Cruising through the Panama Canal
Taking this famous shortcut is much different than you'd expect!
An important shortcut
Since its opening in 1914, the Panama Canal has remained one of the world’s most vital shortcuts. Without it, ships would have to navigate the entire length of South America, adding thousands of miles to their journey.
On a typical day, around 45 ships pass through the canal, carrying roughly 6% of global trade. But the convenience of this shortcut comes at a price—our ship, for instance, paid approximately $350,000 for the passage!
Fees are based on weight, which is why adventurer Richard Halliburton managed to swim through the canal in 1928 for just 36 cents.
Equatorial Sun and Rain
This was our third time making the transit, and I’ve learned my lesson since our first trip—when I accidentally sacrificed my sunglasses to the jungle gods! Now, I’m extra careful when leaning over the railing to take in the sights.
That equatorial sun is intense, but without fail, we always get at least one rain shower as we navigate the locks.
A tight squeeze
Most of the traffic consists of massive container ships, but this time, we spotted a trio of catamarans making the journey alongside us. Our cruise ship is on the smaller side, which allowed us to fit through the original locks—a classification known as Panamax size.
As you can see, it’s a tight squeeze! I tried to capture just how snug the fit is in my photos.
2 Oceans Connected
The full journey takes about 11 hours, with a series of 12 locks lifting and lowering ships across the continental divide. It’s incredible to think that this engineering marvel seamlessly connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans!
The machines that pull ships through are called “mules,” though no actual mules have ever been used here—the name is a tribute to the hardworking animals traditionally used in locks worldwide.
Gatun Lake: Surprising Space
It’s always a surprise to first-time travelers that the narrow locks make up only a small part of the passage. A significant portion of the journey unfolds on the open waters of Gatun Lake, surrounded by lush rainforest. In the background of this photo, you can see the large earthen dam that helps create and sustain the lake.
Jungle Sightseeing
The birdwatching along the way is always spectacular. This time around I saw pelicans, vultures (both black and turkey), caracaras, frigate birds, herons, grackles, and a colorful mystery bird I couldn’t quite identify.
A few lucky folks even saw toucans!
As dusk settled in, we noticed dozens of deer grazing along the canal banks. Some passengers spotted monkeys and even crocodiles, but in the fading light, I couldn’t tell animals from tree branches.
Friendly dock workers
The Panamanian dock workers know they’re part of the show, and they embrace it with enthusiasm—always friendly, quick with a smile and a wave as our ship passes through. This time, we’re aboard the British ship P&O Arcadia, which has a massive Union Jack painted on her bow.
I couldn’t help but wonder how the workers might have felt if they’d known Larry and I were actually Americans, given the recent tensions stirred by our president’s remarks about retaking the Panama Canal. It felt almost like we were traveling undercover!
The Tables Turn
When our ship reached the final lock near Panama City, the spectacle flipped—suddenly, we became the main event! Tourists and locals gathered in stadium seats, watching as our ship made its way through the last lock at Miraflores.
I thoroughly enjoyed our Panama Canal crossing. As always, I feel incredibly lucky to have witnessed one of the world’s great engineering marvels firsthand.
Exactly what I was thinking. Love your posts. Bon Voyage!!xx