The Main Event

Day 11: Daylight Panama Canal Transit

I woke up as we sailed by the port in Colón that we were just docked at two days earlier. I was greeted from my bed with a beautiful sunrise. I will say that If you are ever going to take a Panama Canal cruise that transits from the Atlantic to the Pacific, make sure that you book a stateroom on the port side of the ship.

The sun rising over Colón from my balcony

Atlantic Bridge

As we steamed past Colón, we were greeted by the Atlantic bridge which welcomed us to the beginning of the channels leading to the canal. I was able to get a snap with the sunrise from my balcony as we approach at just a couple knots giving me time to get ready and head up the deck 14 to capture a front looking view from above the bridge of the ship.

The Atlantic Bridge seen from my balcony

The Atlantic Bridge seen from the top of the Norwegian Jade

The French Canal

Many don't know that the French attempted to build a canal through Panama first. The company behind the project wanted to build a sea level transit across the Isthmus of Panama but they ended up bankrupting themselves and all they had to show for their $287,000,000—or $9.73 billion adjusted for 2023—was a small channel that was only about a mile long.

The French canal attempt (furthest right window) can be seen in contrast to the U.S. built canal

The French Canal seen from satellite with distance measured

Gatun Locks

After passing under the Atlantic Bridge, we queued up for our turn to begin our transit that would take us from Colón onto Gatun Lake, through the Pedro Miguel lock, down to Miraflores Lake, to the Miraflores locks, into the Pacific. We had two ships in front of us. After a short wait, we were hooking up to the "Mules" that would guide us through the three locks it takes to rise the 85 feet up to Gatun Lake.

Ships our size use two Mules at the front of the ship and one at the rear to ensure that we stay centered during our transit

The distance between our hull and either side of the canal was roughly 36 inches

We passed some ships, like this roll on/roll off that have much less clearance. The captain said that the ship in this picture—coming from the third lock into the second—likely had less that 18 inches on either side

This photo was taken from the aft of the ship as we were moving from the first to the second lock

Gatun Lake

I didn't take many pictures on Gatun Lake, but I did get a shot of the dam that made it all possible. Gatun Lake was created by damming the Chagres River.

The middle right shows the dam that made the Panama Canal possible by creating Gatun Lake

Pool Day Revisited

It was a hot and humid day so Deanna, O-box, and I decided to have a quick bite to eat and then meet at the pool. We spent the day there hanging out and meeting a bunch of cool people. It was a refreshing way to spend a day on a lake without being in the lake.

Pedro Miguel Lock

At about 2 PM, we entered into the Pedro Miguel lock which lowered us 31 feet onto Miraflores Lake. I didn't get a great picture while in this lock. I will be honest here, I was having a blast hanging out in the pool and nearly missed it all together. I also did not get a photo of the Centennial Bridge as I could not be bothered to get out of the pool and grab my phone.

Miraflores Locks

After nearly five hours in the pool, I decided it was time to go take a shower and get ready for dinner at Cagney's Steakhouse. Not thinking about the timing of my shower, I walked out of the bathroom to loud cheering and applause—it turns out I got out of the shower as we were entering the Miraflores locks.

What I saw when I stepped out of my bathroom

Bridge of the Americas

Our transit ended when we passed under the Bridge of the Americas and entered into the Pacific Ocean. Just like I saw in Colón, there were a bunch of ships waiting to make their transit across the Isthmus of Panama to the Atlantic Ocean.

I almost didn't get a picture of going under the Bridge of the Americas, but I promised my dad that I would snap one

Ships in the Pacific waiting their turn