Oct 14, 2024
Must do in Panama City! - This was such an amazing experience - and definitely the way to see the canal! The timing depends on which large shipping vessel you're paired with (the transit partner), with whom you go through the locks - incredible to witness the engineering as you go through and in my opinion the only way to do it! The guide was great - very knowledgeable and friendly. There is lunch provided which is tasty. Definitely a must-do!
Review provided by Viator
Oct 7, 2024
Very Fun and Educational Trip - Great trip! So interesting to hear all about the canal and how everything works. The guide, Jose was awesome. Great narrations in both English and Spanish.
Review provided by Viator
Sep 22, 2024
If you are short on time, this tour covers the highlights of the city and the canal. - The trip is value for money covers extensively about the canal history and a bit of city history too. English speaking guides were good. Comfortable pic up and drop off AC shuttles.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 26, 2024
Once in a lifetime experience. - IMAX video doesn't do this experience any justice. From the locks to the transfer of water, it's just memorable. The sights you see on the boat that are not visible from the shoreline are great.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 16, 2024
Wonderful experience on Pacific Queen! - Unfortunately watching a yacht try and do a u-turn in the loch as a visitor touring boat was laeking a great deal of oil. The yacht hit the wall with the metal part at the front of it. Pacific Queen did a great job of getting out of the loch and into the one next to it. The lockmaster did not want to contaminate our boat~Pacific Queen. Staff were great, food was very nice and there was a great fun atmosphere.
Review provided by Viator
Aug 12, 2024
Highly recommend - I truly believe this was an adventure of a lifetime to say I traveled on a boat through the Panama Canal:). I loved this experience so much. The reviews from others are correct in that yes it’s a long day. However the experience is again so worth it. My husband and I met a van near our hotel where we drove 45 minutes-1 hour to the boat. I will say the only negative part was at that point there’s one person scanning your ticket and no lines so people were pushing and shoving to get their tickets scanned. Then two people put wrist bands on and you walked onboard. Definitely need an obvious checkin point with more than one scanner.
The food for lunch (chicken, sausage, salad, rice) was very good. You could purchase beverages. Edwin the boats announcer was phenomenal! He gave so much history and knowledge in both Spanish and English flawlessly and was so great. It made the trip much more lively.
Once completed the van took us back to the hotel— very easy. Time total was about 6.5 hours but again highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 7, 2024
Memorable trip - Panama Canal southbound boat trip was memorable. Very scenic. Going through the locks was awesome. Well coordinated trip
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 28, 2024
Flawless & Fascinating! - What an unforgettable experience! From the on-time hotel pick-up to the on-time hotel drop-off later that day and the boat ride in between this experience was flawless and fascinating. At our boat boarding location we watched as the Canal traffic shifted directions from Northbound to Southbound and we waited for our boat pairing — an automotive transport carrier with which we would pass through the locks on the journey ahead. The ride was easy, peaceful and educational as the boat tour guide chimed in on the intercom to explain our experience at every fascinating turn. We enjoyed lunch on the boat that was delicious Panamanian fare — and, the rest of the time we were taking in every site and sitting in constant awe of this engineering marvel. To navigate through the locks was an unforgettable experience and the size/scale at which ships move with precision is simply unbelievable. And, the tug boats equally amazing. All around, a phenomenal experience. And, we’ve recommended this tour to friends and family should they find themselves in Panama!
Review provided by Viator
Jul 23, 2024
Excellent. - Wonderful, a great work of engineering, the operation of the canal is fascinating and leaves great revenue for the government of Panama.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 4, 2024
Waiting, waiting and waiting. - Waiting, waiting and more waiting. You seem unable to schedule appropriately. We waited for the bus, waited at the dock and waited for the food. Then when we arrived at pedro Miguel locks we waited for two other vessels to fill the locks. Had we coordinated the transit with the other vessels in our group we may have been able to transit more slowly. The spokesperson of the boat acted more like a carnival frontman than an educational speaker. On board were a group of tic toc film makers that always seemed to be standing in the way. The food was bountiful and was of good flavor, however the serving area was in the dining room and all the foods had to fit together on the same plate. My couple concluded that it would have been nice to be able to purchase snacks like cakes and empanadas.
Review provided by Viator