SHORE EXCURSIONS CREDIT

Experience the wonders of the Panama Canal on this spectacular partial canal transit. Arriving in Panama City, you will disembark the ship and take a short transfer by coach to the La Playita dock where you will board a spacious ferry and begin your unforgettable tour of the Panama Canal. The first lock you will pass through is the Miraflores Locks, where your ship will be raised the first 56 feet and enter Miraflores Lake. From here, you will transit through the Pedro Miguel Locks, where you will be raised the second 28 feet and enter Gatun Lake, once the largest man-made lake in the world. Crossing the Continental Divide at this point, you will continue to Gaillard Cut. The Gaillard (or Culebra) Cut, was the most challenging section of the canal to build. As you pass through the Cut, you'll see the continuing excavation that keeps this passage open to marine traffic. Enjoy a buffet lunch aboard the ferry before your fascinating tour of the Canal ends in the small village of Gamboa. While not large, Gamboa is home to the headquarters of the Panama Canal dredging division and some of the largest floating cranes in the world. After leaving your ferry, board a waiting motorcoach for the just over 1-hour drive back to the ship at Amador. Each tour participant will receive a certificate that commemorates their crossing of the Canal.

This completely unique tour could easily be the highlight of your trip. Just imagine traveling down the tracks of the first transcontinental railroad in a beautifully restored and richly adorned railcar, while viewing what is widely considered to be the 8th wonder of the world; the Panama Canal, as well as spectacular Gatun Lake and the extraordinarily beautiful flora and fauna of the surrounding countryside. Adding to all of that, the unrivaled experience of traveling from one ocean to another, crossing the amazing continent of the Americas in just over one hour!

The Panama Railroad was the brainchild of a group of New York Financiers who wanted to create an easy passage for the increasing gold rush traffic. The railroad took five years and eight million dollars to build and was completed in 1855. During its first 12 years of operation, the train carried over 750 million dollars’ worth of gold and silver and collected one-quarter of one percent of each shipment as duty. The railroad was rebuilt in 1909 during the construction of the Panama Canal, and without it, the canal could not have been built. Your journey will begin with a short coach transfer from the pier in Amador to the Pacific side railroad station where you will board the train for your approximately 75-minute rail journey. As you travel through the lush tropical rainforest, there is a good chance you'll sight some Howler monkeys, colorful toucans or other exotic wildlife. Crossing the Continental Divide, you'll find yourself on the Atlantic side, where you will disembark the train.

Following your time at locks, you will re-board your coach and transfer back to the pier in Amador.

This completely unique tour could easily be the highlight of your trip. Just imagine traveling down the tracks of the first transcontinental railroad in a comfortable domed railcar, while viewing what is widely considered to be the 8th wonder of the world; the Panama Canal, as well as spectacular Gatun Lake and the extraordinarily beautiful flora and fauna of the surrounding countryside. Adding to all of that, the unrivaled experience of traveling from one ocean to another, crossing the amazing continent of the Americas in just over one hour!

The Panama Railroad was the brainchild of a group of New York Financiers who wanted to create an easy passage for the increasing gold rush traffic. The railroad took five years and eight million dollars to build and was completed in 1855. During its first 12 years of operation, the train carried over 750 million dollars’ worth of gold and silver and collected one-quarter of one percent of each shipment as duty. The railroad was rebuilt in 1909 during the construction of the Panama Canal, and without it, the canal could not have been built.

Your journey will begin with a short coach transfer from the pier in Amador to the Pacific side railroad station where you will board the train for your approximately 75-minute rail journey. As you travel through the lush tropical rainforest, your location from high atop your glass-domed car will give you an outstanding panoramic view of the passing scenery and there is a good chance you'll sight some Howler monkeys, colorful toucans or other exotic wildlife. Crossing the Continental Divide, you'll find yourself on the Atlantic side, where you will disembark the train.

From here, it's a short coach transfer to Aqua Clara or the Expansion Locks. It will truly seem as if the mammoth ships passing through the locks are a mere arm's length away. Following your time at the Locks, you will re-board your coach and transfer back to the pier in Amador.

This interesting tour showcases both the technology and the ecology of the Panama Canal. Commence your excursion with a 30-minute coach transfer from the pier in Amador to the Miraflores Locks, the first set of locks from the Pacific side of the Canal and probably the most visited due to their proximity to Panama City. From here, move to the viewing platform where you can observe first-hand the Canal in action.

visit the nearby IMAX Theater to enjoy an informational rich canal documentary narrated by Morgan Freeman. Through the magic of 3D and IMAX cameras, audiences everywhere can take an incredible trip through one of the seven wonders of the modern world in PANAMA CANAL 3D - A LAND DIVIDED - A WORLD UNITED. The documentary takes you through the locks and mechanical operations of the canal.

Continuing, enjoy a scenic 45-minute drive to the small town of Gamboa and the lovely Gamboa Rainforest Resort. After a brief comfort stop, you will walk to the nearby wharf where you will board your sightseeing boat for an eco-cruise on Gatun Lake. This great ecological cruise takes you on a journey inside the Panama Canal and you may find yourself cruising next to cargo ships that cross the Canal every day. As you travel through these waters, your experienced guide will explain the complexity of the flora and fauna of the Canal Zone and the surprising importance of it to the operation of the Canal. Your tour also takes you to Monkey Island where it is very common to see monkeys playing in the trees.

After a relaxing, yet thoroughly informative experience exploring the environs of Gatun Lake and the Canal, you will return to the dock in Gamboa and then re-join your coach for the return to Amador.