In The Loop Travel
  • Home
  • Destinations
    • The Americas
    • Caribbean
    • Mexico
    • Europe
    • Asia/Pacific
    • Africa
  • Fitness
  • Cruising
  • Travel Tips
  • Videos
  • Work With Us
  • My Work
  • About
  • Colorado Craft Brewery Guide
  • Media Kit
  • TBIN Influencer Network

Packing List for a Panama Canal Cruise

3/12/2015

2 Comments

 
Picture
We'll be heading through the Panama Canal on Celebrity Inifinity. / Photo courtesy of Celebrity Cruises
By John Roberts

We're heading on a cruise through the Panama Canal in September. This is a vacation that has been in the works for a long time because it's also a celebration: for our 10-year wedding anniversary and Mrs. In The Loop's 40th birthday.

We've worked out many of the details of our 17-day sailing on Celebrity Infinity, and we are super pumped to have friends and family join us. We'll have at least 10 in our group, including friends we made on a previous cruise in 2011.

One of the key items we'll need to tackle before making the trip is what to pack. We'll be cruising from San Francisco to Fort Lauderdale during our two-plus week voyage, and when in the canal region, we'll be in some unique conditions that require a bit of extra thought.

So, I have compiled a packing list for a Panama Canal cruise to help you (and me) prepare:

Rain gear -- It rains frequently in Panama, so you need to be prepared for when you are ashore on your excursions. We will spend a day transiting the canal, a day at port in Colon, Panama, and one day each in Cartagena, Colombia, and Punta Arenas, Costa Rica. October is rainy season, so we will pack: collapsible umbrellas, travel rain ponchos and large plastic zip-top bags to separate wet and dry clothes in case we need to change (these are also great for bathing suits).

Sunscreen and sunglasses -- The sun can be intense, and we want to be able to spend a lot of time outside enjoying the scenery as we sail through Gatun Lake and the fascinating lock system of the canal.

Wide-brimmed hat -- This protects again the sun and helps keep you cooler. I'm a baldy, so I definitely love these hats, which I even wear while swimming (mine is collapsible and water safe).

Mosquito repellent/antibiotic cream/anti-itch spray -- Panama is rife with mosquitoes and other biting bugs. Use a spray/cream to keep them away. If you get bit, you'll need some relief from itching.

Wicking sport shirts -- Weather conditions get hot and humid (let's just call it sticky). Moisture wicking shirts help keep you cooler, drier and more comfortable. Ladies will want to pack a few lightweight sundresses, too.

Vented shirts/convertible pants -- Heading off for walks, hikes or other activities in the jungle in Panama or elsewhere on your Panama Cruise itinerary? You need versatile clothing for all conditions. Vented-back shirts give coverage but are cooler, and pants that become shorts with a quick roll or zip allow you to be ready for more types of the changeable weather you can encounter.

Backpack -- Always valuable for time ashore, a backpack is needed to carry all your extras, such as snacks, rain gear, sunscreen, sprays, hats, swimsuits and other essentials -- especially on hikes.

Tripod -- Transiting the Panama Canal is said to be a great opportunity for a wide range of unique pictures. You want a steady shot to capture possible pics of monkeys, birds, crocodiles and many other creatures, as well as the cargo ships and other vessels along the route. You can also use the tripod to set up a time-lapse shot as you go through a lock or two.

Binoculars -- There is so much to see!

Water safe shoes -- Footwear that is functional like Keens or waterproof hiking boots makes your outing more enjoyable if you are ashore in rugged conditions.

Games/books/magazines -- You have a batch of sea days during such a long cruise, and you might want to bring some form of entertainment to help pass the time in a fun or relaxing way. We like to pack playing cards, Phase 10, cribbage and dominoes, for examples. The ship library offers games and books, too.

This list is in addition to the items we would pack for every cruise, like bathing suits, passports, slacks, sport coat, shoes and ties (for dinners), currency (depending on what is needed in the countries we are visiting), etc.

Another must have: Get a balcony for your Panama Canal cruise!  

Thanks for reading.

Always travel happy!

JR

Subscribe today to get the latest reviews, tips and tricks to help you have your best adventure ever.

2 Comments
Charles McCool link
3/13/2015 06:47:57 am

Very important is to maximize whatever hooch you can bring aboard.

Reply
JR
3/13/2015 08:50:50 am

Shhhh. Gotta sneak that on!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    Africa
    AIDA Cruises
    Alaska
    Albatros Expeditions
    Alicante
    AmaWaterways
    Amber Cove
    American Queen Steamboat Company
    American Queen Voyages
    Amsterdam
    Antarctica
    Antigua
    Arctic
    Arizona
    Aruba
    Asia
    Atlas Ocean Voyages
    Australia
    Austria
    Avalon Waterways
    Backroads
    Bahamas
    Barbados
    Barcelona
    Belize
    Blue World Voyages
    Bonaire
    Bora Bora
    Brooklyn
    Budapest
    Burma
    Cabo San Lucas
    Cadiz
    California
    Cambodia
    Cancun
    Caribbean
    Carnival Cruise
    Celebrity Cruises
    Celestyal Cruises
    Christmas Markets
    Cologne
    Colombia
    Colorado
    Corfu
    Costa Rica
    Cozumel
    Craft Beer
    Croatia
    Crystal Cruises
    Cuba
    Curacao
    Dominican Republic
    Dubrovnik
    Egypt
    Emerald Cruises
    Emerald Waterways
    Europe
    Expat Life
    Explora Journeys
    Fathom Travel
    Fitness
    Florida
    Fort Lauderdale
    France
    French Polynesia
    Galapagos
    Galveston
    Germany
    Grand Cayman
    Greece
    Grenada
    Guatemala
    Halifax
    Harmony Of The Seas
    Hawaii
    High Line Park
    Hiking
    Holland America
    Hong Kong
    Houston
    Hungary
    Ibiza
    Iceland
    Isla Mujeres
    Italy
    Jim Thorpe
    Key West
    Kotor
    Labadee
    Lake Minnewaska
    Las Vegas
    Lisbon
    Lithuania
    London
    London Eye
    Maine
    Malaga
    Mexico
    Miami
    Minnesota
    Mississippi River
    Monte Carlo
    Montenegro
    Monterey
    Montreal
    Moorea
    MSC Cruises
    MSC Divina
    Netherlands
    Newfoundland
    New Jersey
    New Orleans
    New York
    New York City
    New Zealand
    North Carolina
    Norway
    Norwegian Cruise Line
    Nuremberg
    Oceania Cruises
    Oregon
    Orlando
    Panama
    Panama Canal
    Passau
    Paul Gauguin
    Paul Gauguin Cruises
    Pennsylvania
    Philadelphia
    Pickleball
    Ponant
    Portugal
    Prague
    Princess Cruises
    Puerto-rico
    Queens
    Regensburg
    Regent Seven Seas
    Rome
    Royal Caribbean
    Saint-Tropez
    San Francisco
    Santorini
    Scenic Cruises
    Scottsdale
    Seabourn
    SeaDream Yacht Club
    Sicily
    Silversea
    Sintra
    Sorrento
    Spain
    Star Clippers
    St. Maarten
    St. Thomas
    Symphony Of The Seas
    Tahiti
    Travel Gear
    Travel Tips
    Tunisia
    Turkey
    Turks And Caicos
    UnCruise
    Un-Cruise Adventures
    UnCruise Adventures
    Universal's Islands Of Adventure
    Uniworld
    Utah
    Utica
    Utica Boilermaker 15K
    Vienna
    Vietnam
    Viking Cruises
    Washington
    Windstar Cruises
    Wisconsin

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    RSS Feed

Copyright © 2013 | All rights reserved | Ewing, New Jersey.
Contact | About | Media Kit