10-Day Island Princess - Panama Canal Partial Transit - Chistmas Cruise Photo Review

[LittleMissMagic]

I believe I mentioned already that Rachel is a geology minor. Well, she was really excited about Hell when she read about all its limestone rock formations.

 

DSC_6756 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

The Devil is everywhere in Hell...

 

DSC_6760 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

DSC_6761 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

"Take a picture of me by the limestone!"

 

DSC_6765 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

DSC_6778 by vshingl, on Flickr

[LittleMissMagic]

"Now take a picture of me looking excited about some limestone!"

 

DSC_6780 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

DSC_6781 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

DSC_6783 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

DSC_6785 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

DSC_6786 by vshingl, on Flickr

[LittleMissMagic]

DSC_6787 by vshingl, on Flickr

DSC_6790 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

Sadly, this might be one of our only family pictures... Christmas cards from Hell, anyone? :D

 

DSC_6791 by vshingl, on Flickr

[julia]

 

I am very thankful that my parents have taken me on many vacations. I love visiting new places, and I enjoy visiting my favorites again. I actually learn so much while I travel, and it's also a great outlet for me to apply what I learn in school to the real world (like I've been nerdily doing in this report). I'm also extremely lucky that my parents actually allow my sister and I to have a large input on where we travel. Rachel and I actually chose this cruise - my Dad was looking at an 8-Day cruise on the Independence of the Seas, but we were able to convince him that we needed to go places we'd never been before.

 

AND... as evidenced by this very informative, insightful and enjoyable review, the travel that you have shared over the years with your parents is REALLY apparent in your keen eye and lovely wit.

 

Kudos to them, and thanks to YOU, for taking the time to share your cruise in such detail! :):)

[Cruisin' Chick]

I was on the island back in November doing this same cruise and he was our CD I thought he was one of the worse ones we ever had. Never seen him was never involved in anything he did not even show up the last night of the cruise for the finnal show he had his assistant do it. I read a lot about him on here being the best I thought he was the worse. Just my opinion.

 

This sounds just like David Bradshaw who was our CD on our 2010/11 cruise on the Golden. Only saw him if I turned on the Wake show and then saw him on the last night, popping in to the party in the Piazza. I remember taking a photo of him standing on deck 6 looking down upon many of the CD staffers dancing up a storm (they were the ones playing emcee, etc., at the shows and trivia matches I've been to during those two weeks). After about 15 minutes, he disappeared, never to be seen again.

 

So it was nice to see Sammi Baker, our CD on the cruise we disembarked from just on Wednesday. She was everywhere, enthusiastic. When I was entering into the Princess theater, she was too and guessed correctly that I was about to take part in the Aloha 'Oe show (paired with the passenger talent show that she was going to emcee) -- my aloha wear, lei and hair flower must have given me away -- and I told her she was great, unlike the "cruise director we had on this same cruise two years ago, whose name will go unsaid."

 

"That morning, they had everyone go to the Bordeaux Ballroom to get a tender ticket, and you'd wait there until you were called. We were lucky enough to be handed a ticket and told immediately to go. Well, we were in line and two women wandered up behind us looking rather confused got in line. I wasn't sure if they knew they had to get a tender ticket, so I thought I would make sure she had one so she didn't stand in this line only to be told she needed a tender ticket. Well, instead of speaking to me, she gestures to a sticker on her chest that says #2. An older gentleman behind me butts in rather rudely and says, "She doesn't need one. She's on an excursion," as if I'm an idiot for trying to be helpful... I wasn't even talking to him. "Oh, you're in an excursion? Then I guess you're good to go! I just wanted to make sure because I'd have hated for you to wait in this line..." It was pointless. I was talking to a wall. She didn't even want to hear me apologize for trying to help her. Sheesh. Someone's panties were in a wad."

 

Hmm, if they were on a Princess shore excursion, they would have been--or should have been -- escorted by a crew member from the meeting place to the front of the tender line. That's to keep everyone on the same excursion together, I believe. (at least that was our experience when doing a snorkeling excursion in Maui -- we were supposed to be in the theater by a specific time and escorted into the tender...if you weren't on a ship-booked excursion, weren't Elite, weren't in a full suite, you had to wait to get a tender ticket)

 

Anyway, I love your photos and jealous that you can take such lovely photos. I've spent much of today, going through the photos I've taken with my low-end camera on this last cruise, so I can start writing up my report. Good thing hubby takes better photos.

 

And just like another poster, got messed up with the selling of Webshots. I'm going to have to upload my photos from a couple of cruises ago to another site and fix all my links in my blog. Really messed me up (thanks, "Smile") But first, I'll be working on the blog for this last cruise.

 

I've noticed many passengers using tablets to take photos. Seems pretty awkward to me to have to hold it up just to take a photo. But maybe someone who has one can pipe in with the advantages over using a camera.

 

We're another family that takes our daughter with us on any vacations. Just didn't feel that either set of grandparents would be able to handle such an active toddler -- and got frustrated with my MIL not following my directions when I left the girl with her when her day care center closed for the holidays but my company didn't. So she went on her first cruise at 23 months of age -- and she just did her 8th cruise at age 15.

 

I hope you don't mind that I make a couple of corrections. The buffet on most (if not all) Princess ships is called the Horizon Court, not "Horizons." And the Island has an atrium (it's not called the "centrum"). We were on the Island seven years ago before it was fitted with the movie screen, but I think most of the ship is basically the same.

[A&L_Ont]

Loving your review. We have virtually travelled on 3 reviews with you and your family so far. We will continue to follow along as we are departing for Allure today.

 

Enjoy Italy. You will love it there.

 

Andrew

[dforeigner]

Awesome review and I love the pictures as well. Thank you for taking the time to share them with us.

[czst17]

Victoria- thanks again for another great review. Hubby, mom and I are on this cruise in April so I have been glued to your review and always love your pictures. I have followed your other RC reviews- we are leaving Monday for our last cruise on Monarch. I was very interested in your Panama Canal day- we are staying onboard too that day- will be my mom's 85th bday- and the tours look like too much for her.

Thanks so much for writing and have a fab time in Italy. You and your sister are such cuties, I love all your outfits. Happy New Year.

[Lance1224]

I am really enjoying your review. We have done your cruise twice!

You and your family are very lucky to travel together. The memories

will last forever and the stories will be passed on to your children and grandchildren.

 

DW is the photographer and I keep a hand written journal of our travels. This avoids arguements of when and where.

I went on my first cruise with my parents back in 1967.

They had to ask my high school permission to take me out of school.

The staff was more interested about the cruise.

Have a great time and Happy New year !!!!:)

 

Lance

[LittleMissMagic]

The cab driver dropped us off at the party area of Seven Mile Beach (which is actually only around 5.5 miles in length if you were curious).

 

Awesome floating cabanas -

 

DSC_6793 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

We were in port with two Carnivaly ships - the Glory and one I don't recall.

 

DSC_6794 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

Now this is the kind of beach Rachel had in mind when she was envisioning Costa Rica beaches... not quite.

 

DSC_6796 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

One of the local beers is White Tip Lager. The bartender described it as being a finer beer. I liked it because there were sharks on the can. I have a slight obsession with sharks.

 

DSC_6803 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

Two-fisting it like a pro.

 

DSC_6801 by vshingl, on Flickr

Edited January 4, 2013 by LittleMissMagic

[LittleMissMagic]

Random ADPi - she was walking along the beach and must have a great eye because the only ADPi gear on Rachel was her sunglasses... which she had burned the delta off with her curling iron on accident a few nights ago.

 

DSC_6806 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

I called it the party beach because they had a DJ much better than DJ Mickey on the Island Princess, as well as many games. Such as this beer chugging competition between the cruiselines.

 

Local...

 

DSC_6812 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

Throw it back, Island Princess!

 

DSC_6825 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

These locals are crazy...

 

DSC_6826 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

Winner in the house!

 

DSC_6831 by vshingl, on Flickr

Edited January 4, 2013 by LittleMissMagic

[LittleMissMagic]

DSC_6836 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

DSC_6837 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

Oh, okay... we have another family photo.

 

DSC_6843 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

My little buddy. We lost the Gangnam Style competition to two little local children. I mean how could we compete with children? Children are naturally adorable and always get a huge vote!

 

DSC_6850 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

Our friends from NC were on the beach with us, so we asked them if they'd like to split a cab back and eat at Margaritaville. We ended up packing onto one of the large vans that was taking passengers back.

 

DSC_6861 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

Mom was a tri-delt.

 

DSC_6859 by vshingl, on Flickr

Edited January 4, 2013 by LittleMissMagic

[LittleMissMagic]

Rachel loves waterslides. That was one of the reasons she wanted to eat at Margaritaville.

 

DSC_6861 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

DSC_6864 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

DSC_6868 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

DSC_6870 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

This was an awkward late lunch/early dinner, so we decided to split entrees. Well, I ordered the quesadillas and Dad ate probably over half of them, and the food really just reminded me of how starving I was.

 

We were the last tender in. Scratch that off the bucket list!

 

DSC_6872 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

Okay, the other ship was the Carnival Legend... I almost said the Legend.

 

DSC_6873 by vshingl, on Flickr

[LittleMissMagic]

DSC_6874 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

 

As soon as we got back on the ship, we went up to the 15th deck to get hamburgers. We were actually starving. :D

[tmitchell82]

Great review. We did basically the same cruise in 2010 on the Island. Loved seeing the Panama Canal. We had stopped in Ocho Rios after Costa Rica and had heard that the stopped going there due to some issues on there.

[mojitoman]

Love the review. Looking at doing this cruise in early 2014 so appreciate the jump start.

 

So, your dad is a Parrotthead, as am I, and your screen name is Little Miss Magic, any chance it is from the Buffett song Little Miss Magic? (It is written about his daughter after all)

[LittleMissMagic]

So, your dad is a Parrotthead, as am I, and your screen name is Little Miss Magic, any chance it is from the Buffett song Little Miss Magic? (It is written about his daughter after all)

 

You've got it!

[blazerjan]

Victoria, I am really enjoying your review & pictures as we did this same cruise on the Coral 2 years ago.... imagine my surprise when you posted the pictures of the "beach" you were taken to on Costa Rica and I realized that blue building in the background is where our driver took us for lunch after our rain forest tour. We were on a private tour (I wish I could remember the name of the company we used...* ) and I have to admit I was less then excited to be eating here. Once we were seated, our driver went in the back and came out with plates of food for us... I think it was chicken (?):eek:..

Thanks again for taking the time to post your review.

 

(*found it... it was Oscar Brown tours)

Edited January 4, 2013 by blazerjan

[LBumb]

awesome job

[Fairport]

Great review. Really enjoyed hearing a younger persons perspective and loved the pictures.

[caribill]

So - back the the tour company fiasco.

 

They first went back to the tour company. The tour company asked to see the receipt. "I didn't get a receipt." "Then it must've been a private transaction. If you had a receipt, we could help you." Turns out Prince was pocketing our money rather than turning it into the company and sent us with a cab driver rather than a tour guide so that he wouldn't get caught. We wouldn't have known or cared, had the cab not broken down.

 

Sometimes a tour booked when you get off the ship works and sometimes it does not.

 

We prefer to research on Cruise Critic ports of call section before a cruise to get recommendations of good tour oproviders and book them in advance.

 

Glad your tour worked out in the end.

 

Based on all of the photos of you and your sister, you must have a great relationship and enjoy being with each other.

Edited January 4, 2013 by caribill

[Bigboy209]

"Uhhh... yeah something like that." It was like kool aid and rum. I'm a college student. Whatever.

 

.

 

Best line of the review....:D:D:D

[Just The 3 Of Us]

Having so much fun reading your review - you are adorable, great sense of humor and love the fashion pics, too. My daughter would love those dresses!!!

 

Barb

[TracieABD]

Fun review, great pics!

Thank you!

[lax19]

Day 8 - Sea Day

 

 

 

Tonight was the second formal night. It was also lobster night.

 

IMG_1702 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

Does Lobster night refer to the main dish or the sunburn?:D

 

As always, enjoying your review. Have fun in Italy . . . my sister-in-law went there 10 years ago and decided to stay! Will your next review cover a possible Mediterranean cruise?