Westerdam Panama Canal April 15, 2011

[ski ww]

The more the merryier. I hope it works for you Grace, we're also keeping an eye out for a price drop. I looked on the HAL web site and this same cruise is actually more then what we booked it for with our future cruise director on our last cruise.:(

 

Allan & Marlane:D:D

[Canary50]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canary50

I've been lurking here on this board for a few weeks. We are trying to decide which ship and which itinerary to take for the Panama Canal cruise. We still haven't booked but are really leaning for the tried and true Celebrity :)

 

You do all sound like so much fun - if we do decide on this cruise we'll be in on the cabin hops!

 

Sheila

__________________

 

Just curious - I am assuming it is the itinerary- have not looked at theirs since we booked on the ship for this- which ship is it? I find the two lines very similar depending on the ship. Good luck no matter where you end up. Now I am curious and gonna go look for myself -Have a good day and continue to enjoy lurking - one of my favorites.

__________________

bcirish

 

*******************

I've been out of town for the past few weeks, so sorry, bcirish, that I didn't respond to this earlier.

The 3 ships from Celebrity going to Panama canal in March or April 2011 are Millenium, Infiinity and Century. The itineraries are much the same. We're leaning towards the Millenium because we've been told that Old San Juan is beautiful. We STILL haven't booked our cruise yet though; we have our son's wedding which is taking place in a month and it's been taking up most of our time. I also have about a month's worth of cruise critic threads to catch up with

Take care, everyone!

[NoWhiners]

canary

 

We'll save you a place in the wine crawl, just in case! Good problem to have--which canal cruise to take!!

 

good luck

Mary Lynn

[ski ww]

If you go to the crucon web site they have all kinds of cruises on special sale,also if serving or retired military you can get discounts. They have some really great deals we did one with them already and were very happy with what we saved.

Allan & Marlane:D:D

[ski ww]

If you go to the crucon web site they have all kinds of cruises on special sale,also if serving or retired military you can get discounts. They have some really great deals we did one with them already and were very happy with what we saved.

Allan & Marlane:D:D

 

If you clickon crucon on this site it is not a direct link, it will come back can not find, but if you go to internet explorer and type in crucon it will give you all kinds of options to cruises. Hope this clears up any problems you might encounter.

Al:confused:

[rajkr74]

Quote:

*******************

I've been out of town for the past few weeks, so sorry, bcirish, that I didn't respond to this earlier.

The 3 ships from Celebrity going to Panama canal in March or April 2011 are Millenium, Infiinity and Century. The itineraries are much the same. We're leaning towards the Millenium because we've been told that Old San Juan is beautiful. We STILL haven't booked our cruise yet though; we have our son's wedding which is taking place in a month and it's been taking up most of our time. I also have about a month's worth of cruise critic threads to catch up with

Take care, everyone!

 

Canary,

If going to Old San Juan is important you should check the 23 day cruise stating on 4-8-11 which is a back to back on the Westerdam. The first 7 days you go to Grand Turk, San Juan Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, Half Moon Cay and back to Ft. Laud. Then thru the canal and off in San Diego. Now, is this stop the same as the "Old San Juan" you are looking for?

[Canary50]

Canary,

If going to Old San Juan is important you should check the 23 day cruise stating on 4-8-11 which is a back to back on the Westerdam. The first 7 days you go to Grand Turk, San Juan Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, Half Moon Cay and back to Ft. Laud. Then thru the canal and off in San Diego. Now, is this stop the same as the "Old San Juan" you are looking for?

 

Thank you very much! But......

We just booked the Celebrity Millenium on April 18th, 2011, Panama Canal. What a slow roll call though!!! I haven't registered there yet, maybe there are a lot more lurkers..;) I wish all you guys could transfer over!! haha ;)

The itinerary interested us a lot, and we will spend a few days in San Juan pre cruise as well as about a week in San Diego post cruise.

Hope you all have a fun cruise! I know you will.

In the meantime, enjoy a great summer - along with lots of sun and health!

Sheila

[bcirish]

Just checking in - computer in shop and I am on slug slow so have not had time to read but will later today when I find a few minutes - hope all are fine. WIll post again when I can put two minutes together or when I get my computer back whichever comes first;)

[NoWhiners]

bc

 

I think we are all in the same boat (so to speak)!! Summer vacation, holiday weekend, etc are keeping everyone busy.

 

We just got back from a camping trip and leave for another one in 2 weeks (cabin on lake).

 

As long as we post once in a while and stay near the top of queue.

 

Everyone enjoy the 4th

ML

[rajkr74]

Spent Sat. at my family reunion north of Portland which is a 2 1/2 hr. drive. My side of the family are lucky to get together once every 5-7 years whether we like it or not. Good time though seeing eveyone. Still a little cool here in the Northwest. It barely got up to the low 70's.

We got a chance to scan photos my aunt has, (she's the last person in that generation surviving). She has some of which I have never seen. One of my dad in uniform before he went to Italy in WWII. My uncle was a good photagrapher and shot black a white pictures in the 60's of all the family. We must have scanned 75-100 photos. Now we will have to sort thru them and burn CDs for all my brothers, sisters and cousins.

Got the flag hung out this morning and am just relaxing today.

Happy Fourth of July to this great nation and all of you.

Rick

[ski ww]

:D:DWell summer is here for sure now. We've been in this heat wave that's on going here in southern Ontario now for the last couple of days and we still have until Fri to go before they are forecasting a bit of a cool down with some rain. We complain when it's cold and rain and now that summer is finally here we complain about the heat. Just can't keep us happy. I for one love the four seasons. I would not want to have the some weather all year, either hot or cold. Anybody out there booked for future cruises on the Nieu Amsterdam, she was launched on Sunday?

Allan & Marlane:cool::cool:

[NoWhiners]

Happy I'm not in DC now!! Nice and cool in Albuquerque--78 F (21 C?), breeze, possible rain on the way tonight and tomorrow. We have 4 seasons, but none are too extreme. Occasional big snow storm (once every 5 years or so), sometimes hits 100 F, but only for short periods. I love our weather!! Except spring--too windy and makes it hard to ride bicycle to work.

 

ML

[rajkr74]

Happy I'm not in DC now!! Nice and cool in Albuquerque--78 F (21 C?), breeze, possible rain on the way tonight and tomorrow. We have 4 seasons, but none are too extreme. Occasional big snow storm (once every 5 years or so), sometimes hits 100 F, but only for short periods. I love our weather!! Except spring--too windy and makes it hard to ride bicycle to work.

 

ML

Wow only 78F? We finally got up to 95F today after a very cool spring. How can Albuquerque be cooler than Springfield, OR? It could get up to 100F the last two days of the week. Pretty warm for the NW.

The good thing that we don't have here is the humidity. It cools down quickly in the evening with the ocean breezes coming over the coastal range. Like you, we get snow just a few days in the winter if at all, and it doesn't stick around very long.

[NoWhiners]

We are in the high desert--very dry (usually less than 10% humidity), so even when it gets hot, it isn't too bad. But, high 90s/100 is still hot. Last night we had a storm front go through, so cooled off. Right now its 79--very pleasant again. But nights are usually in mid-60s, days usually in mid-90s. No water nearby though--unless we count the trickle that is called the (mighty) Rio Grande!!

 

ML

[bcirish]

OMG - we spent today at a baseball game - excellent seats and the WHite Sox won so that is a plus. Our forecast for today was 80% rain so we took jacket preparing for a rain delay - we had rain all the way into the city and totally cloudy skies - that would be til fter we had lunch a - we walk out to the a cloudless sky and a blaring hot sun for our 1PM game - OMG - we not only had the heat we had the humidity!!!. In the AM we are off to SXM for two weeks of sea breezes, cool drinks and chilling in the ocean. Our toughest decision is pool or ocean. Good news that even when it is hot there- there is always a breeze and no one dresses up so it is very casual- I pack more bathing suits than anything else. We will be there for several events - the world cup which will really be big on the Dutch side and Bastille Day which is big on the French side.

 

We are taking our computer and they have promised WI FI but I am not counting on it so will probably spend most of my time reading and just hanging out. You all behave while we re gone :D

[NoWhiners]

Just added A Man, a Plan, a Canal to my Netflix DVD queue to prepare for passing thru canal! I guess its a Nova documentary done by the guy (McCullough??) who wrote one of the books people recommend you read before going thru the canal. We can get the book before we go but will give us at least some background. Also read somewhere that some cruise lines play it onboard canal bound ships.

 

Still need to print excursion brochure so we can start picking what we want to do and saving up for them!!

 

ML

[rajkr74]

Just added A Man, a Plan, a Canal to my Netflix DVD queue to prepare for passing thru canal! I guess its a Nova documentary done by the guy (McCullough??) who wrote one of the books people recommend you read before going thru the canal. We can get the book before we go but will give us at least some background. Also read somewhere that some cruise lines play it onboard canal bound ships.

 

Still need to print excursion brochure so we can start picking what we want to do and saving up for them!!

 

ML

 

Prior to our Panama trip last year there was a Documentry on the Discovery Channel named Extreme Engineering-Widening of the Panama Canal. It covered the current widening that is going on there. This will allow larger post PanaMax ships to go thru the canal in 2014.

I searched the Discovery Channel but could not find the video on their site. Did find it listed for sale in a set with other Extreme Engineering shows for $39.99.

It was a very interesting, covering how the new locks will be so much different than the old ones. The current swinging lock doors won't work on a wider width lock and the need to recycle the water used to raise and lower the ships.

 

Here's a site at Discovery that shows the mechanics:

http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/engineering/panamacanal/interactive/interactive.html

 

Joyce just saved the Excursion booklet and will start going thru it to see what is available. We will put pictures on our web site of the ones we did last year.

[NoWhiners]

Hi Rick

 

I'll keep an eye out for that episode on DSC. Looking forward to your pix.

 

Thanks for the info!

ML

[bcirish]

Am just taking a break from the beach and checking email etc so thought I would drop in on our roll call and say hi- watched a Princess and Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Sea come in to St Martin this morning - they come right by our resort and we will see them as they sail away too. Makes ya want to climb on a ship!!!

Our stay here has been great - lots of beach time in a cabana quiet surf pleasant breeze lots to drink and time for shopping in the late afternoon after the downtown settles from all of the cruisers. The weather has been perfect. There is a new French bakery and Brassiere across from our resort with some of the best food I have had in a while and the owner is delightful- very friendly Frenchman who is very hands on about his business. We get fresh bread from him every day!

Take care all - am thinking about starting my research when I get home since our next cruise is just the Caribbean and needs no research.

BTW - we just got an Ipad and I am impressed - it does just about everything except word processing and I have found an app for tha and the best part is the size and I like reading books on it too!

Later

the beach is calling to me!

[bcirish]

Hey to everyone - still here in the islands - St Martin - watching the ships sail in and out. I just got an email update from my TA. Have not had the time to check it out but know some of you have been doing some pre planning - and this could have an impact. I on the other hand am still lying on the beach, hanging out at the french bakery and tomorrow will go to market Day in Marigot which is always great fun - it is when the locals do their shopping in the open air market and there is also regular shopping - gonna take my money with me tomorrow! Take care all and stay cool!

Quote

 

Westerdam Panama Canal sailing will call on Puntarenas, Costa

 

Rica, on April 22, 2011, instead of Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica, as originally

 

communicated.

[rajkr74]

Hey to everyone - still here in the islands - St Martin - watching the ships sail in and out. I just got an email update from my TA. Have not had the time to check it out but know some of you have been doing some pre planning - and this could have an impact. I on the other hand am still lying on the beach, hanging out at the french bakery and tomorrow will go to market Day in Marigot which is always great fun - it is when the locals do their shopping in the open air market and there is also regular shopping - gonna take my money with me tomorrow! Take care all and stay cool!

Quote

 

Westerdam Panama Canal sailing will call on Puntarenas, Costa

 

Rica, on April 22, 2011, instead of Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica, as originally

 

communicated.

 

That is a good change! We were scheduled for the "Cargo ship" dock at Puerto Caldera last year on the cruise and the last minute they changed it to Puntarenas. It's a real long dock and has a long beach you can walk on. A lot of venders on the shore also. They brought our excursion buses right out on the dock so there was no walking. They also have a little tram that shuttles you back and forth on the dock if you don't want to walk. We were very pleased with this dock.

Here's a picture of the long dock.

http://cid-07afc87cdf2f6dca.photos.live.com/self.aspx/panama%20cruise%202009/DSC%5E_7891.jpg

 

Heres one of the ship looking back at it from the shore:

http://cid-07afc87cdf2f6dca.photos.live.com/self.aspx/panama%20cruise%202009/DSC%5E_8044.jpg

 

Two pictures of the beach:

http://cid-07afc87cdf2f6dca.photos.live.com/self.aspx/panama%20cruise%202009/DSC%5E_7894.jpg

 

http://cid-07afc87cdf2f6dca.photos.live.com/self.aspx/panama%20cruise%202009/DSC%5E_8058.jpg

[NoWhiners]

Ahh, this clears up a small mystery. I printed the excursion brochure and Puerto Caldera wasn't listed. So I went back to ship itinerary and the port had been deleted. I was wondering if I had imagined we were going to Costa Rica!

 

Thanks for passing this along. I guess I will have to reprint the brochure now! Rick--were there any "not to miss" excursions in Puntarenas?

 

ML

[ski ww]

Ahh, this clears up a small mystery. I printed the excursion brochure and Puerto Caldera wasn't listed. So I went back to ship itinerary and the port had been deleted. I was wondering if I had imagined we were going to Costa Rica!

 

Thanks for passing this along. I guess I will have to reprint the brochure now! Rick--were there any "not to miss" excursions in Puntarenas?

 

ML

We did a Tarcoles River & Eco Cruise Adventure trip. We went on small boat and stopped on the river bank and watched as the driver fed alligators, which we where very close to maybe 20 feet at the most. The river was full of them, we saw lots all very close. One of the other tours was a canopy tour through the tree tops.

Allan & Marlane:D:D

[High Seas Texan]

Howdy everyone. Just checking on on the roll call to see what action has been going on. We have been out of town quite a bit. Me: road trips to Texas small town hamlets while Rand has the cruising bug and hops on any Carnival ship leaving out of Galveston just to keep his sea legs. I motor him down and back, enjoying the Galveston coast for a couple of days each time. So far, no BP oil there! Cheers to all!

George

[bcirish]

Sounds like a good change on this one - glad to hear it - we are still watching the ships sail in and then we watch them sail back out again - all part of our daily activities. We head home on Friday so all too soon this will end. I found it very amusing when I realized that they had a snorkel trip on our beach - we have not been impressed enough to take our gear out of the condo - hmmmm:DIt has been quite rainy for a good part of this week- pretty early for that here but it did not stop our fun- we just head to casinos and go shopping until the rain ends and then back to the beach!

 

I guess it is a sign when you recognize that someone from a ship is on your beach by the color of their towels - sad huh:D.

Today it was the yellow ones and the aqua towels not to be confused witht the resort towels which have the name on them. OMG - I know way too much about beach towels - must start drinking;)