Panama Canal - Passage to the Pacific

January 8, 2023

We awoke early day to watch the ship cross from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean through the Panama Canal. This remarkable feat of engineering made it possible to sail around the world without taking the long and often treacherous journey around South America. However, they must pay for the privilege. Holland America paid $400,000 for Zuiderdam. Today will be a special crossing because we are not alone. The Volendam (another Holland America ship) is crossing with us. So far they have shared our journey, but once we leave Panama, we will part ways – the Volendam to South America and the Zuideram across the Pacific Ocean to the French Polynesian islands.

As the sun was rising, we passed under the Atlantic Bridge – the gateway to the canal on the Atlantic side of Panama. Panama completed it in 2019, so it is the last of the three main bridges to be built. Atlantic Bridge is the longest concrete, cable-stayed bridge in the world. A small boat followed directly behind us – perhaps a pilot boat. Whenever a ship passes through the canal a specialized canal pilot comes on board to guide the ship through.

Once in the canal, Zuiderdam headed to the Gatun Locks. Volendam went first. We patiently awaited our turn as she rose above us, going through all 3 chambers of the locks. Each chamber fills with water and raises the ships a total of 85 feet above sea level where they empty out into man-made Gatun Lake. While we waited, canal workers tossed up lines to our crew and connected stabilizing cables from the mechanical mules to our ship. The mules (electric locomotives, not animals) do not pull the ships through the locks. Instead they guide and keep the ship steady as it moves on its own power through the locks. Finally, our turn arrived. The gate slowly opened up and we inched along into the chamber. The gates closed behind us and water began filling up the chamber, slowly lifting our ship. We repeated the process through all 3 chambers until the mules released us and we glided into Gatun Lake.

We slowly cruised through Gatun Lake, coming pretty close to the shore. Other ships and boats of all sizes also lingered in the lake, waiting for entry in the locks. Gatun Lake was created as part of the canal. It provides fresh water for Panama and the forests surrounding it are home to a wide variety of plants and animals. A nearby hydroelectric plant provides power for Panama as well. Eventually we passed under the Centennial Bridge and neared the Miraflores locks.

Once again, we went through the locks with Volendam. They entered first and we watched her sink below us as the water slowly drained out of each lock until she was freed to cruise into the open waters and onto the Pacific Ocean. The process was similar to that in the Gatun locks. The only difference being that the ship was lowered to sea level. We followed close behind, often side by side. The crew lined the sides shouting greetings to their friends on the other ship. The ships talked with each other as well, sounding the horn in farewell.

Our final destination in the canal was the Bridge of the Americas, the gateway from the canal to the Pacific Ocean. We cruised under and then headed for Fuerte Amador where we would dock for the night and explore the next day. The view from the verandah on the cabin was amazing. We could see the new Panama with its impressive skyline of towering new buildings, as well as all the ships waiting their turn to enter the canal and pass through to the Atlantic Ocean.