Panama Canal

We had a classic crossing of the Panama Canal. The weather was kind and the heat acceptable and we made the crossing in an excellent time.

Just so much that you can put in writing! This is one of the epic short journeys. It was the engineering feat of all times when it was opened in 1914 and this canal is still in use today. There was lots of drama and loss of life in the construction but it changed transport forever.

We arrived early in the morning and  sat outside Balboa but were soon entering into the canal and making our way up the two Miraflores Locks. As we were a Panamax class ship we did fit into one of the two original canals but only had 30cm to spare on each side! The newer breed of huge transport ships use the new canal opened in 2016. Cruise ships make up just 2% of the total.

                                 We sail past the modern city of Panama City

                       Gail with the Bridge of the Americas in the background.

                                   Locks 1 and 2 of the Miraflores system

                                                    Detail of the lock system.

                                                           Gail at the locks.

                                 Three water levels as we go up the locks.

             Called Mules the motors don’t as much pull us through as keep us centred.

After the Pedro Miguel lock we went up to the main water level and first sailed through the Culebra Cut, the place where they excavated a passage through the Great Mountain Divide. It was then plain sailing across the Gatun Lakes and it was late afternoon by the time we reached the series of locks that would take us down to the Caribbean and the Atlantic Ocean. It was then onwards to Aruba and our taste of island life.

A few facts: Last year there were 12,199 transits. It cost our ship $US345,000.00 for the passage. The lowest fee ever was 36c for a swimmer in 1928. The canal is considered one of the modern marvels of the world.

                                                                     The new locks

                           Is this a Mayan Temple?..No just terraces to prevent landslides!

                                                              Gail on deck

                                                                  Rob at the bow