Panama Canal - Anyone done it?

[englanddg]

Ok...I tried to be good (just like last year) and not start thinking about next years trip...but I can't help myself!

So, I'm considering a voyage through the Panama Canal. 15 days, about right for my trip next year!

And yes, before you ask, I am now addicted to Cruising!

It works as I will bookmark it with 2 days at WDW before the cruise departing from Miami, and then a few days in the LA area before flying home.

Has anyone done this cruise? Is it worth it? Any advice?

 

[RandomPrincess]

My in-laws did the Panama canal cruise but not with Disney. They loved it. They said going threw the lochs in the canal was really neat and enjoyed the stops along the way. The did the same thing a few days in LA and Miami as well.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

@englanddg , guess who's booked on the early May 15-night PC????

 

[englanddg]

@englanddg , guess who's booked on the early May 15-night PC????

I am looking at that same trip at the moment!

Mind having your kids babysit mine while you, Tracey and me play bingo? (code for get smashed)

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I am looking at that same trip at the moment!

Mind having your kids babysit mine while you, Tracey and me play bingo? (code for get smashed)

If I can find them! The boys ditch us old farts once onboard! LOL!

 

[englanddg]

If I can find them! The boys ditch us old farts once onboard! LOL!

Kiddo is very close to that...but I'm not ready to let her do the boat alone. Leaving her alone in the Stateroom was a stretch for me!

If we end up on the same ship, I will certainly buy you and Tracey a drink (as long as you all buy me one!)!

 

[englanddg]

I really do think this is the best idea for next year for us...I love the cruise, and I can do WDW a few days in advance, as well as Disneyland after for a few days...

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Kiddo is very close to that...but I'm not ready to let her do the boat alone. Leaving her alone in the Stateroom was a stretch for me!

If we end up on the same ship, I will certainly buy you and Tracey a drink (as long as you all buy me one!)!

Of course! If you buy us each one then we'd owe you 2, right? Or, Mixology????

We're really looking forward to the Wonder. It's the last of the 4 DCL ships we have yet to experience. So far, of the Dream, Fantasy, and Magic our family's hands-down favorite is the Magic. Odd, I know! There's just something about it that feels like "home". The smaller space paired with less people really lends to a more personal experience with the crew and fellow guests, if you can imagine that. You really DO get to know people. Like family. It's comfortable. Like home. I look forward to experiencing the differences in the Wonder. Tracey, of course, is itchin' to add the 4th ship to his "cruise career". LOL!

Doubt we'll hit up WDW at all pre-cruise. We'll get a better feel for the distance in November. We're going to be sailing the Allure of the Seas out of Ft. Lauderdale after all. It being Thanksgiving week the flights are thru the roof expensive so we plan to drive it. Straight. From Houston to Ft. Lauderdale/Miami. Yikes!

Post-canal Tracey keeps saying he wants to do a few days at DL. I don't see it happening. Considering he doesn't get paid for time off and we'll already be at 15+ days without any income...yeah. We'll be returning home so he can go back to work.

We're prob'ly gonna put the boys into a Language/English/Literature class at the local homeschool center this year. We want them to have this 1 class away from home because I feel I let them slide by a little too much with their writing skills. I want them to sharpen up on that so I'm pushing that subject out of my hands. The good thing is the class will finish the last week of April so we'd still be totally golden for the long canal voyage.

I can't even wrap my brain around 15 whole nights at sea. I'll be so spoiled!

Did you look at the port times for Key West?! Full day at last! Woot!!!!! We're dying to do the sea plane to the Dry Tortugas!

 

[Disneyfalcon]

We were just talking about doing a Panama Canal cruise last night! We're trying to plan our anniversary trip next summer. We both want to, but just don't think Stephen can get away for that long yet. We are going to do it one day though!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

We were just talking about doing a Panama Canal cruise last night! We're trying to plan our anniversary trip next summer. We both want to, but just don't think Stephen can get away for that long yet. We are going to do it one day though!

I. Would. Die. Twice.

I've actually given thought to postponing the canal until the expansion is complete. But, that's already behind schedule and the canal is something I really want the boys to do. If I wait for the expansion I may be waiting too long.

 

[englanddg]

Of course! If you buy us each one then we'd owe you 2, right? Or, Mixology????

I think Mixology...not sure I could do a 2 for 1! The bars on the cruise were not "light" with their pouring...unlike Disney World. Better to approach it sober!

If kiddo and I do it though though, I will take up a mixology class with you and the clan if you are game!

We're really looking forward to the Wonder. It's the last of the 4 DCL ships we have yet to experience. So far, of the Dream, Fantasy, and Magic our family's hands-down favorite is the Magic. Odd, I know!

Not really, the original ships seem like they pack a lot more "punch"...

Doubt we'll hit up WDW at all pre-cruise. We'll get a better feel for the distance in November. We're going to be sailing the Allure of the Seas out of Ft. Lauderdale after all. It being Thanksgiving week the flights are thru the roof expensive so we plan to drive it. Straight. From Houston to Ft. Lauderdale/Miami. Yikes!

It's either this or we do Europe...and considering she is probably a bit young for Europe...to appreciate it...

I can't even wrap my brain around 15 whole nights at sea. I'll be so spoiled!

Did you look at the port times for Key West?! Full day at last! Woot!!!!! We're dying to do the sea plane to the Dry Tortugas!

I know Key West very well...and am actually excited to take the kid there (I have a few friends who live there)...

And the Dry Tortugas are fun, but never done a plane to there, I sailed there myself nearly 20 years ago.

Yeesh, and now I feel old...

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I. Would. Die. Twice.

I've actually given thought to postponing the canal until the expansion is complete. But, that's already behind schedule and the canal is something I really want the boys to do. If I wait for the expansion I may be waiting too long.

LOL!

 

[englanddg]

Ugh, I so want to go ahead and pay the down payment for this trip on the Wonder...

But it's in early May...and the kid would need to miss some school...

I need to get Mommy's ok first.

 

[joanna71985]

I haven't. But I really want to

 

[wogwog]

Book it. In the last three years we have done the Canal, Hawaii, and the Atlantic crossing east and west bound. We were never bored. 14 and 15 days of bliss. A lot more time to make more friends. We still do the 4 and 7 days out of Canaveral a couple of times a year but nothing compares to the longer cruises no matter the itenerary. We are doing a 4 day and 7 day next month and another in December to be selected.

The really big plus is Disney has not yet infected DCL with My Magic minus.

Just do it!

 

[englanddg]

Book it. In the last three years we have done the Canal, Hawaii, and the Atlantic crossing east and west bound. We were never bored. 14 and 15 days of bliss. A lot more time to make more friends. We still do the 4 and 7 days out of Canaveral a couple of times a year but nothing compares to the longer cruises no matter the itenerary. We are doing a 4 day and 7 day next month and another in December to be selected.

The really big plus is Disney has not yet infected DCL with My Magic minus.

Just do it!

Hah, I may get flamed for this...but...

After having tested the Magicbands, I actually...sortof...wish they had been on the Fantasy!

Basically it looks like there are two options for next year. I would bookend it with a two day stay in WDW (assuming they can get us to Miami from there...so, that's a question...) and then a 4 day stay in the Disneyland Area before flying home.

At least that's the plan right now.

May is a bad time for me...taxes, business at work, etc...so the Sept run is frankly a better option. However, both trips would involve pulling the kid out of school, and considering how goofy Maryland is about "missed days", I'm not sure how viable that is.

I certainly want to whip out the credit card and get this thing going though!

 

[Bolna]

(assuming they can get us to Miami from there...so, that's a question...)

I can help you with this as I did one of the 5-night cruises out of Miami this spring. There is no Disney transportation between Miami and WDW. So your options are rental car or flying. We drove up to WDw after our cruise and thanks to really horrible weather (downpours) I think the total drive time came to over 5 hours. Personally, I would not want to do that drive on the morning my boat is leaving for a two weeks cruise.

If you choose to fly, you can of course use ME from WDW to MCO and then there is a Disney shuttle from MIA to the port. Also, taxis from MIA to the port are inexpensive, they have a set rate, I think it is 20 oder 24 $. So taxi is most likely cheaper than Disney. Disney does not offer transportation from FLL to the port though.

Personally, I would skip WDW before the cruise, rather fly to Southern Florida, spend two days at the beach (or do some sightseeing there) and then go on the ship.