Panama Canal Experience
2025 Bucket list trip of a lifetime,
The Ports
Los Angeles – USA
Puerto Vallarta – Mexico
Haultuco – Mexico
Puerto Chiapas – Mexico
Punterenas – Costa Rica
Fuerte Amador – Panama City
Aruba (Dutch Territory Island)
New York – USA
The Canal
Princess Cruise Day by Day
Day One
Set Sail from Los Angeles, San Pedro the first day of our 19 day sailing to New York – with the intended highlight being the Panama Canal crossing !
We had stayed at San Pedro the night before – a 45 minute Uber drive from LA airport ( you just need to get free shuttle bus to LAXIT from all terminals where you pick up Taxis and Ubers).
We stayed at Crowne Plaza – well located – you can walk to a few restaurants for dinner we ate at the Mexican family restaurant , Green Onion, which was an excellent choice – very busy, vibrant , friendly – get in early as we had to wait about 45 mins for a table – but worth the wait
http://greenonionmexicanrestaurant.com
The next morning we took the hotel shuttle to the pier ( runs several times in the morning the day of cruises) and can we booked the night before for $5 pp. If you are travelling light – the pier is an easy 15 – 20 minute walk from the hotel.
The check in process was a little long, noticeably there was no separate checkin for Elite or Suite guests, but we were onboard within an hour.
As we were travelling with a 2 year old – we went to check out the Kids Club . Liberty the coordinator was very welcoming and even though the Kids Club does not accept children until they are 3 she made us feel very welcome and said we could visit with her at any time. The other pleasant surprise onboard was the large library – which included puzzles and plenty of kids books for all ages. This was a great bonus as we were all ready to add some fresh books inot the nightly rotation. It also a lovely place to get away from it all – and there were always a few large jigsaw puzzles on the go that you could join in – or take one back to your room.
Our luggage was with us within the hour – which is always welcome and completing the safety procedure on the medalion ap or on the staterooms tv with a visit to the muster station – is painless.
Dining the first night was a bit chaotic – long queues – and long wait for our meals – but this just turned out to be first night jitters !
The Island Princess is a lovely trip ! The first night we went to the Wheelhouse and enjoyed 2 groups that were to be our musical companions for the next 18 nights – Electric Duo ( a husband and wife violin duo) made us feel especially welcome by playing Frozen for our 2 year old daughter ( she was a bit “frozen” herself with the attention – but she will warm up !!
Day Two
Love the Medallion Ap and Princess Plus – you can have a café latte ordered straight to your stateroom. Followed by Zumba in the Explorers Lounge at 9am – nothing like a bit of techno and surrounded by Lycra to start the day ! Then straight to the Horizon Court for breakfast – plenty of healthy options – such as green smoothies or if you prefer the traditional hot breakfast it is all there . The first sea day onboard is always about getting your bearings and feel for the ship, crew and fellow shipmates ! As we were travelling with a 2 year old – first stop Kids Club !
