How long does it take a Panama cruise ship to pass through the Panama Canal?
There are three sets of locks along the 50-mile stretch of the Panama Canal. They are, from Pacific to Atlantic, Miraflores, Pedro Miguel, and Gatun. The locks lift the vessel over the continental divide and then lower it back to sea level, again. It takes about forty-five minutes to go through a lock. It takes about twelve hours to transit the whole Canal. That means a good nine hours of taking pictures, swapping stories with the captain and crew, reading a book, quiet contemplation and meditation, or whatever else your heart desires.
