The Panama Canal is an artificial waterway that cuts across Central America and connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
It is named one of the seven cruise wonders of the cruise world and one of the seven wonders of the modern world.
It is an awe that sparks the imagination. Right from when you first learn about the Panama Canal, you are left with a deep desire to know more about it.
Something is intriguing about it. Maybe it's because of its history, maybe it is because of the great engineering behind it, or simply because it is a man-made wonder.
The Panama Canal was built in 1914, and up until this day, it is a magnificent sight to behold.
Why The Panama Canal Was Built.
A long time ago before the Panama Canal was built, the routes that connected East America and West America were very long and treacherous.
The idea of traveling from the East to the West, by traveling around through the southern part of South America was expensive, very long, frightening, and dangerous.
So the explorers back then, in the 19th century, suggested the idea of a Canal that cut through Central America to connect the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
The Panama Canal was built to shorten the route between East America, whose economy was well established, and West America, whose economy was burgeoning.
The canal lowered the costs of transporting goods between the East Coast and the West Coast by sea.
At the moment, there are about 1,200 ships that pass through the Panama Canal each month.
A Brief History Of The Panama Canal.
Dark History; How Was It Built?
Back in the olden days, this Canal was just a dream. It was just a land mass. They had to dig through Central America to create the Canal.
The history of the Panama Canal is very dark.
It was built and completed by America, but before America built the Canal, the French had tried to build the Canal. They failed miserably. The result of the failed project was the loss of 20,000 lives and bankruptcy.
The project was revived when American President Theodore Roosevelt was in office. He appointed John Findley Wallace as the chief engineer.
When John Findley Wallace arrived at the site and saw the bare land, in its natural form, he was not so optimistic about it. One year later he resigned.
He was replaced by railroad engineer John Frank Stevens, who quickly realized that the idea of a sea-level canal was impossible.
This was because of the many challenges he faced. Digging through the terrain led to continuous mudslides, so he decided on the idea of the present-day Locks canal with man-made lakes and locks. In the end, a set of 3 locs were to be built.
- Miraflores; which is a 2-stage lock.
- Pedro Miguel locks.
- Gatun which is a 3-stage lock.
These locks raise and lower ships above sea level and water fills the locks by gravity. The ships sail between the locks on the largest man-made lake called the Gatun Lake.
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The Miraflores and Pedro Miguel locks were built on the Pacific Ocean side while the Gatun locks were built on the Atlantic Ocean side.
Building the canal was challenging. The builders experienced very difficult times, they had to deal with diseases and harsh living conditions.
When chief engineer John Frank Stevens took over, he was met by a group of builders who lacked enthusiasm and had lost morale on the project.
He tried to rebuild spirit in them by including humanitarian efforts like offering food to the builders to help rebuild confidence.
He also built a railroad system that helped transport dirt, when building the canal.
But in the end, he was overwhelmed too. Regrettably, chief engineer John Frank Stevens resigned after working on the Canal for about 2 years. He was replaced by George Washington who completed the project.
Can You Visit The Panama Canal?
You can experience the Canal and its full glory by taking a Panama Canal cruise. Most people prefer to cruise through what is called the old locks because these are the original locks, and it is entertaining.
The engineering behind the locks was made to raise the ship above sea level and then lower the ship. This creates a dramatic effect as the locks open and close so the ship passes through the middle.
The old locks refer to the 6 locks that were originally built when the Canal was constructed. Later on, in 2016, the Canal was expanded, and 6 more locks were added to accommodate larger ships.
Now there is a total of 12 locks in the Panama Canal, each about 1000 feet long, and two artificial lakes, the Miraflores and the Gatun Lakes.
What Are The Panama Canal Locks?
Old Locks.
- Miraflores; which is a 2-stage lock.
- Pedro Miguel locks.
- Gatun which is a 3-stage lock.
New Locks.
- Cocoli locks which is a 3-stage locks.
- Agua Clara locks which is also a 3-stage lock.
Are Cruises To Panama Canal Worth It?
Panama Canal is a bucket list trip for many people, just like Alaska. Princess Cruise Line was the first cruise line to take people through the Panama Canal.
The Panama Canal is 50 miles long. A cruise through the Panama Canal includes passage through three main locks and might take as long as 8 to 10 hours.
As you cruise through the Panama Canal, you will enjoy scenic and marvel at this man-made wonder. Either as a full or partial transit.
Cruises to the Panama Canal embark in Los Angeles California, Miami Florida, Fort Lauderdale Florida, San Fransisco California, Tampa Florida, Panama; Panama City, Balboa Panama, Colon Panama, San Diego California, Seattle Washington, United Kingdom, and Vancouver Canada.
When Are Panama Canal Cruises?
Most cruises sail to the Panama Canal between November and April, with January and February being the peak months.
You can experience different itineraries and experience different ports on your cruise to the Panama Canal, it is such an adventure.
Whether you sail through the old locks or the new locks on your Panama Canal cruise depends on the ship and the itinerary you choose.
If you would like to start planning your Panama cruise, we are here to help make the process seamless. Leave a message at explore@livefuncruises.com. We guarantee the best rates and promotions.
To add a cruise to the Panama Canal to your bucket list of travel, grab your travel manifestation journal here today.
When Should You Start Planning Your Cruise To The Panama Canal?
The best time to plan a cruise is when the itineraries have just been released. This is because there is plenty of availability to choose from and you pick the best.
Planning months ahead of time ensures that you get the best cabin and the best reservations. If prices drop before the final payment date, most cruise lines allow you to reprice your cruise.
Examples Of Cruise Itineraries.
Your cruise to the Panama Canal is a perfect chance to see more countries, not just the Panama Canal. Here are some examples;
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Cruises through the Canal can either be a full transit or a Partial transit. The full transit cruises are usually longer and take you from the East Coast to the West Coast, through different ports of call.
Full transits are great for the full experience and are mostly common in world cruises.
Partial transits are shorter, they can be 7 days long, and they travel through some of the locks and then turn back.
Conclusion.
There are a lot of things to do in Panama Canal. Most cruise itineraries offer an opportunity to explore different excursions.
Learning the history of the canal and how it works, is the best way to start preparing for your Panama Canal cruise.
Don't forget to get your travel manifestation journal so that you can start planning your next cruise through the Panama Canal.