Westysclan World Cruise 2023

The much anticipated Panama Canal day had finally arrived. We were up early to see the pilot board at 6:30am. Panama Canal is the only place were the ship’s captain hands complete control over to the pilot. We also had about 2 dozen lines men board (but I wasn’t aware of that until the end of the day).

We entered the Gatun Locks at 8 am to start our ascent into Gatun Lake. The Gatun Locks consist of 3 locks. Water is released in front of the vessel before you enter the lock to keep the salt water out.

It is an amazing process. Despite technology they have found that 2 men in a row boat is still the best way to transfer the lines. The men in the boat take the lines, row back to the lock area and then the lines are connected to mules. The mules keep the ship centred and also help to pull them through the locks.

Panama is currently experiencing a drought. Usually 40 ship’s per day transit but that is currently down to 32. All cruises only doing 1/2 transits have been cancelled. Because we were doing a full transit we were allowed through.

Once through Gatun Lake, we entered the Pedro Miguel lock to begin our descent back down to sea level. The Pedro Miguel lock is a single lock. Water is pushed sideways between the 2 side by side locks to raise/lower, depending which way you are going, to conserve water in each lake.

Once through the Pedro Miguel lock it was a short sail over Miraflores Lake to the Miraflores Locks.

Miraflores was a 2 lock system. It was absolutely pouring by now so we found a sheltered area at the front of deck 11 to watch our progress through the locks. There was a huge crowd on the observation deck of the museum watching our progress as excitedly as we were. There was lots of waving, ship horn honking and singing back and forwards.

Looking and feeling very much like drowned rats by now, we headed to the hot tub to complete our journey under the Bridge of the America’s and into the Pacific Ocean.