Cruise ships transiting the Panama Canal have been a popular tourist attraction since the canal opened in 1914. The canal is a 50-mile (80-km) waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, allowing ships to bypass the treacherous waters of Cape Horn. The journey through the Panama Canal takes between 8 and 10 hours depending on the size of the vessel, with larger vessels taking longer.
The transit begins at the port of Balboa, located at the northern end of the canal. From here, cruise ships will travel south through several locks, which use gravity and electrical pumps to raise or lower vessels up or down in elevation, allowing them to pass from one ocean to another. This process can take anywhere from 3-6 hours depending on how many locks are used and how much time it takes for each vessel to pass through them.
Once vessels have passed through the locks, they will then travel a further 20 miles (32 km) down a man-made channel known as Gatun Lake. This is where most of the transit time is spent as cruise ships sail across this vast lake before reaching their destination at Colón, located on the Caribbean side of Panama.
At Colón, cruise ships will then enter another set of locks before proceeding out into open sea again on either side of Panama. During this entire transit process, passengers aboard cruise ships can take in all sorts of sights such as lush rainforests and exotic wildlife including sloths, toucans and monkeys.
In conclusion, travelling by ship through the Panama Canal can take anywhere from 8 to 10 hours depending on the size of the vessel and number of locks it passes through along its journey from Balboa to Colón. Passengers aboard these vessels can enjoy some spectacular views along their transit route across Gatun Lake.
How Long Does It Take a Cruise Ship to Transit the Panama Canal? Cruise ships travelling through the Panama Canal typically take 8-10 hours for their full transit journey from Balboa at one end to Colón at the other end.