Embera musicians at
Gatun Yacht Club.
Gatun Yacht Club
Mola shirts, purses,
and other items. |
Silversea invites all
guests to take advantage of this unique opportunity of getting a taste of
Panamanian-style hospitality and shoreside activities available at the Gatun
Yacht Club. With the assistance of the Panama Canal Authority and Panama's
Institute of Tourism, a fun-filled time on the banks of the canal awaits
you.
After passing through the locks, the ship will anchor in Gatun Lake. The
ship’s tenders will be ready to take you the short distance to the Gatun
Yacht Club. Available time ashore will be approximately four hours,
depending on the ship’s schedule.
The Gatun Yacht Club offers an informal, tropical lakefront setting. It
was once an active yachting and boating center for members of the Panama
Canal Commission and their families. Now the Club has been transformed for
the exclusive use of cruise ship guests. From its rustic timber deck you can
enjoy a beautiful view of the surrounding jungle and ships sailing through
the canal. Or, you can participate in a nature walk (subject to time
constraints) while others may prefer taking a refreshing dip in the waters
of the Panama Canal.
If you are looking for leisure time, you can simply relax and enjoy the
club’s tropical ambiance. Free draft beer is on tap from the moment you
arrive until the moment you leave, along with white wine, sodas, water, and
ice cream. Folkloric dances and songs by a calypso group will entertain you.
Looking for souvenirs? A gift shop offers local handicrafts and T-shirts,
and handmade craft items are available from the Embera and Kuna Indians.
This unique experience is offered to our guests with Silversea’s
compliments. Enjoy this laid-back time on the banks of the Panama Canal,
which will enrich your Panama Canal transit and provide you with lasting
memories of your cruise.
Please Note: Optional tours are available during your time ashore.
Please see the Tour Office on board for offerings, bookings and prices.
Since going ashore at the Gatun Yacht Club is made possible due to a special
agreement with Panamanian Customs and Immigration, leaving the premises of
the Gatun Yacht Club is only permitted on an organized excursion accompanied
by local staff. |
Polleras and montunos. |
There
is a swimming area so passengers can say they have taken a dip in the Panama
Canal. Generations of Canal Zone kids did exactly that in this same locale,
and on days when the cruisers don't come, Panama Canal employees and their
families still use the Gatun Yacht Club as their freshwater recreation
headquarters.
Guided nature walks are given
hourly. A local dance troupe entertains the passengers, and there are crafts
provided by the locals to purchase as souvenirs.
There are sightseeing trips to the former Canal Zone, the lower Chagres
River, Fort San Lorenzo, helicopter rides, sailing around Gatun Lake, visits
to old military installations, and nature walks. |
