My day on the Panama Canal

Doesn't time fly, well just a week ago I was sat in the sun going through the Panama Canal, and today I am back in work!

I did say in my blog about the canal on 30th January that I would try to get some photo's up when I got back, so before I write a review of the cruise I thought I would give you a quick review of my shore excursion.

So as a port Colon Panama does not have a massive amount going for it, well last Sunday about 80% of the passengers on Celebrity Equinox were in the Theatre trying to get away on an excursion of 1 kind or another, with approximately 450 people travelling to canal to do the same excursion as us.


So first by coach, and there were 10 of them, taken to the Dredging division of the Canal just before the start of the Gailard Cut. Then we went through the Pedro Migel and Miraflores locks to the Pacific Ocean, before returning to Colon by coach.

With so many people we were on 2 smaller trip boats, we got the best of the 2, early 20th Century boat with about 75 people on board - the Isalmorada.  A bit of history, she was once owned by Al Capone and used to run alcholol from Cuba in the prohibition!

Not only was the boat excellent, so was our guide, Uncle Marty, a Panamanian with a smooth American accent who was a mine of useful information about the boat, the canal and many other things during the day. In fact did you know, that the original plans were for smaller locks but were changed to allow 2 boats then being built to get through, an American warship, the Pennsylvania and an early cruise ship that never actually made it, the Titanic!

So if you have been on a canal or even a river cruise the locks work in the same way to change the level of water and raise or lower the ship it is just the size which is so different. Its strange to see an Ocean going cargo ship moving through the landscape!

So just a few photos:-

A car transporter in the Pedro Migel Locks

The next few photos show the opening of the Miraflores locks, notice the double doors in the first stage then the bottom door opening to the Pacific side.

The interesting thing, as the last door opens saltwater from the Pacific meets freshwater from the canal and is an excellent feeding place for Pelicans. 2 spotted waiting for the gates to open and get their rich pickings!

The canal has been operating for nearly 100 years, and when that milestone is reached the new locks they are now building will allow larger ships to use the Canal. Panama is spending nearly US$5 billion and you can just see the construction work close to the Pacific locks.

If you want to be geeky, well we all do at times, why not follow the link to the live webcams on the canal.

So was it worth it? I think so and the bonus for me was that being on a small boat we got to see the locks and see some of the feats of engineering that brought this place to life. An excellent day out.