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

[DaKahuna]

I think I am going to raise the question why.  As i have said before I can understand their having Family Hours in cold weather itineraries but it makes little / no sense to me why they would have it on this cruise. 
 

[DaKahuna]

No food porn tonight. I let my appetite get the better of me but all of the dishes except one I have seen posted many times. 

  

 

We both had the lobster salad and I also had the steak tartar for the first time ever 

 

we were in a whimsical mood so had this with our appetizers 

 

 

My DW had the Halibut and I had the fenel crusted lamb.  Both were as delicious as always.

 

Since champagne does not pair that well with lamb I changed to a nice Primitivo to go with my lamb. 

 

 

Again I apologize for the lack of photos and promise to do better.

 

[DaKahuna]

@mahdnc 

 

[mahdnc]

25 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

@mahdnc 

 

YATB! Have fun ashore tomorrow, assuming you go ashore. 

Edited April 24, 2023 by mahdnc

[Sigyn]

14 hours ago, cruisestitch said:

There are six children on board.  

Wow. The exact opposite of my recent spring break cruise on Harmony of the Seas with thousands of screaming kids. 🤣

[Fly and Sail]

4 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

I keep forgetting what’s chargeable and what’s not.

 

I saw a lady with a baby in a chest carrier in the OVC.  Only under 21 individual I have seen so far. 
 

 

What I find interesting are the demographics of this sailing. I think this is the first ship I've been on where you hardly see any guest under 50 on board, and even that is generous. Alaska and even the European cruises have been more mixed and of course a lot more kids on board.

 

I guess both the route as well as the duration of the cruise don't appeal to folks in their 30s/40s. 15 days plus feeder travel is pretty long and who has that much time usually!?

[TeeRick]

16 minutes ago, Fly and Sail said:

 

What I find interesting are the demographics of this sailing. I think this is the first ship I've been on where you hardly see any guest under 50 on board, and even that is generous. Alaska and even the European cruises have been more mixed and of course a lot more kids on board.

 

I guess both the route as well as the duration of the cruise don't appeal to folks in their 30s/40s. 15 days plus feeder travel is pretty long and who has that much time usually!?

When we did this cruise a few years back in the month of April on Infinity (16 nights, FLL to San Diego) there were absolutely no children on board.  Mostly retired folks with the time necessary to commit to this cruise itinerary.  No surprise really.  Also it was hot then.  If it was scheduled in the summer with kids out of school, I think the heat and humidity would be unbearable!

[The Colonel_Cruises]

Helipad Experience notice.

Not sure how exciting the helipad is departing Cartagena but we will see.

[Fly and Sail]

15 minutes ago, The Colonel_Cruises said:

Helipad Experience notice.

Not sure how exciting the helipad is departing Cartagena but we will see.

 

 

It will probably be super hot as well. Also, nobody checked anything on departure day for the helipad which leads me to believe that you can just mingle with the crowd when a Helipad sail away is offered, and nobody would be the wiser or even care. Not like anything special is being served, just sugar water (fruit punch).

Edited April 24, 2023 by Fly and Sail

[mahdnc]

Is Cartagena a shuttle bus port, or can you just got off the ship and walk to the shops, etc?

[Fly and Sail]

Good Morning from Cartagena!

There seem to be a few guests joining the cruise here today, either by design or because the missed the departure in FLL.

[The Colonel_Cruises]

6 minutes ago, Fly and Sail said:

Good Morning from Cartagena!

There seem to be a few guests joining the cruise here today, either by design or because the missed the departure in FLL.

Could be crew or entertainment?

[The Colonel_Cruises]

22 minutes ago, mahdnc said:

Is Cartagena a shuttle bus port, or can you just got off the ship and walk to the shops, etc?

Celebrity Today writes you can walk to the port gates or take a complimentary shuttle.

[mahdnc]

Just now, The Colonel_Cruises said:

Celebrity Today writes you can walk to the port gates or take a complimentary shuttle.

 

Thank you.  The free shuttle takes you to the port gate? Or further?

[Fly and Sail]

5 minutes ago, The Colonel_Cruises said:

Could be crew or entertainment?

I want to see that show! 😂

 

The walking cane acrobatics should be quite interesting.

 

 

Of course yes, the young guys waiting to board up front are all crew.

Edited April 24, 2023 by Fly and Sail

[The Colonel_Cruises]

18 minutes ago, mahdnc said:

 

Thank you.  The free shuttle takes you to the port gate? Or further?

Bus sign says Interport shuttle.

[DaKahuna]

We decided to skip the eggs and go to the Elite Breakfast

 

 

[luv2camp04]

On 4/21/2023 at 5:46 PM, davekathy said:

On our cruises the invite was for elite and above. Nothing to do with stateroom type. 

We are neither Elite (we're Select) and stay in regular balcony rooms.  We've been invited to helipad sailaway twice.  I believe it is just random.

[Moochi]

1 hour ago, DaKahuna said:

We decided to skip the eggs and go to the Elite Breakfast

 

 

Where’s the almond croissant?!?!?

[DaKahuna]

1 minute ago, luv2camp04 said:

We are neither Elite (we're Select) and stay in regular balcony rooms.  We've been invited to helipad sailaway twice.  I believe it is just random.

I believe it is sometimes random but more by class of stateroom.  I have confirmed that there will be a HeliPad sail away for suite guest later in the cruise. 

[DaKahuna]

13 minutes ago, Moochi said:

Where’s the almond croissant?!?!?

One the second helping. 
 

I was being nice for a change and Trying to not make everyone jealous. 
 

The ones here and in Luminae ar e larger than the cafe al Bacio ones. 

[DaKahuna]

19 hours ago, Fly and Sail said:

That reminds me, since when did the solarium become a kids zone with “family hours” during specific times?

 

IIRC it was always advertised as adults only.

 

 

 

 

I inquired and the explination I was given is that it has become pretty much a standard thing now regardless of itinerary.  I was told last cruise there were some issues with the main pool and so they instituted Family Hours and just left them in place.

 

[DaKahuna]

Some photo’s of our brief visit iashore

 

[DaKahuna]

These are for @Sea Dog 

 

 

 

 

 

[DaKahuna]

Well that was a first! 
 

My wife and I were relaxing on our balcony and our stateroom attendant finished cleaning the room and stepped out to make sure we did not need anything.  We assured him that everything was great. He left and we continued to talk to each other. 
 

My wife got up to get something from the room only to find the balcony door locked. Apparently out stateroom attendant had locked it from force of habit when he closed the door after speaking to us. 
 

Fortunately we are on the starboard side and I was able to shout and get the attention of a crew member on the dock who contacted our stateroom attendant.  A very embarrassed young man came and let us back into the room!