We’re up extra early to catch a glimpse of the pilot boarding Island Princess at 5:15am. Unfortunately, the Panama Canal Authority delays us for a while, some kind of issue in the canal itself. Eventually, the anchor is raised and our ship is sailing slowly towards the mouth of the Panama Canal.

It’s hard to say anything new about the Panama Canal – or to convey how awesome the experience is. Like Prince Christian Sound[1] in Greenland, pictures speak for themselves – and perhaps it’s best that they do…

A view of the Miraflores Locks on the Panama Canal, taken from Island Princess
Lining up with the Miraflores Locks which will lift us Island Princess up to the level of the Gatun Lake.
A picture of an oil tanker ship entering the Miraflores Locks
A Panamax-class tanker joins us in the locks. Note how little clearance there is on either side of the ship. Island Princess is also a Panamax-class vessel, meaning our ship has the same tiny margin of error in each lock gate.

A picture of the prison somewhere near Gamboa
It’s not every day you cruise past a maximum security prison hidden in the jungle. Somewhat surreal to see the inmates waving at us too.
It costs around $1m in fees for a super ship like this to pass through the Panama Canal. Cruise ships pay up to $900,000, adding several hundred dollars to the cost of a ticket.
A picture of the rainforest that lines the Panama Canal
Sailing through the dense Panamanian rainforest
A picture of a black lighthouse at the Gatun Locks on the Panama Canal
When no longer in use, a lighthouse is paired black. The structure on the right is a modern alternative, allowing ships to navigate the Panama Canal 24 hours per day
A picture of the Gatun Locks looking south
Looking back at the Gatun Locks, you can see three sets of gates that raise and lower ships 26m (85 feet) above sea level

The transit takes eight hours – but the time flies by. Best of all, it doesn’t rain at all for the whole journey.

If you’ve got the Panama Canal on your bucket list, do it! Princess Cruises are doing another transit on November 21st 2025 for as little as £685 – get on it![2]

Here’s some other alternatives if you can’t go last minute (check out the best price guarantee!)

Article continues after the jump…


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References

  1. ^ Prince Christian Sound (www.journeyintodarkness.co.uk)
  2. ^ get on it! (www.awin1.com)
  3. ^ Affiliate Disclosure Policy (www.journeyintodarkness.co.uk)

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