Several times. Once was on the Battleship Iowa. Only inches to spare, we wore off the aft accommodation ladder brackets as they stuck out a little to far.

^^^ That was another feature of my trip, seeing the tight clearance, not more than inches.
I believe the term used for that size ship is Panamax, and for good reason.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panamax

quote:

Originally posted by Tommydogg:
Several times. Once was on the Battleship Iowa. Only inches to spare, we wore off the aft accommodation ladder brackets as they stuck out a little to far.

Even that Princess ship was tight. The deck hands spent some time spreading white paint on the sides after we emerged from the locks.
Mike

I've been through the Panama Canal but not on a pleasure cruise. In 1995 I was part of a plankowner crew that brought the USS Arctic (AOE-8) from San Diego to Norfolk.

quote:

Originally posted by parallel:
I've been through the Panama Canal but not on a pleasure cruise. In 1995 I was part of a plankowner crew that brought the USS Arctic (AOE-8) from San Diego to Norfolk.

Ha, we may have passed each other! I was a plank owner on USS Stethem (DDG-63) taking her from Pascagoula MS to homeport in San Diego for commissioning. Summer of 1995.

Fl to ca in 2008. 15 days RCL Serenade of the Seas. Our 1st and only cruise. September cruise only a few children on the ship. The cruse was what we expected so no disappointments. It was not a “party” cruise. The canal crossing took most of a day crossing the lake.

quote:

Originally posted by jasonthechief:
***snip***

Ha, we may have passed each other! I was a plank owner on USS Stethem (DDG-63) taking her from Pascagoula MS to homeport in San Diego for commissioning. Summer of 1995.

AHOY!

I'll have to check the ol' Order of the Ditch certificate for the date, I know it would have been sometime in august 1995.

My nephew purchased a seven day cruise for my brother and his wife to Alaska from WA state.

The weather and ocean were perfect the whole time. That was the fortunate part.

His objection to the deal was.
He only had seven conversations on the whole trip.

Finding English speaking people was a big challenge.

Why get on a boat with 3800 people that don't speak English , for the most part.

They tried, at check out ,
To charge him $700.00 extra for gratuities .

He refused after a lengthy exchange .
He tipped cash for room service and meals.
(About $60.00 per day)

He's glad he went for the experiace.

Three people
I know went through the panama canal said that if you love history ,facts, figures and anicdotes you will have a great time.