11/2/2025
Yesterday we got into Panama City, Panama. We didn’t actually dock in the city, it was the islands outside of the city. To get to the city was a $60 one way taxi, no thanks. My parents and I walked around the island. We started going up to the marina. I was hoping to see some of the old cannons that used to be on the coast, but they were taken down after WW2.
We turned around and walked to the other part of the island. This is where we should’ve started with. All of the bars, restaurants, and entertainment was on this part of the island. I walked faster and further than my parents and ended up at a bar next to the hotel on the island. I tried two of the national beers and then started going back to the ship. I met up with my parents on the way back and walked with them the rest of the way.
Today we started sailing at 6AM to go through the canal. It was rough getting up that early. We got to the locks around 7AM and finished at 5:30PM. I took a nap while we were in the lake. I was able to watch us go through all of the locks though. Right away in the morning the railings and viewing windows were packed, but as the day went on fewer and fewer people were interested.
The first sight was the Bridge of the Americas. This is the first modern bridge that crosses the canal. It was built in 1962. It’s just over a mile long and is 201 feet from the water to the bottom. The bridge has become too short for the largest cruise ships to pass under.
After the bridge is where the canal splits into two sections. The “old” and “new” locks. We took the old locks. The ship I’m on is one of only two in the Princess line that can pass through the old locks. There was a line of ships in front and behind us at this point. We could see a ship go through the new locks on our way to the first set of the old. From where I was standing I couldn’t get a good look at the locks moving for our ship. We were told it takes about eight minutes for the water to lift the ships up to continue passing through.
When we got to the second set of locks there was another ship in the lane next to us so I could watch all of the action this time. It was interesting watching the locks close, raise the ship, and open on the other side. We also had to do an emergency medical evacuation at this lock. I don’t know what happened, but someone had a bad day. The Centennial bridge is after the second set of locks. This bridge is taller at 260 feet.
This is where we made it into the lake and I took a two hour nap. The wilderness was pretty, but it was just a big lake after a while. When I got up we were getting close to the downward set of locks. I was able to see the last bit of the lake and a cruise ship that was probably doing a half transit through the locks.
The last set of locks were a set of three, one after the other. The new locks were within sight too. The other cruise ship went through them. After the locks is where the two channels came back together.
A short way ahead was the Atlantic bridge. This one is a similar construction to the Centennial bridge, but is shorter with a 246 foot clearance. Currently this bridge doesn’t go anywhere. There is a port on the south side, but the North side has yet to be constructed. If I remember correctly China owns most of the coast and a bunch inland on the North side. I think the plan is to develop essentially their own port on that side.
After the Atlantic bridge we switched into high gear and made our way to the seawall. That was the final obstacle of the Panama canal transit for us. There was only one other guy besides my mom and I that watched us go through it.
