Pacific Princess Review
Festive Panama Canal Voyage with New Friends
Rating by category
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We wanted to see the Panama Canal but had to work around the school calendar. Our choices for a full transit voyage were the Island Princess (15 nights) or the Pacific Princess (17 nights). We had been on the Pacific Princess before and liked the intimate (680 passengers) atmosphere so chose it over transiting the Canal aboard a Panamax ship like the Island Princess.
We sacrificed larger ship amenities, but Cruise Director Sammy and her staff made an effort to bring holiday cheer to all. Lots of holiday decorations, a very competitive gingerbread house contest (we now know we have to bring ornaments from home to decorate the house!), a visit from Santa (who came by tender without reindeers), Christmas/New Year's Eve shows and parties, a craft session where we made posters for the Panama Canal transit (ship photographers disembarked to take photos of passengers holding signs greeting the people on shore), etc.
Bill Fall offered lectures on the Panama Canal and the ports we visited. He was also available for informal question sessions nearly every day, and of course, pointed out salient things while we transited the Canal. He was approachable and knowledgeable, an asset to our trip.
Cabin Review
Port Reviews
Cabo San Lucas
The actual dolphin experience with Aqua and baby Kahal and their trainers was excellent. The ship tour price ($149 adult and $99 child) and the $139 photo CD, not so much.
Los Angeles
Transfer from LAX with Prime Shuttle for $17 per person.
Puntarenas (Puerto Caldera)
Visit to Poas Volcano and Sarchi were very enjoyable, but my favorite memory is our Christmas Day stop to visit to the metal church in Grecia: made in Belgium, shipped in pieces, reassembled on location, can see the screws.
Aruba
We were picked up at the gas station in front of the pier and taken to Rancho Notorious for a leisurely ride in the desert-like Aruban vegetation. Felt like we were in the Wild West. Guide Max made sure all of us had a great time. His three dogs (it's a family owned business) came with us, which was very cute: a party of humans, horses and dogs!