Our day between oceans
We were advised to be up on deck by 7am if we wanted to witness the start of our day-long journey from the Caribbean to the Pacific. Our ship passed many tankers waiting for their turn to make the journey, but we, like all cruise ships, had a scheduled time to make the transit.
There were two experts on board who gave presentations about the canal's history and construction. One of these experts was on deck during the transit, pointing out areas of interest and answering questions.
Our route from Colon to Balboa and Panama City took us through the Gatun locks into Gatun Lake, then through the Pedro Miguel and Miraflores locks. The total transit took about 9 hours.
Once the Panama Canal pilot came aboard we were on our way.
The Pilot
Pilots are experts in the conditions and structures of the canal, and guide the ship during the passage.
Tug Escorts
Our ship had tug escorts through the channel entrances to the canal.
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The Mules
Lines are thrown from the ship to the workers on shore and attached to the mules, powerful engines which then move the ship slowly through the locks.
We loved the smaller size of our ship, the Oceania Insignia. Our itinerary included stops in the Bahamas, Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. Oceania Cruises is known for their itineraries, which are designed to include lesser-visted and major ports of call.
Click the link above to explore Oceania Cruises. Happy travels!
