Crossing the Panama Canal

This is the day that we are going to cross the Panama.  It is 4:17 ship time and it's still dark outside but from the front of the ship we can see lights so we are close to the entrance.  In a couple of hours we will see the Bridge of Americas.

Here we are as we approach the Bridge of America.

This bridge is what is preventing some of cruise lines' from using their larger ships such as the Royal Caribbean's Voyager class.  The bridge is not tall enough.  They are expanding the Panama Canal to accommodate the wider ships but the taller ships will still have a problem.

The pilot boat is dropping off some of its people to help guide the ship through the canal and also to drop off the narrator.  She narrated through the entire crossing.

The first lock as we approach.

In the picture above you will see a cargo ship that is going through the lock.

These little silver train like thing is what will pull the ship through the the lock.  The folks that got on from the pilot boat brought several heavy ropes that will be tied to the ship and then they will toss to these little trains so they can pull us through.

This picture shows how close the ship is to the walls of the lock.  So as you can see a wider ship certainly would not be able to make it through.

The picture shows the lock closed behind the ship.  Now our lock will fill with water so we can come out of the lock in the front and continue on to the next lock. There are 5 locks all together.

The picture above shows the freight ship next to us.

This last picture shows the difference in the water level.  When a ship approaches the water level inside the second area wil fill with water to reach the same level as the first area allowing the ship to move to the second area.  Then it will lower the water so it can come out in the third section and the water in that third section will raise to let the ship out into the lake.

Next stop, Colón, Panama!  See you then!