Panama Canal Cruise

December 2023

Transiting the Panama Canal on the Norwegian Joy. Starting on the Pacific side and heading back to Miami. Another trip from the bucket list. Read more

15footprints
7countries
13days
136photos
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3.6kmiles
2.1ksea miles
1.1kmiles
24miles

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Traveler Panama Canal Cruise
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- Dec 4, 2023, 11:15am
- ⛅ 82 °F
- Altitude: 39 ft
- United States Florida Miami-Dade Virginia Gardens Miami International Airport 25.79817, -80.27985725°47’53” N 80°16’47” W
Day 1
Miami Airport
December 4, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F
Heading to the airport to start my next trip!
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Traveler Panama Canal Cruise
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- Dec 4, 2023, 5:34pm
- ☀️ 86 °F
- Altitude: 49 ft
- Panama Provincia de Panamá San Felipe Cathedral Basilica of St. Mary 8.953291, -79.5357348°57’12” N 79°32’9” W
Day 1–3
Panama City
December 4, 2023 in Panama ⋅ ☀️ 86 °F
Off on the next great adventure! I landed in Panama late this afternoon and am staying in a lovely little boutique hotel in Casco Viejo near the square. Strolled to a local rooftop bar with some great views and enjoyed a delicious ceviche and a passion fruit margherita. I love the juxtaposition of the old town with the skyscrapers in the background. Found an appropriate mural... yes, it's a world of possibilities!Read more
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Traveler Panama Canal Cruise
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- Dec 5, 2023
- ☀️ 91 °F
- Altitude: 56 ft
- Panama Provincia de Panamá San Felipe Iglesia La Merced 8.953602, -79.5362518°57’13” N 79°32’11” W
Day 2
Casco Viejo - Panama City Old Town
December 5, 2023 in Panama ⋅ ☀️ 91 °F
Spent the day wandering Casco Viejo, the old colonial neighborhood of Panama City. Here are some of the highlights... Plaza Herrera (one of many vibrant green spaces), Old Town buildings (colonial architecture) Church of St Joseph (450-yr old golden altar), Panama Canal Museum (what a history lesson!), St Mary's Basilica, Museum of Mola (intricate indigenous handmade reverse appliques), Arco Chato (stone ruins from a former monastery), Paseo Esteban Huertas (bougainvillea-covered arches along the bay), Panama Canal Monument in Plaza Francia, and a little plaza on the bay where the Old World overlooks the New. Along the way, there were coffee shops and cafés with local fare and a chocolate factory-yes, there was much sampling!Read more
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Traveler Panama Canal Cruise
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- Dec 6, 2023
- Altitude: Sea level
- Panama Provincia de Panamá Fuerte Amador Isla Perico 8.916577, -79.5200178°54’60” N 79°31’12” W
Day 3
Panama Cruise Terminal
December 6, 2023 in Panama
Boarded my floating resort, the Norwegian Joy, for the 10-day journey and she is beautiful! Where to begin... almost 1100 feet long, 20 decks, accommodates 3800 passengers and 1800 crew, 13 restaurants, 17 bars & lounges, casino, shopping, shows, movies, games, live bands, pools, waterslides, go carts, mini golf, and more! If you've never been on a cruise, take a look...Read more
Traveler I hope you enjoy every moment! Yay cruising!
12/8/23Reply
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Traveler Panama Canal Cruise
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- Dec 7, 2023, 5:00am
- ⛅ 77 °F
- Altitude: 66 ft
- Panama Provincia de Panamá Corozal Cerro Aguadulce 8.98088, -79.5883658°58’51” N 79°35’18” W
Day 4
Cocolí Locks, Panama Canal
December 7, 2023 in Panama ⋅ ⛅ 77 °F
Panama Canal Journey - Pacific entry
This one goes out to all my science & engineering buffs... We began at the Cocolí Locks on the Pacific Coast in Panama City for the almost 44 mile NNW transit of the isthmus. Three sets of locks on the Pacific side, each one 1,400 feet long by 180 feet wide, renovated in 2016 to accommodate the increasingly large vessels at sea. Four sliding gates weighing 4,000 tons each separate the locks. Ship enters, gate closes behind, water level rises, ship progresses on the 85-foot rise to the Gatun Lake. There was a cargo vessel ahead of us to give perspective. Once through the first set of locks, it's under the Centennial Bridge, past the Continental Divide and on to the lake. I personally like the neon arrow on the bank indicating "enter here", and the picture of the bridge passing under the bridge (mariners will get that one)Read more
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Traveler Panama Canal Cruise
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- Dec 7, 2023, 1:00pm
- ☁️ 88 °F
- Altitude: 49 ft
- Panama Provincia de Colón Gatún Stilsons Pond 9.271091, -79.9123419°16’16” N 79°54’44” W
Day 4
Lake Gatun & Agua Clara Locks
December 7, 2023 in Panama ⋅ ☁️ 88 °F
Panama Canal Journey - Atlantic Exit
Crossed the Gatun Lake, which was the world's largest man-made lake in 1914 when the Canal opened. In almost 110 years of operation the Canal has only been shut down 4 times. Approaching the Atlantic side, we begin the process of lowering the vessel the 85 feet back down to sea level. 3 locks, 4 gates. Approximately 30 minutes per gate to fill and open and move forward. Then under the Atlantic Bridge and on to the breakwater. We entered the Canal on the Pacific side at 5:15am and reached the Atlantic side around 4:30pm. What a truly AMAZING EXPERIENCE!
This one was for you, Ron ❤️Read more
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Traveler Panama Canal Cruise
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- Dec 8, 2023
- ☀️ 82 °F
- Altitude: 3 ft
- Costa Rica Puerto Limón Boca Cieneguita 9.99187, -83.0234699°59’31” N 83°1’24” W
Day 5
Costa Rica
December 8, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F
Costa Rica Scenic Trip.
Starting in Puerto Límon, we traveled across the mountains to a coffee farm that is Rainforest and Utz certified. Followed the process from picking the cherries to drying, roasting and bagging, and purchased a few bags to bring home. Happy to find out they have neutral carbon emissions (actually negative) and use every part of the plant for fertilizer, natural pesticide, and even fuel. Our guide also let us see a banana flower (yes, those are infant bananas) and taste fresh cacao.Read more
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Traveler Panama Canal Cruise
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- Dec 10, 2023
- ☀️ 84 °F
- Altitude: 43 ft
- Cayman Islands George Town Dog City Miss Eden Bay 19.296207, -81.37928319°17’46” N 81°22’45” W
Day 7
Grand Cayman
December 10, 2023 in Cayman Islands ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F
Beautiful Georgetown, Grand Cayman -
I had never been here and it did not disappoint. Our wonderful guide gave us a thorough history of the island... Took us to Hell and and then to Church (aka the Rum distillery), guided us through the turtle sanctuary, showed us the 7-mile beach, the house made of 3,000 conch shells, and the Aspiration Monument (a tribute to Caymanian women) located in Heroes Square. We sampled the tasty patties and the banana rum. So much fun AND I learned a lot...it was a good day 😉Read more
Traveler Sounds like so much fun!
12/12/23Reply
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Traveler Panama Canal Cruise
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- Dec 11, 2023
- 🌬 79 °F
- Altitude: 26 ft
- Mexico Quintana Roo Cozumel Huerto Familiar 20.47779, -86.97549520°28’40” N 86°58’32” W
Day 8
Cozumel, Mexico
December 11, 2023 in Mexico ⋅ 🌬 79 °F
The Island of Cozumel, Mexico -
I was looking to do something completely different in Cozumel, so I opted for the Mayan Chocolate, Honey, and Tequila circuit. Visited the sanctuary where tiny stingless bees make delicious honey with wondrous medicinal benefits; experienced the way the Mayans made chocolate and brought back samples 🍫; and tasted several varieties of tequila including coffee and hibiscus flavors. Drove by some beautiful remote beaches, and enjoyed the welcoming "mi casa es su casa" vibe from the locals.Read more
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Traveler Panama Canal Cruise
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- Dec 12, 2023
- 🌧 77 °F
- Altitude: 13 ft
- Mexico Quintana Roo Othón P. Blanco Benquesoya Punta Chacchi 18.730964, -87.68976418°43’51” N 87°41’23” W
Day 9
Costa Maya, Mexico
December 12, 2023 in Mexico ⋅ 🌧 77 °F
Costa Maya, Mexico -
The weather in Mexico has been less than ideal... in Cozumel yesterday all the water activities were canceled. Today in Costa Maya, we could not even get off the ship due to high winds and crashing waves. These photos were taken from the ship at the pier as the surf pounded the vessel. Unsafe conditions to go ashore, but the restaurants and bars were still open! Won't catch me complaining about my surroundings... Any way you look at it, t'was a good dayRead more
Traveler Making the best of the situation!
12/13/23Reply
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