Eighth Wonder of the World? I didnt know there was one!

I’m talking about the Panama Canal,  thought of by many as the ‘Worlds Greatest Engineering Feat’

Seems I was wrong. I Thought there were only 7!

I’ve been doing some online product training over the past few days, as it’s important to keep up to date with all the new events and happenings in the cruise world.

We can’t afford to rest on our laurels if we are to continue to provide our customers with first class service!

So I was reading all about the cruise ships navigating through the Panama Canal, and not knowing very much about it to be absolutely honest with you, wondered what all the fuss was about, and why cruising through it is such a  ‘Rite of Passage’ for so many cruisers. I came across some  facts which caught my interest.   For instance, did you know……The idea to join the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans was first thought of in the 16^th Century, by a man called  Vasco Nunez de Balboa, who was the first European to reach the Pacific in the 16th century.

However it wasn’t until  the successful completion of the Suez Canal in 1869 that the French took up the challenge and started digging in 1880, but after 20 years, they later abandoned the idea.  Too much like hard work as they had to dig through granite and not desert sand, and consequently, ran out of money and ideas!

Then in 1903 The United States were granted authority to construct the canal. and it finally opened in August 1914. 200 years ago this year!

It took 10 years, and $382 million to construct, and 26,000 lives were lost! Mainly by tropical disease, particularly malaria and yellow fever.

Facts & Figures (shortened version – I need to keep your interest!)

Its 77 kms long (that’s 48 miles in real money…)  33 metres wide and holds 26.7milllion gallons of water, and 14000 ships travel through it every year.  The locks are 110 feet wide and 1050 feet long. Ships that are wider or longer than this cant use the Panama Canal.  The water is drawn from an artificial lake called The Gatun Lake. You firstly travel through the 3 Gatun Locks, onward to Pedro Miquel Lock, and then finally the 2 stage Miraflores Lock.

The first ship to sail through the Canal was the SS Ancona on August 15th 1914 just before the outbreak of the first World War.

It takes between 8 and 10 hours to pass through the Panama Canal.  Since its construction, now, when cruising between New York and San Francisco, by using the Panama Canal, ships save 8000 miles and avoid cruising around the dangerous and precarious Cape Horn.

The best time to go is between October and April, after the rainy season ends in November.

Panama Cruise Tips

Get up early. On the day of the transit, prime viewing locations on the bow and near windows go quickly. Most cruise lines do their best to give everyone a decent seat — sometimes opening up “crew only” areas — but competition can still get fierce. So set your alarm; the sooner you can pull yourself out of bed, the better the spot you’ll snag.

Get your sunscreen on. Despite the early start, you’ll want to be prepared for the Panama sun, as it can get surprisingly hot while you’re out there waiting. Some ships will do their best to make passengers comfortable, offering chilled towels and water, juice and Panama rolls (Danish-like pastries with sweet fruit filling in the center) for a small breakfast alfresco.

Get out of your cabin. This is one situation where a balcony cabin offers a unique perspective, but it isn’t really a necessity  Bigger ships can only squeak through the canal, with two feet (or less) on either side. While the railing of the balcony can give you a better appreciation for just how tight that squeeze is, being up on the bow is the best way to appreciate the full scope of the process.

I hope you found this as interesting as I did, and that it has whetted your appetite to experience  a  Rites of Passage through the ‘Eighth Wonder of The World’.

Gina