Making the most of Panama Canal
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
The Panama Canal is 77 km (48 mi) long, and a transit takes an average of 8 to 10 hours.
Ships wait in Limon Bay for authorisation to begin their passage through the canal.
The canal is 8.7 km away; depending on the itinerary, a ship may call at Colon while underway.
Gatun locks are 3.1 km away. This three-stage lock flight, 1.9 km (1.2 mi) long, raises vessels to Gatun Lake, about 26.5 m (87 ft) above sea level—the height of an average 10 story building.
The route runs 29 km through Gatun Lake, an artificial lake created during construction of Gatun Dam.
It then follows the Chagres River for 8 km, a natural waterway enhanced by damming Gatun Lake.
Culebra Cut covers 12.6 km, cutting 12.6 km (7.8 mi) through the mountain ridge, crossing the continental divide and passing beneath Centennial Bridge.
The passage continues 1.4 km through the single-stage Pedro Miguel lock, 1.4 km (0.87 mi) long. This is the first descent stage and has a lift of 9.5 m (31 ft).
Miraflores Lake, an artificial lake, is crossed over 1.7 km.
Over 1.7 km, the two-stage Miraflores locks are 1.7 km (1.1 mi) long and have a total descent of 16.5 m (54 ft).
A final 13.2 km passes beneath Bridge of the Americas and reaches the Pacific Ocean.
Simply stay on deck.
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Getting around
Canal transit costs a cruise company $134 plus extra's per passenger. A typical 2000 passenger ship pays around $400,000.
Only Panamax-size ships are currently permitted: 110 ft (33.53 m) wide, 1,050 ft (320.04 m) long and 41.2 ft (12.56 m) deep. Bridge of the Americas height at Balboa limits a vessel's overall height, with the exact limit depending on water level.
In the locks, ships are accompanied by 8 mules—heavy electric locomotives—not to pull them but to keep vessels straight. Operators need great skill with as little as 2 ft (60 cm) clearance on either side of a ship.
Canal expansion was completed in 2016 and allows larger ships.
Money
Panama's currencies are the Balboa and the US Dollar. The balboa has exactly the same value as the US dollar, but in practice Balboas exist only as coins equivalent to US coins.
Staying connected
Languages are Spanish, the official language, and English 14%; many Panamanians are bilingual.