Live from Millennium Panama Canal East-to-West April 21 - May 6, 2023

[DaKahuna]

Our bags are packed, we're ready to go ..... but it will be about six or seven more hours before our journey actually starts. 

 

 

We will be moving from home to a hotel closer to the airport this evening since we have a morning flight from IAD to FLL. 

We will be spending the day and night tomorrow night at our normal hotel in FLL, the Renaissance Fort Lauderdale Marina Hotel and boarding the ship tomorrow morning around 1100. 

 

As in the past, I'll post some thoughts and pictures as we go about our day but we are very low key passengers who cruise to relax and enjoy so there will not be a lot of photo's of shore excursions, we have only booked one so far.  I do tend to post a lot of "food porn" pictures as we have found even with the same menu's the food is very often presented differently ship to ship.  

 

This will be our fist cruise on an M-class ship so we are looking forward to new experiences. 

 

 

Edited April 19, 2023 by DaKahuna

[DaKahuna]

Celebrity just emailed me that the Health Status questionnaire is now available.

 

 

Done.  I love getting closer and closer to boarding the ship.

 

[mahdnc]

As you know, my wife and I will be taking this cruise a year from now on Summit.  So I look forward to reading your posts.  I hope you have a safe, healthy, and happy sailing.  You have done a canal transit previously, correct?

[The Colonel_Cruises]

Looking forward to watching and participating. 

[mike x ftc]

Looking forward to following along, we're boarding after you on the 6 May.

[39august]

Gotta love that health questionnaire. I'm over 80 so I pretty much have muscle and body aches every  day. And fatigue, depending on how energetic I get in a zumba class!

[Silkroad]

This itinerary is on our short list, so I’m looking forward to following along. Wishing you safe travels and a wonderful cruise!

[DaKahuna]

1 hour ago, mahdnc said:

As you know, my wife and I will be taking this cruise a year from now on Summit.  So I look forward to reading your posts.  I hope you have a safe, healthy, and happy sailing.  You have done a canal transit previously, correct?

 

No, we've been to Panama on a previous cruise and toured the locks but have never sailed through the canal.  At least one of our fellow passengers has and been getting pointers from him.

 

[DaKahuna]

9 minutes ago, 39august said:

Gotta love that health questionnaire. I'm over 80 so I pretty much have muscle and body aches every  day. And fatigue, depending on how energetic I get in a zumba class!

 

 I am a few years behind you.  I have an open mind about that particular question and take is as any "new or unusual" aches and pains.

 

 Good on you for the zumba .. you are much more energetic than I am.

 

[mahdnc]

3 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

 

No, we've been to Panama on a previous cruise and toured the locks but have never sailed through the canal.  At least one of our fellow passengers has and been getting pointers from him.

 

 

You will be giving the pointers next time.

[northwoods2]

We will be sailing with you.  We will be doing shore tours so maybe I can fill in the holes there. 
 

Cartagena - Private tour with Dora

Colon - Ship tour - Best of Panama

Puntarenas - Ship tour - Aerial Trek

Guatemala - Ship transfer to Antigua - self tour

Puerto Vallarta - nothing planned

 

Edited April 19, 2023 by northwoods2

[DaKahuna]

2 minutes ago, northwoods2 said:

We will be sailing with you.  We will be doing shore tours so maybe I can fill in the holes there. 

Great!  Looking forward to meeting on board at some point. 

[aring75]

This is going to be a great cruise! I look forward to following along. The partial transit (Gatun Locks - R/T Florida) is a great “preview” of the canal, but the full transit is SO much more enjoyable. Going through the entire canal is an all-day experience and there’s so much to see. I can’t wait to hear what you think. 
 

Have a great cruise!!

[DaKahuna]

Finally heard from Celebrity what I have been expecting to hear since I submitted my MoveUp request;

 

[RTShaker]

I'm there with you and will add some photos if you wish. I don't want to step on your toes so to speak.

[Moochi]

Oh dear DaKahuna, you are posting early!🤣 I have “DaKahuna live post” on my calendar for tomorrow.

I look forward to following along.

 

[SSFrance69]

Looking forward to your food porn! Panama Canal is on my "list". 

[DaKahuna]

We’re at our pre-flight hotel and just finished having dinner and drinks with our DD and SIL. 
 

 Now that yhe ‘children’ are gone, my DW and I are relaxing with round 3 prior to heading upstairs to our room for the night.  Plan to take the 0630 or 0700 shuttle to the airport for our 0820 boarding time. 
 

 

Long Island for me, Tanqueray and ginger for DW.

 

[bjahil47]

Safe travels!  Looking forward to your review!  This cruise is on my bucket list!

[RTShaker]

5 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

We’re at our pre-flight hotel and just finished having dinner and drinks with our DD and SIL. 
 

 Now that yhe ‘children’ are gone, my DW and I are relaxing with round 3 prior to heading upstairs to our room for the night.  Plan to take the 0630 or 0700 shuttle to the airport for our 0820 boarding time. 
 

 

Long Island for me, Tanqueray and ginger for DW.

 

Rest up and have a great flight.

[DaKahuna]

2 hours ago, RTShaker said:

I'm there with you and will add some photos if you wish. I don't want to step on your toes so to speak.

 

 I more that welcome any contributions that you would like to make, this not being your first time through I am hoping you are willing to fill in and add to any comments I make.  If the CC boards have taught me anything it is not everyone experiences the same thing on a cruise.

 

 I am looking forward to the opportunity to shareat least one ‘adult beverage’ with you in the very near future. 

[DaKahuna]

2 hours ago, Moochi said:

Oh dear DaKahuna, you are posting early!🤣 I have “DaKahuna live post” on my calendar for tomorrow.

I look forward to following along.

 

Sorry dear — I started it today because our travel started today. 

 

We are at the Washington Dulles Marriott Suites tonight because we have an 0820 boarding time tomorrow morning which means an 0530 wake up call for the DW.  Going to the hotel tonight gives us an extra hour of sleep.  Having our daughter taken us saves on Lyft/Uber and hotel parking fee’s.  Win-win all around. 

 

[goldenfarm]

I hope you have a great cruise. Do you recommend the Renaissance Fort Lauderdale Marina Hotel?

[DaKahuna]

 

 I do recommend it, especially if you are a Bonvoy Rewards Member.  It is the default hotel for us when sailing out of Port Everglades.

 

Their lounge has been closed since COVID and shows no sign of re-opening but if you qualify you receive a free breakfast buffet and it’s not a bad buffet.  Service has been good and the bar servers good drinks.  Seating is limited in the bar area though for the number of guest.  

 

As I have said in other post, the only issue that I have ever had is when I try and get a room earlier than the 4 PM check in time.  On weekends, Saturday and Sunday, they have such a high turnover of guest, because of cruises, that are doing later versus early checkouts and the hotel staff has a hard time getting the rooms services quickly so there is almost always a wait until 3 PM before rooms start becoming available.  

 

[Texed]

DaKahuna,

Looking forward to your posts.  🙂