Latsok Loc: Recently moved to Washington State.

I am getting ready for a two week cruise from Florida to San Francisco passing through the Panama Canal, with port stops in Aruba, Cartagena Colombia, Puntarenas Costa Rica, San Juan del Sur (Managua) Nicaragua, and Cabo San Lucas MX. I know a cruise is not a venue to take prize winning pictures but I am interested in bringing back decent photos of these places which I have never visited before. I consider myself a fairly advanced amateur photographer and am planning on taking only my Nikon D5000 camera and 18-55 and 55-200 mm lenses (maybe also my 70-300 mm- probably not). I am soliciting any advice from fellow UHH members who have been to these places -or on a similar trip - on memorable or unusual photo vantage points/subject matters, things not to miss, etc. Any other advice or anecdotal experiences are also welcome. I know it's going to be hot and humid; did anyone encounter any problems with camera electronics due to humidity? Do you advise lugging a tripod as well as all the camera gear? Would a tripod be even necessary? When photographing locals, is it advisable to offer a tip or is that just inviting throngs of crowds and cause extra problems?

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

I did a similar trip from Costa Rica to Sicily via the Panama canal, Miami and some of the places you intend to visit.
I certainly would not take a tripod it will just get in the way especially when looking at the scenery in the canal as you won't be the only one looking.
I did not experience any problem with humidity when I went in June, although it could be a problem at other times of the year.
I found that taking photographs of locals was no problem although if you have some notes on your pocket you could tip, but be careful with children though as they will return with all their friends.
You may get the chance to take speedboat trip along the canal and the side rivers to see the monkeys and alligators etc and then a trip on the banana train, so I would recommend that you go on a trip like this.
If you do go on a speed boat trip try not to sit near the back of these boats as you will get soaked with the spray !!
Have good trip.

Two Feathers

The only advice is not about camera/lens , I got a position on the bow and lost tract of time in the sun and got a little too much. Use sun block and enjoy the canal it is a special cruise . I hope
you will post some pictures.

MtnMan Loc: ID

Looking for input on this also. Going late March from Ft. Lauderdale to San Diego with different stops but similar environment.

Planning to take Nikon D5300 and Panasonic GM5, leaving the big guns (D800 and 200-500) home.

Based on advice so far no tripod but might bring monopod.

pwrxprt Loc: Beaumont, California

I just did this cruise...well one almost exactly, but went from San Pedro, CA to Miami this past Oct 2016 (15 days)....be prepared for rain and humidity...I did take my tripod and the longest lens I own....I used the tripod to create my very first time lapse thru the locks....it wasn't a perfect time lapse but for my first attempt I was impressed with myself. I used my D750 with a 24-120 lens for just about every shot including my walk around lens, but did take out my longest lens 70-300 for a few shots off our balcony toward the shoreline...I did meet some folks aboard ship that had a 150-600 tammy which was fun to play with and if I owed one I would have taken it too. Not so much for carrying around on shore excursions, but to shoot off the boat while traveling into ports at things you won't have time while on your shore excursion or you won't be close to while actually being in port. We had a forward facing cabin so getting to the front of the ship for us wasn't necessary as we were 3 decks above the bow where the public viewed going through the canal...an absolutely perfect cabin location for going through the locks. We could look down at the forward bow and the crowd thins as you go through the locks....people get bored, but in the early morning, wow they were four or five deep at the rail of the bow of the ship. After the first set of locks the crowd dissipated. I have all my photos on Shutterfly if you're interested in seeing what we saw...I don't have the time lapse on line but again if you're interested just PM and I'll be happy to forward you that as well. It will be a fun trip for you...any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me...Lane

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

We took a similar cruise, but going. the other way about five years ago. I took a tripod but found it to be more trouble than it was worth: (1) Other people on the deck tend to crowd around and get in the way, (it's their cruise of a lifetime too) and the tripod will transmit and magnify any ship's vibrations; you are much better off hand holding and increasing your shutter speed to 1/800-900 minimum--higher is even better. Remember to increase the ISO. You probably won't get any noise in the daylight unless you are up in the 2000+ range. (2) take the 18-55 lens for shots on and close to the ship, but I'd opt for the 70-300mm over the 55-200; when you want a shot of scenery or some other ship at sea or in port the extra 100 mm is nice to have and I doubt you'll miss not having the 56-69 mm range.(3) Keep a lens hood on as much for the lens protection as glare and a polarizer will help a lot.

Don't know much about the Pacific side weather, but in the Caribbean expect a rain shower about 3:00PM every afternoon; it won't last long but have camera/lens protection.

MtnMan Loc: ID

Planning to bring 55-300 and 1.4 telextender with D5300 for side trips...birds, butterflies, alligators etc. (monkeys?).

Thinking of monopod for it. The D5300 isn't great at ISO>1600.

Violameister Loc: michigan

I did a similar trip several years ago, and have been on many other cruises as well. Since you will be living in one room and not moving, a bit of excess baggage will not be a problem. So I suggest you take whatever lens you think you might remotely need (better to have it and not use it than not have it when desperately needed). Also a tripod. Not for use under ordinary circumstances, but for the exceptional case. On a trip to Antarctica we went through a storm and high seas. There was no way to get videos hand held on the ship. But videos of the sea from the heaving deck with the camera tripod stabilized turned out spectacular.

I tip street performers that I photograph, but candid shots of ordinary people I generally do not tip.

bthomas42 Loc: North Ridgeville Ohio

For my cruise in March I will be taking my D5200 with my 16-85mm lens and also my 55-300 lens. last year I used the 18-55 ans 55-200 lenses and ended up using a 2X extender on the 55-200 to get some wildlife that was out of range for the 200

MtnMan Loc: ID

I also might bring my Signa 17-50 for the D5300. Since I plan to also bring my Panasonic GM5 with 12-32 I don't really need it. For shore excursions I might prefer one camera but the 17-50 weighs almost as much as the GM5 with lens and I prefer to not need to change lenses in the field. Decisions, decisions.

Two Feathers

my cruise was a few years back and at that time I had a D200 with a 18-200 lens and that was all I used , we may have had a PS .

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

My wife and I did the "half canal" -lauderdale and east half, not sailing to west coast.My Nikon D300 with 18-300 f3.5-5.6 VR Nikon lens covered everything I needed on ship and shore excursions? The Jaguar Rehab Center in Costa Rica was great, even without a jaguar on site. The Cartehena old town tour was lots of photo ops too. Entering the locks in Panama was awesome too.

MtnMan Loc: ID

Don't know if will get the new canal.

exitvisa Loc: richmond bc

We did this cruise a couple years ago ,advice..leave your camera and lens over the in room fridge vent to keep it warm in the a/c controlled room.I got up before sunrise and went to the highest point on the ship and got really good sunrise photos also a long lens for the canal transit to get shots of alligators on the shore/water..great trip enjoy

Latsok Loc: Recently moved to Washington State.

Thank you and yes, I'd love to see the pics you have from the area. Having a forward facing cabin must have been great- we have a rear facing cabin, hopefully that might offer a few different possibilities. 😀