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Six Reasons a Small Ship is Best Way to Cruise the Panama Canal

8/31/2017

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Panama Canal on UnCruise Adventures' Safari Voyager
UnCruise Adventures' Safari Voyager enters Gatun Locks as we prepare to transit the Panama Canal.
By John Roberts 

The Panama Canal is a technological wonder that is vital to modern commerce and shipping. The route that cuts through the isthmus of Panama has been open for more than 100 years, and its history is fascinating. People with an interest in history, engineering and travel in general all have good reason to seek out cruises that transit the Panama Canal. 

I have done this on a large cruise ship and a small expedition ship. My verdict is that it's an overwhelmingly more pleasing experience to cross the Panama Canal on a small ship. My cruise on Celebrity Infinity (2,100 passengers, 950 feet long) was enjoyable enough, with a lot of entertainment options and an overall nice program for the canal. The large ship offered a good perspective from its high decks as we transited the locks and Gatun Lake, and we also enjoyed time viewing from our balcony. 

But the limitations of cruising the Panama Canal on a large ship become apparent after my recent crossing with UnCruise Adventures on Safari Voyager. During this voyage, I discovered six reasons you should cruise the Panama Canal on an expedition ship. 
Panama Canal on UnCruise Adventures' Safari Voyager
No Crowds -- Safari Voyager sails with a maximum of 62 passengers on its itineraries in Panama and Costa Rica. We had even fewer on our trip, and the lack of crowds allowed us to get a viewing spot anywhere we wanted without having to arrive to the top deck hours ahead of the transit to stake out a spot on the railing. This is how it's done on the large cruise ships that transit the canal, and you can't leave your spot without losing it to other passengers ready to pounce.  

On an expedition ship, this is no problem. There are plenty of good spots for pictures for everyone, and people can move more easily from area to area, unhindered by crowds.  
Panama Canal on UnCruise Adventures' Safari Voyager
All the Views -- The small passenger count and the modest size of the vessel also means that you can go from one end of the ship to the other -- and even change decks or wander to other viewing platforms -- in a matter of moments so that you can enjoy views from the bow of the ship as well as perspectives off the sides and at the aft. This means you can see how the canal locks open in front then close from behind and watch the "mules" (powerful vehicles on tracks on each side) tie up ropes to your ship and work to keep you on course within the lock system. 
 
On large ships, you pretty much have to choose your perspective for the whole process. If you want to go from aft to bow, for example, it can take a long time to walk from end to end to reach a new position. 
Panama Canal on UnCruise Adventures' Safari Voyager
Dinner in a Lock -- On Safari Voyager, the ship's chef and crew put on a top deck barbecue for us so that we wouldn't miss a thing while we were transiting the canal. Passengers ate grilled shrimp and other fine cuisine while drinking sangria and cocktails served right outside under sunny skies. It was amazing to be eating our dinner right inside a Panama Canal lock during the whole process. 
Panama Canal on UnCruise Adventures' Safari Voyager
Ask the Captain -- The bridge is off limits during the crossing as a pilot from the Canal Authority comes onboard the ship to oversee the transit. But the ship's captain will generally be accessible to passengers right up to the time we enter the canal and will gladly explain what is going to happen. Our fellow cruisers on Safari Voyager peppered Captain Kamin Lambertson with questions throughout the day of the crossing to find out how many times he had done this, how long it would take, how much it costs, etc. 

Expedition ships generally have an open-bridge policy, and the captains will welcome you in to see how they navigate. They love to chat with passengers and answer questions, and many have a big bowl of candies to offer as an incentive to come visit. They get lonely up there and love the company. 

Time Lapse -- I was able to affix my GoPro camera to a rail just in front of the bridge to document the crossing as a time-lapse (see video at bottom of this post). This is a fun way to save a memory from your Panama Canal crossing, and it's easy to find an unobstructed area on a small cruise ship to place your camera with good views of the journey. This is not as easy to pull off in any good way on a large ship. 
Panama Canal on UnCruise Adventures' Safari Voyager
Naturalist Talk -- Expedition guides give a talk about the Panama Canal, its history and the process of the crossing. They provide a play-by-play that can be heard over a loudspeaker and will also walk the decks to answer any questions. The format may be fairly informal and flexible with such a small group, and the intimate setting seems more like a classroom with all your fellow passengers. This differs from the large cruise ships, which feature an expert giving commentary over a loudspeaker that is sometimes hard to hear and will not vary from its formalized presentation. 

A Panama Canal cruise is something to try at least once. You'll have fun on any type of ship, but for me, I really love that expedition ship experience. Have you done a transit? What type of ship were you on and what did you like about it?  

Let us know in the comments below. 

Happy travels! 
JR
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We're Off to Sail the Panama Canal with UnCruise Adventures

8/15/2017

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Kayaking in Costa Rica
Courtesy of UnCruise Adventures
By John Roberts 

Nothing is better than an expedition cruise. Of all my adventures, I would choose this style of travel over and over. You get to explore in smaller groups of like-minded travelers who are seeking fun challenges and go into regions of still-pristine wilderness that are typically unreachable by any other means. 

UnCruise Adventures specializes in expeditions and does it as well as any other company -- and much better than most. 

Last year, a went on back-to-back sailing with UnCruise Adventures to the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Those voyages were action-filled and left me wanting to get back on an UnCruise Adventures ship as soon as possible. Well, that time has come, and we'll be sailing through the Panama Canal from Panama City to San Jose, Costa Rica, on Safari Voyager.  

Here's the day-by-day sailing itinerary for our destinations and all the activities.  

On embarkation day, we will have an evening transit of the 48-mile-long Panama Canal.  
Sailing the Gulf of Panama, on a search for marine life and seabirds as we cruise among islands and islets. 

At Granito de Oro and Coiba National Park in Panama, we can choose to snorkel, kayak and explore trails on the uninhabited island. We'll be on the lookout for howler monkeys, eagles and turtles. 

At Coiba National Park, for a morning of swimming, snorkeling or hiking options before afternoon sailing. 

Golfo Dulce is a paradise for bird fanatics. Now, in Costa Rica, we'll visit the tropical reserve -- filled with monkeys, hummingbirds, butterflies and exotic plants -- on a walking tour and also have the chance to explore mangroves by skiff and kayak. 

Osa Conservation Area is the location of Costa Rica's largest national park. Corcovado is blooming with biodiversity of plants and animals. Fully 2.5 percent of the world's plant and animal species can be found at Corcovado. We'll try to spy as many as we can on a trail hike. 

At Curu National Wildlife Refuge, a number of exotic creatures could appear. The gnarly mangroves are home to birds, colorful frogs, army ants and crocodiles. Activities include crossing a swinging bridge on a trail hike to spot monkeys. We'll also jump into the waters at Isla Tortuga to kayak, snorkel and paddleboard.  

Colleen and I will be with about 60 other passengers on the ship, which features modest staterooms amenities, a sun deck, EZ dock for launching into the waters for skiff tours and kayaking, open-seating dining room and a lounge area with a bar. The ship features an outdoor viewing area at the bow, which will be a popular gathering place for viewing wildlife, and UnCruise offers each traveler a complimentary 30-minute massage (I'll gladly pay for a second or third massage, too, after all the activity I am anticipating). I'll return with a full review of the ship and adventure experience. 

Thanks for reading and please follow out UnCruise Adventures trip on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook via the #TBIN hashtag (Travel Bloggers Influencer Network). 

Cheers!
JR
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The Five Best Things to Do Near Charles Bridge in Prague

8/11/2017

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Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic.
Charles Bridge crosses the Vltava River in Prague and is one of the city's iconic sites.
By John Roberts 

If you are visiting Prague, you undoubtedly will be drawn to the Charles Bridge. The stunning stone bridge that spans the Vltava River was completed in 1402 and is one of the most-visited sites in the capital of the Czech Republic. There is good reason for that, too. Charles Bridge (you'll see signs in Prague directing you toward Karluv most) is flanked by large fortified towers on each bank, Lesser Town Bridge Towers and Old Town Bridge Tower. Strolling across from Old Town toward Lesser Town, you pass through the Gothic gateways, sharing the medieval bridge with buskers, artisans and hundreds of tourists. Charles Bridge features 30 statues of saints across its more than 500-meter span, and Prague Castle looms above Lesser Town. 

Here are my five best things to do around Charles Bridge in Prague.
Charles Bridge in Prague
Wander Charles Bridge -- You'll spend time here, of course. The least-crowded times and best for pictures is early morning, but it's irresistible at sunset. This span over the Vltava River is adorned with interesting statuary (a statue of St. John of Nepomuk is the most well-known) and filled with visitors who stroll together hand-in-hand to watch the sun retreat each evening. Charles Bridge also is home to artists, souvenir vendors and buskers playing anything from Bohemian folk music to classical and pop songs. The bridge is the main approach to Prague Castle and the vantage points in this area offer some of the best places to snag the iconic picture of Prague for your trip.
Old Town in Prague
Explore Old Town -- Prague's main tourist hot spot, Old Town is a bustling area filled with restaurants, bars, dance clubs and shopping. Old Town Square is the location of Prague's astronomical clock, which was installed in 1410 and is the oldest operating astronomical clock in the world. Old Town Square is also the site of the city's annual Christmas Markets.
Prague beer and food
Prague's pubs offer a true taste of the Czech traditions.
Partake in a Pub Crawl -- You must take some time to sit outside and enjoy Czech beers (the nation is the birthplace of the Pilsen). Beer pubs are everywhere throughout the city, and you can find plenty of spots around Charles Bridge, too. Explore the castle grounds and winding cobbled streets around the Mala Strana neighborhood to find cool spots to settle in. Try Klasterni Pivovar Strahov for its lagers and ales brewed at a monastery. Or check out Lokal U Bile Kuzelky at the foot of Charles Bridge for a cold Pilsner Urquell and traditional Czech food.
St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague
St. Vitus Cathedral is the largest of most important temple in Prague.
Hike Up to Prague Castle -- Speaking of the castle, you'll want to head up the hill to take in this massive complex. The UNESCO World Heritage site is a mix of architectural styles amid its castle palaces and administrative buildings. It serves as the official residence of the Czech president, and the grounds are filled with gardens. Make sure to explore the galleries and stunning St. Vitus Cathedral. 
Boat cruise Charles Bridge in Prague
Boat tours on the river and canals are a neat way to see a different view of the Charles Bridge neighborhoods.
Relax on a River Cruise -- Tired of walking around Prague all day? A popular diversion is a boat tour on the Vltava River. Outfitters are selling these tours all around the Charles Bridge and Old Town areas, so you can decide on the spur of the moment whether this is something you feel like doing. Some feature a dinner and beers, too. These slow-paced cruises give you a view from the middle of the Vltava, which is the longest river in the Czech Republic. You also can travel through locks and into small canals that venture into Lesser Town. A river cruise offers cools views up to the castle from the middle of the water. 

H
ave you been to Prague? What are some of your favorite things to do in this incredible city? 
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts. 

Happy travels, 
John
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