panama canal tour is 8 hours. we will only be there for 10   is it okay to do it?  or is the time alotted to close to call to get back to the ship. or does anyone suggest a shorter excursion invloving the panama canal?  ive been to panama before land vacation.

We have been on several cruses and tours and we did do the 8 hour and LOVED it. Be sure you get the tour from the ship. due to another ship broke down in one of the canals and we had a delay so we got back to the ship late. but the ship was there due to we had got the tour from the ship. Yes I have seen ship leave people at a port due to they went on there own and didn't watch the time. There is close to a 2 hour trip to the canal but you are feed with so much info. on the area, people, goverment, history, ect. I would pay the money and do it again if I ever get a chance. Next to the Alaske trip the Panama Canal trip was the best and that was due to the 8 hour tour. Be sure you bring a camara that you can take alot of pictures with cause when they  fill/draine the canal you will take alot.

so don't buy the excursion on the carnival web site?  wait until i get on the ship?  or is the web site tour the same people as the ship tour?  thanks in advance for your help.

If you buy the excursion from Carnival, you don't have to worry.  They'll wait for your group to get back even if you're late.  Go ahead and book it now, if that's your only concern.

We took the tour and it was great!  It was one of the highlights of our cruise. 

thanks liz.  i will do that. my husband will be very happy. 

Don't forget to touch the walls!  They say that you will be stay married forever if you touch the walls of the canal. 

Or it will seem like forever.  I forget how that goes.  ;-)

Please let me know how this tour is when you get back.  We are planning on taking this cruise in 2010 and want a good excursion.  Our kids were born in Panama while we were stationed there and we want to take them to see where they were born.  Thanks

andiralph:

Please let me know how this tour is when you get back.  We are planning on taking this cruise in 2010 and want a good excursion.  Our kids were born in Panama while

My wife and I did this tour in Aug 07.  To go through the locks is an experience I will never forget.  You will see them working on the building of the new locks for larger ships.  When they open (I think in 4 to 6 years) I have every intention of cruising through them.

Thanks so much for the info.  My family is going on the Western Caribbean cruise to Colon, Panama being one of the stops in December and we were also curious on whether to book the 5 hour or 8 hour tour.  I have a 13 year old and 16 year old I wanted to make sure they would also enjoy the excursion. 

 I just booked the western cruise for April 10, 2010 from Fort Lauderdale.  This is only a nine hour stop in Panama.  Will try to do it.

I guess I'm a little confused.  When your cruise ship goes through the locks in the Panama Canal aren't you on board your cruise ship?  I'm confused.  Do you get off the ship while it travels through the canal?

Sam

Are you on the ship when it goes through the locks or off the ship?  I guess I'm confused because I thought you were on board the ship while it was going through the canal?

 Could someone please help