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What's for lunch? My country style lentil soup Carol's Thai Spring Roll -veggie forward which is her style My dull as dishwater Monte Cristo sandwich Carol's Fried Chicken with Collard Greens which lacked ham in the cooking. Kevin warned Carol but she went ahead and regretted it. Chicken off the bone and NOT deep fried. Big fail. My yummy overloaded ice cream sundae!

Before we get to the food this lunchtime here is the gang who serve us or just want to get into our videos. Our waiters are Kevin and Rizza-the rest just want to get into showbiz....

1300 passengers were tendering ashore this morning on excursions. Not us. That would leave 1900 aboard in Gatun Lake. The canal is just over there (pointing) but we'll wait here Da Vinci is open for lunch as this is seen as a sea day. Crab Shack is a pop-up in the Crown Grill from 12- 1.30 also. We'll pop along to Da Vinci for a nice relaxed lunch.

Hosted by CD Natalie with a silent assist from Stanley the bear.

THE ARRIVAL OF SANTA! 7027AC55-92F1-43B2-9660-62772EF8F47F.mov 01C86CF4-CCF2-404A-8636-21EB2B7A9CE0.mov

The view from breakfast at Sabatini's Sabatini's The usual starters, drinks and a hearty entree We are still climbing up through the locks as we eat. Each lock lifts us 27 feet Carol tells me. 3 locks then we'll emerge into Gate Lake. Santa will be visiting the Piazza at 9.15 a.m. So we'll be going there next for a look-see.

I can only say one thing for certain- internet was required via Medallion Net/Airplane mode. Ashore we used our Verizon plan. I don't recall getting tones or vibrations. I carried my phone on a belt holster. I have the sound turned off. I only knew if the message had been received if I saw an answer to my text. Norris

Old locks to the right A tug ties up to us. It will be with us in each lock NYK car transporter going West through the old locks We're going in Measurements on the dock- the lock can accommodate a ship up to 1400 ft long which currently doesn't exist. Lots of room for the Ruby Time for breakfast!

SUNRISE Carol texts me that she is on the deck above me, around the bend WE'VE PASSED UNDER THE BRIDGE OF THE AMERICAS Oh What a Beautiful Morning! Oh What a Beautiful Day....

RE ROOM SERVICE While I was getting my coffee at 4.30 on Canal Day an officer was telling a colleague that Room Service already had 100 breakfast orders to work on... Norris

The Pilot is approaching. I am standing on top of the bridge to get a clear view The bright lights in the distance are the new Agua Clara locks. Our destination. Pilot is onboard. We are still creeping forward slower than walking speed. The lights on the right are the old locks A crowd has gathered since I got here. There were eight people then. Carol will soon text me to say she is on that level above me. Norris, loving every second of this journey forward

I need to get in position by 5.45. Up on deck I go. I love it when a ship has its lights on On our port side. All is calm. We are barely moving-I would guess 1knot. No wind. No sound. Quiet.

CHRISTMAS DAY 2023 I woke at 4 a.m and stuck my head out of the balcony door into the darkness. There were many ships at anchor and lit up for safety. We are close! Thoughts of returning to the pillow didn't enter my mind. I was awake and I was going to get up at 5 anyway. I showered and dressed (in that order) and grabbing my camera and medallion I sallied forth. Ruby interior is looking good. Deck 9 elevator down to 7 Photographer's shop Ruby's ports visited awards (partial) down to deck 5 by 4.30. I need coffee! cool art

We'll see some sloths when we visit Limon, Costa Rica. Norris

Here, better late than never is the Princess Patter for our day in Cartagena

I recall saying adios to the bartenders at Tradewinds before dinner Lester and Sanjay and walking down our beloved Promenade Deck After dinner we wound up in Club Fusion which is two decks below our cabin for another exciting heat of the Voice of the Ocean The Bar We heard a singer tonight with great potential. Nick from Boston. After a slow start Alejandro managed to scrape together 10 singers to entertain and amuse us. Bed by 10.30 as we had a canal to gaze at in the morning.

Yes we left Cartagena at 3 p.m on a sunny Christmas Eve. There was no sign of Christmas apparent there. I had originally wanted to do a walking tour of the old town as I have seen several 4K video walks from there but on such a hot day the aviary was just the ticket and it was very calming and relaxing to be among such beautiful birds. I had been told from CC reviews that vendors can be pests in the old town. Next stop Panama Canal in 15 hours from now. Six a.m tomorrow morning. Our next stop tonight will be Christmas Eve dinner. When Kevin tells me there is Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding n the menu I have to order it as it is a National Dish of Great Britain. Alas, what foul treachery is this??! A Yorkshire pudding missing the eggs? Just a dry brittle pastry casing filled with air? Read the damn recipe man or I'll have you flogged!! I ate half the beef-the half that wasn't fat. Carol's salmon appetizer Carol's filet Mignon and lobster tail. I ordered one too, to make up for the earlier disaster. Carol's "nougat and chocolate thing" for dessert. I needed a stiff drink and so Rizza trekked down to the IC for my Sambuca and espresso.

They've done a nice job of making the dock entrance welcoming Rhapsody of the Seas docked while we were gone We took a free shuttle bus back to the Ruby from this point Back on board I hit the Salty Dog Grill for some of this A hot dog buried in cold help-yourself sauerkraut and ketchup and a suitable beverage The Rhapsody was loading some passengers who may have missed the sailing that brought the ship to Cartagena. Note all the luggage being loaded. Norris

and we are back at the cruise ship dock There's a big souvenir shop out here and tables outside where you can sit and have a snack and a drink but we can wait until we are on the ship and have some air conditioning and comforts. We do hit the gift shop for a fridge magnet and are not alone. After the shop we head for a shuttle bus to the ship as it's a long walk in this heat. We pass the little nature park along the way.

Driving through the outskirts of Cartagena

Some iPhone video as we head back through Cartagena CFDF7C58-797C-4A4A-A6BE-6B1F2AEB73A4.mov E491EEB3-B3CA-4E58-943C-9DEFF030F4E0_2_0_a.mov 87449C30-0DD2-4034-BC7E-8A929F7EF9C1.mov

Why I like Toucans Best Christmas Eve ever! back to the ship!