Hi everyone.  My hubby Mike and I just got off the Legend doing the Panama Canal Cruise.  It was great.  I wouldn't do anything in Colon on my own, stick with a ship tour.  We took the Panama Canal Tour which was about $175 each.  Very high...but so worth it.  My thoughts on the matter before we left was ...I would probably only get to the Panama once, and I wanted to experience going through the locks.  Our ship couldn't go through, so the next best thing was to take this very large ferry and experience it that way.  It was worth it.  After we went through, and passed the continental divide, we had to pull over for security reasons.  We were told that something was coming through that had waterway rights.  First about 5 small boats came passed us...guys with large guns..very large guns.  We couldn't imagine what was coming through...what country was it from...we couldn't see anything.  Then suddenly, up she comes...a SUBMARINE.  Woohoo!  this was a sight.  12 guys standing on top of this submarine, half submerged and half up.  We were wondering where she was from and then the flag went up....Yes!  it's old glory.  I had goose bumps up and down my spine and arms.  They waived at us and we waived back...all of us running to one side of the ship to get pictures.  The Captain got on and paniced...said we would roll if we didn't get back to the other side.  I did get some good pictures.  That whole scene was worth the $175.00.  You take a bus ride for about 40 minutes to get to Panama City and then another 40 back.  They have water and soda on board and you also will get a sandwich.  Bathroom are also on board.  Great tour.

We booked it on line at least two months before sailing.  I figured this one would sell out and it did.  Our neighbors took the train to Panama and stood on this high balcony of this restaurant and watched the boats go through...they actually watched us go through.  I'm not sure what they paid for this but they liked it also.

For the person not sure about Liberty....It's probably the most beautiful of the Carnival ships right now, with Legend coming in second. 

Happy Cruising.

Mary

 Mary,

I just booked the freedom in april 2010 to colon.  We would liket to do the same excursion, but we are only at port for 9 hours is this an issue, or can it been done?  Thanks 

Mary,

Could you post some of your pics, especially of the submarine surfacing?  Or maybe your flickr site or similar?

Thanks.

Ben

Hi!  Wow!  sounds like you had a fabulous time!  I would love to see your photos, if you have them on a website somewhere - please email me that web link at:  dlpv2008@shaw.ca.  We also want to do the Panama Canal in 2012.  We are fully booked til then!  Would love it if CCL would do more than one cruise through the Panama Canal.  

The Liberty is one gorgeous lady!  We did an 8 days Caribbean cruise on her in 2008!  What a beauty.  At every port we were the biggest ship!  Loved her!

Thank y ou again if you decide to send me the weblink where I can see your fabulous photos of your cruise.

Denise (from Canada)