For over a century, the Panama Canal, dividing the Americas in two, has stood proudly as a marvel of modern engineering and served as a symbol of the perseverance and ambition of the human spirit. And there’s no better way to witness the Canal than a cruise right through it! The only question is - Should I choose a large ship or a small ship to cruise the canal?
If you’re accustomed to the grandeur and extensive amenities and social areas of major ocean liners, then you might be inclined to stick with the bigger ships to see the Panama Canal…and that’s not necessarily a bad choice. But don’t write off the smaller boats either, as they offer some truly unique experiences, including distinct perspectives on the canal, intimate atmospheres on board, and shorter wait times.
Sizes: Let’s be clear - the “small” ships that navigate the Panama Canal are not quite as small as yachts, and generally accommodate just around or under 100 passengers, while the “big” cruise ships are still much smaller than the mega-ships of the Caribbean, accommodating around 2,000 travelers.
Locks: From the small ships, you will have a truly unparalleled view of the locks and their inner workings as you sink gradually below the level of the top of the locks, including the locomotives that hold the ship in place. Plus you’ll likely be paired up with a larger vessel, which some think is pretty cool to see, while others don’t appreciate that the larger ship (naturally) blocks your view in one direction.
If you’re on a bigger ship, you will not get quite the same point of view as the smaller ships, but you will still be in awe of how the captains masterfully navigate their giant vessel into the narrow locks with just inches of clearance on either side. And since you sit higher in the water, you will be able to see more of the surface workings of the locks. Just beware that because it costs the big ships more to go through a lock, this difference will probably be reflected in the ticket price.
Finding a spot to view the action can actually be more difficult on the bigger ships - even though they have more deck space, you are competing with many more passengers to get the best spots. This advantages small ships, because it’s not only easy to move around the ships to get different perspectives, but the fewer passengers and less overall deck space actually means that there are fewer “bad” spots from which to view the locks in action. If you do choose a bigger ship, keep in mind that the back (stern) of the boat is usually much less crowded and can be just as good to see it all happen; otherwise, you’ll have to wake up bright and early to snag a prime spot for photos.
Itineraries won’t differ too much between large and small ships in terms of the canal itself, but bigger ships might offer more shore excursion options (par for the course with bigger cruise ships), while the smaller vessels will likely be able to visit some ports that are off the beaten path thanks to their smaller size and navigability. Snorkeling, ziplining, hiking, rainforest exploration, and other activities are generally available on both small and big ships.
The atmosphere on board a small ship is notably more intimate, and by the end of the cruise you will have likely met everyone on board, including the crew, whereas on a big ship, you might get to recognize most other travelers with you, but you will also need to compete with them for the on board spaces and the best viewing spots for navigating the locks. Note that the small Panama Canal ships generally tend to attract younger, more active, destination-oriented couples, while the bigger ships draw a bit of an older, active explorer crowd.
The bottom line: Small cruise ships navigating the Panama Canal will offer you a unique perspective and an intimate on board atmosphere. The larger ships will provide more on board amenities and a more traditional cruising experience.
The holiday of a lifetime. The company is Alaksa-owned and thhat makes a big difference to the experineces you get i.e. meet genuine First Nations tribes people. The amount of wildlife was beyond my expectation, and seeing everything on sucha small, intimate boat made it even more spoecial and unique.
Liz O
2 days ago
Adventure Life covered all the details in planning our trip to Ireland. Any questions we had were answered immediately. Any trip glitches, which always happen when traveling, were resolved immediately. There were no worries, just fun!
Kathleen Weller
2 days ago
It was an outstanding, up-close, educational vacation of nature, culture, history, animals and geology! It was everything they promised! Binoculars were plentiful on the boat, but I'm glad I brought my own. Food was excellent. Rooms had black-out shades. Pack/wear multiple layers of clothing (I carried a small backpack when off the ship). Crew were delightful and very accommodating! Remember to jump FEET FIRST first when taking the optional polar plunge! Spend as much time outdoors as you are able and ENJOY!!!
Janet Dutton
1 week ago
Excellent travel advice and service
This is my second experience working with Adventure Life. I’m sold. Jess Heuermann is an experienced traveler and provides a lot of useful information when planning a trip. These are the questions I like to ask at the outset - What’s it like to go here, there, what would you suggest, what do people report, can we add any additional side trips? Jess took the time to answer my questions and seek additional information to share with me. Petchie Colina is outstanding in helping with travel logistics and final preparations. Adventure Life has excellent guides and offers private guides and small group adventures. We enjoyed the opportunity to talk with the guides and drivers to learn more about their countries, cultures and histories. A highlight was having the guides pick local restaurants where we could share meals together. Highly recommend.
Claire Cordon
1 week ago
Our six-day tour in Iceland went smoothly with one exception. We had asked for two rooms each night. Somehow we were booked with one room with three beds. It could not be fixed at the first hotel in Reykjavik because the hotel was fully booked. Once informed of the problem, however, Adventure Life rebooked for two rooms for the remainder of the trip. As an 85-year-old traveler, I appreciated that one could participate at different physical levels at many of the stops. Iceland is a great place to visit but on the expensive side.