Day 3 2/10/2026 - Transiting the Canal

Today we woke up early and went to breakfast so that we could get back to our room for the entry into the canal. We have the best view possible of the canal with the largest part of our deck facing forward on Deck 6 and the wrapping around to the side so that we have shade at times as well.

We watched some final loading and unloading of the container ships before we departed.

The working port in Colon

A pilot joined our ship and we were off towards the Canal. As you enter the area there is a beautiful bridge called the Atlantic Bridge. We had a person on the bridge talking about all that we were seeing and passengers were allowed on Deck 8 or Deck 5 to watch the transit, but it was quite nice to have the front of Deck 6 for just our cabin and one other. People kept looking up to see how we had gotten there and then they realized that it was our balcony.

Conrad on the balcony as we were leaving the port

Pulling away from the port

Our balcony

Atlantic Bridge in the distance

Atlantic Bridge in the distance

A ship off to the side that had split in half and been abandoned

Atlantic Bridge and Conrad on our Balcony

Atlantic Bridge

Crossing under the Atlantic Bridge

Once under the bridge we saw a little side fork that turned out to be the only part of the canal left from the French's attempt to build the canal before they gave up.

Part of the original effort to build the canal

Views along the canal

Alligator on the edge of the canal

We then headed into the first locks we will transit ont he canal called Gatun Locks, on the other side is a large lake called Gatun Lake which makes up a large part of the canal.

Approaching Gatun Locks and a ship that has just come through the other way.

Gatun Locks and a large white ship coming the other way which we will pass in the first set of locks. He will be lowered as we are raised.

Our ship is being attached to 4 engines, two on either side of the front and 2 on the back and they will guide su through the locks, propelling us forward and keeping us in place as the water fills.

Being attached to the engine

The front right engine, just beside our balcony pulling us into the lock

In the lock with people on the deck below watching

In the lock with people on the deck below watching with the white ship coming opposite us

Passing just by the white ship

Passing just by the white ship

The lock house

Lighthouse in the lock

After we left the Gatun locks we entered into Lake Gatun where will we cruise for several hours until we get to the next Lock. We went and had lunch while we were transiting. THe food has been really wonderful!

As we got towards the end of the canal we passed through the narrowest section, the Culebra cut and then through our last 2 sets of locks as also passed under the last 2 of the 3 bridges that cross the canal. The second of 3 bridges was called the Centennial Bridge commemorating 100 years of the canal.

Centennial Bridge

Next we passed through the Pedro Miguel Locks

Pedro Miguel Locks

Pedro Miguel Locks

Pedro Miguel Locks

Pedro Miguel Locks

Engines at the Pedro Miguel Locks

Then we went through the Miraflores Locks

Miraflores Locks

Heron by the side of the canal

Last we went under the Bridge of the Americas

Next we passed under the Bridge of the Americas and came out of the Canal back on the Pacific side, and back to Panama City where we started our journey when we flew into Panama.

Bridge of the Americas

We anchored just off of Panama City for the night because we have some excursions here tomorrow. We had a lovely view of the skyline from our cabin after dinner as well as some gorgeous stars in the sky.

Panama City Skyline from our ship anchored off the coast.

Tomorrow we have an excursion which will take us back into the Canal to Lake Gatun to see some monkeys and sloths.