Your Cruise Questions Answered: Panama Canal, Transatlantic Cruises, Antarctica & More

Which Panama Canal locks will your cruise ship use? Which cruise lines are best for Southeast Asia? How far ahead should you book a cruise if you want one of the scarce solo cabins? And if you want to see Antarctica without taking an expedition cruise, which cruise lines should you consider?

Those were just some of your cruise questions answered that I was asked in my latest live Tips For Travellers cruise Q&A.

This is the next in my “Your Cruise Questions Answered” series, where I take a selection of the most popular and useful questions asked during my regular live cruise Q&As and turn them into an easier-to-search resource.

I’ve grouped the questions by topic rather than the order they came up in the livestream, starting with cruise planning and booking before moving on to destinations, cruise lines and expedition cruising.

Cruise Planning And Booking Questions

Will Celebrity Ascent Use The Old Or New Panama Canal Locks?

Celebrity Ascent will have to use the new Panama Canal locks.

The reason is its size. Celebrity Ascent is too large for the original Panamax locks and is what is known as a Neo-Panamax-sized ship.

That does mean the experience is slightly different.

The new locks are much larger, and instead of the famous electric locomotives – or “mules” – helping guide ships through, tugboats are used. The lock gates also slide rather than swinging open like those on the original locks.

But you are still very much transiting the Panama Canal.

On a full transit you’ll still cross Gatun Lake and sail through the Culebra Cut.

There is another interesting difference as you head towards the Pacific.

With the original canal, the Pedro Miguel and Miraflores locks are separated. With the newer Pacific-side lock complex, the chambers are together.

So, while I personally love going through the historic locks, I wouldn’t worry about going through the new ones. It’s still a fascinating Panama Canal experience.

Why Do Popular Cruise Fares Rise So Quickly After They Go On Sale?

Cruise lines increasingly use dynamic pricing.

As a particular sailing or cabin category sells, the price increases.

This becomes particularly noticeable on unusual itineraries with limited availability.

One example raised in the Q&A was a Fred. Olsen round-trip cruise from Liverpool to Canada. These no-fly transatlantic itineraries don’t operate particularly frequently and are extremely popular, especially when they coincide with the autumn colours in Canada and New England.

If demand is high, you can see fares rising surprisingly quickly – sometimes even within a day.

It’s one of the reasons I don’t necessarily subscribe to the idea that you should always wait for a late cruise deal.

If you’re looking at an unusual itinerary, a particularly popular sailing or a scarce cabin category, waiting could mean either paying considerably more or not getting it at all.

How Early Should I Book A Cunard Solo Cabin?

As early as you possibly can.

Solo cabins on Cunard ships are limited, and they can disappear extremely quickly when new itineraries are released.

I’ve seen this myself with my Queen Mary 2 group crossing. Because we booked early, my sister and several people in the group were able to secure solo cabins.

If you know you want a particular cruise in 2029 or beyond, I’d suggest identifying it before bookings open.

This is also one of those occasions when a good travel agent can be particularly useful.

Travel agents often know in advance when new itineraries are being released. You can tell them exactly which voyage and cabin category you’re interested in so they’re ready when bookings open.

That can be much easier than sitting at your computer refreshing the cruise line’s website while everyone else is trying to book the same handful of cabins.

For scarce solo cabins, I’d definitely be looking to book on release rather than waiting for a sale.

Transatlantic And Queen Mary 2 Questions

Why Don’t More Luxury Cruise Lines Offer Regular Transatlantic Crossings To New York?

The important distinction here is between a cruise ship and an ocean liner.

Queen Mary 2 is an ocean liner specifically designed for regular North Atlantic crossings.

A ship repeatedly crossing the North Atlantic needs to cope with conditions that can be very demanding. Queen Mary 2 was designed with that route in mind.

That’s why you don’t see luxury cruise lines simply operating their ships back and forth between Southampton and New York in the way Cunard does with Queen Mary 2.

But there are luxury alternatives if you’re prepared to take a longer repositioning cruise rather than a direct crossing.

I’ve sailed into New York on Regent Seven Seas, including my recent Regent Seven Seas Splendor repositioning from Lisbon to New York.

That took around two weeks and included stops along the way rather than simply sailing directly across the Atlantic.

Regent is therefore one of the luxury lines I’d particularly look at if your priority is arriving in New York by ship but you don’t want to take Queen Mary 2.

Other luxury lines occasionally offer transatlantic repositioning cruises too, although many ships reposition towards Florida because that’s where they’ll spend the following season.

So, if you want a regular, approximately week-long Southampton-to-New York crossing, Queen Mary 2 is effectively in a category of its own.

If you’re happy with a longer repositioning voyage, you have more options.

What Are The Alternatives To Queen’s Grill For A Luxury Transatlantic Crossing?

If what you want is the classic scheduled Southampton-to-New York crossing, there isn’t really a direct alternative to Queen Mary 2.

Other cruise lines offer transatlantic repositioning cruises, but they usually operate only once or twice a year and often sail from places such as Lisbon or Barcelona rather than Southampton.

If you want something at the luxury end, Regent Seven Seas is worth investigating.

There are also repositioning cruises on lines such as Virgin Voyages, where the larger Rockstar Suites could be an option, although that’s obviously a very different experience from Queen’s Grill.

If three of you are travelling together, I’d also compare the cost of two separate suites with taking one of the larger suites that provides more living space.

But the key point is that if you want the traditional direct transatlantic crossing, Queen Mary 2 is unique.

Will Queen Mary 2 Continue Doing World Cruises?

I certainly expect Queen Mary 2 to continue doing them.

Cunard is investing significantly in the ship, including a major refit, which tells us it expects Queen Mary 2 to remain in service for many years.

World voyages also fit extremely well into Queen Mary 2’s annual schedule.

There’s a period after the Christmas and New Year season and before the main transatlantic crossing season begins when a world voyage makes sense operationally.

So, for those of you whose retirement plans involve heading off around the world on Queen Mary 2, I don’t think you need to abandon that plan yet.

Mediterranean Cruise Questions

How Many Days Should I Spend In Malta Before A Cruise?

I’d allow at least two days if you can.

Sailing into or out of Malta is spectacular, with the fortifications surrounding the harbour making it feel almost like sailing into a film set.

But Malta deserves more than simply seeing it from the ship.

Spend time exploring Valletta itself, including its historic streets, architecture and fortifications.

I’d also make time for Mdina, Malta’s former capital.

It’s a beautiful historic walled city and one of the places I’d definitely include during a pre-cruise stay.

If you’re flying from North America, you’ll normally be connecting through one of the major European hubs. London has particularly strong links with Malta, but there are also connections through other major European airports.

I’d therefore aim to arrive at least two days before the cruise. That gives you time to recover from the journey as well as actually see Malta.

Australia Cruise Questions

What Should I Do On A Cruise Visit To Melbourne?

Melbourne is a city where I’d spend some time simply exploring.

It has attractive historic architecture, excellent food and plenty to see on foot, so a guided walking tour is a good way to understand the city.

There are also botanical gardens, beaches and plenty of museums and attractions.

If you have significantly more time – perhaps because Melbourne is your embarkation or disembarkation port – then I’d consider heading out along the Great Ocean Road.

That’s where you’ll see the famous Twelve Apostles rock formations and some spectacular coastal scenery.

I wouldn’t try to squeeze the whole Great Ocean Road into a short port call, though.

If you only have a day, I’d concentrate on Melbourne itself. If you have a pre- or post-cruise stay, that’s when I’d look at heading further afield.

Expedition And Adventure Cruise Questions

Which Cruise Line Is Best For An Antarctica Sail-By Cruise?

You don’t necessarily need to take an expedition cruise and make landings to experience Antarctica.

Several conventional cruise lines offer Antarctic scenic cruising or sail-by itineraries, often as part of a voyage between Buenos Aires and the Santiago area.

My first choice would probably be Holland America Line.

One reason is the destination information and commentary.

On an Antarctica sail-by, you want people explaining what you’re seeing, where you are and what is significant about the landscape and wildlife. Holland America does that side of the experience well.

Princess also operates Antarctica sail-by itineraries, and if your budget is higher I’d look at Viking.

I’ve also heard positive feedback from people who’ve done Antarctica scenic cruising with Norwegian Cruise Line, particularly from a value perspective.

So, if I were choosing, I’d look particularly closely at Holland America because of the combination of itinerary, destination focus and commentary.

An Antarctica sail-by is obviously very different from an expedition cruise where you’re getting into Zodiac boats and making landings.

But if you want to see Antarctica without the cost, physical demands or style of an expedition cruise, it can be a very appealing alternative.

More Cruise Questions Answered

These questions show why I enjoy doing my regular live cruise Q&As.

One minute we’re talking about whether a huge Celebrity ship can fit through the original Panama Canal locks, the next we’re discussing how to secure one of Cunard’s scarce solo cabins, and then we’re off to Svalbard, Antarctica, Southeast Asia and the Amazon.

And often the most useful answer isn’t simply which cruise line is best?

It’s working out what matters most for that particular trip.

For a transatlantic crossing, the design of the ship matters. For Svalbard, the expedition team matters. For Southeast Asia, the itinerary and destination enrichment matter. For a solo Cunard cabin, when you book can matter as much as the fare. And for an Antarctica sail-by, the commentary and destination programme can make an enormous difference.

That’s what I hope this Your Cruise Questions Answered series helps with: taking the questions cruisers are actually asking and using my experiences from over 130 cruises to help you make better choices for your own trips.

If you have a question you’d like me to answer in a future live cruise Q&A – and perhaps feature in the next Your Cruise Questions Answered – add it in the comments.

 

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