Panama Canal transit and sea day

Monday, Jan 9 - Transit of the Panama Canal! Sunny and bright so it was a humid and hot day as we slowly proceeded through three sets of locks -Gatun, Pedro Miguel and Miraflores—from 7:30AM-6PM. The Windstar Surf ship was ahead of us and had to remain moored just prior to the Pacific Ocean as their masts are too tall for the final bridge. We were exiting at 4PM and they had to remain until low tide at approx. 10PM so they could then pass under the bridge!

As you may know, by 2014 the Panama Canal will complete 100 years of operation and the current expansion will double their capacity. The Culebra Cut is almost 8 miles long and they continue to excavate through rock and limestone, with an estimate that they could build up to 63 Egyptian pyramids with the debris. More than 1 million ships from all over the world have transited the Canal since 1914.

The interoceanic waterway uses a system of locks with two lanes that operates as water elevators and raises the ships from sea level to the level of Gatun Lake, 26 meters above sea level, to allow the crossing through the Continental Divide, and then lowers the ships to sea level on the other side of the Isthmus.

They must continually dredge the canal and you see and hear the vessels near the banks at work.

Nice to be so close to land in some areas – it seems like a real river cruise!
Ken Lucas, a man and his duck, were the entertainment. We’ve seen him before; ventriloquist.

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” – Jawaharial Nehru

Tuesday, Jan 10 – At sea –
Luncheon with new friends, slot pull, free drink at the bar, preparation for the Ensemble cocktail party with 25 attending. We were thrilled to also have Captain Tim Roberts, Hotel Manager Firmin Van Walle, Guest Relations Supervisor Tina K, Future Cruise Consultant Karin, Event Manager Debbie Plewis, Cruise Director Linda Minnikin, Activites Staff member Sparky (Daniel) and Hostess Annette! Some of the guests even commented, “All the big brass came out for us tonight!”. It was a very nice time and it was the first time we met some of the group of 33. Gene and I ate the buffet with a friend and the others went to the dining room. The entertainment was a variety show of two past guest performers, Pete Neighbour and Tony Pace, and it was fun. Gene and I went to see the movie, Apollo 18. Gullible Luisa thought it was real!! The notes state it is from footage just released by NASA. I would NEVER have gone to see that if I had really known. It was scary! Way too real for me and could not sleep after that one. Will never look at the moon again in the same way. Sad.