050 feet long and 110 feet wide. Not a lot of breathing space!
The full transit will take at least 8 hours and so far we are pretty much on time.
The bow of the ship at deck 10 is a good place to watch as we enter the locks and the deck 7 or 5 give you the best appreciation of the raising and lowering of the ship. It's a busy time going from deck to deck all day. You can't help but be amazed at the engineering marvel this canal is and to think that it was done in the early 1900s.
We pass through the Culebra Cut which is the narrowest part and was excavated through limestone and granite of the Continental Divide.
3 locks to go, the Pedro Miguel lock, then pass under the Centennial Bridge through the Miraflores Lake and into the remaining 2 Miraflores Locks, under the Bridge of the Americas, past Panama City and into the Pacific Ocean!
It is 4.30pm by the time we are admiring the view of the new water saving ponds and locks of the new canal extension and 5.30 by the time we have reached the Bay of Panama.
Whew! What a day! My legs are aching, we are so hot and sweaty but very happy that we have seen this Wonder of the Modern World.
At dinner we are all very weary from such an early start and exhausting day. The sun was very hot all day.
When we returned to our cabin after dinner we have Certificates waiting for us commemorating our crossing. A nice touch as we all feel that we were on navigational watch all day.
A very welcome sea day tomorrow.
- comments
Deb Fantastic! Another one to tick off! Of course it looks like you're having a wonderful time! Enjoy! Cheers to the Pacific. If I squint, I think I can see you!! Xx