Our journey across the 50 mile Panama Canal began early on January 19, 2012. A Panamanian Pilot boarded the Pacific Princess just outside the breakwaters of the Atlantic as we entered the Canal. By 7:30am we were making our way through the three stages of the Gatun Locks then across the Gatun Lake.
It’s always amazing to make this passage and considering the effort that went into building this engineering marvel which was finished by the U.S.A. in 1914. And, over the past few years we have seen the work to expand the Panama Canal continue. This work entails deepening of the Pacific and Atlantic Canal entrances; widening and deepening of the Gatun Lake navigational channel and deepening of Culebra Cut; building of the new locks and water-reutilization basins on the Atlantic and the Pacific; raising of Gatun Lake maximum operational level, and adding a new 6.1 kilometer Pacific Access Channel. This expansion program will add a third set of locks which in effect adds a third lane of traffic which will allow the transit of longer and wider ships. This third lane will handle ships in excess of 1200 feet long by 160 feet wide. Work is scheduled to be completed on this project during the 100th anniversary of the Canal in 2014.
By 1:30pm we had cleared Gatun Lake and passed under the Centennial Bridge en route next to the Pedro Miguel Locks. At 2:00pm we were working our way through these locks. Cindy spent some of her time at this lock in the Thalassothearpy Pool at the front of the ship in the Sactionary. We really got a good view from this vantage point.
Continuing on through the Canal, we next entered the Miraflores Locks under the view of hundreds of tourist watching our passage from a three story building that has viewing balconies. The Pacific Princess continued through the Canal and passed under the Bridge of the Americas at around 5:15pm. At around 6:00pm we were looking back at downtown Panama City as we headed out into the open waters of the Pacific Ocean.
By the way, on the last sea day before arriving at the Panama Canal many of the passengers made colorful posters to hang on their balconies or display on the open decks. We chose to highlight that this was our 9th transit through the Panama Canal.
January 20th is a sea day as we head northwest to our next destination, Puerto Quepos, Costa Rica. We should be arriving there at around 7:00am tomorrow.
