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

[cruisestitch]

9 hours ago, Moochi said:

Is helipad going to be open the entire day for those who are invited, and you can go in and out though out the day for the view? That would be really cool, and worth it to book the Retreat just for this privilege.

The helipad is open to all today, with no invitations needed. And you can come and go as you please. It is not a privilege for just retreat guests.

[cruisestitch]

2 hours ago, hcat said:

Hope you have a great passage through the canal and get a some interesting  photos.  We've only done a partial from east (before expansion),  and it was perfect...Our ship had great placement in line.. We took an excursion from Lake Gatun (?) and  had wonderful canal views...but a full transit is still on our list.

 

I  read an article this morning on my phone's weather app that the area down  there is in drought and  two feeeder lakes (humanmade)  do  not have sufficent water from rain to adequately supply the canal.   Article said they are limiting  large shipping vessels. If you hear anything let us know.

 

E N J  O Y !

Yes, the guest speaker announced this morning that the cargo ships ability to carry goods is limited to about 90% due to the lack of rain to refill the lake, which reduces the revenue Panama makes

[mahdnc]

35 minutes ago, cruisestitch said:

The helipad is open to all today, with no invitations needed. And you can come and go as you please. It is not a privilege for just retreat guests.

 

I presume you have done the canal before from among your nearly 100 cruises.  Opening the helipad to all passengers--have you seen this in your past canal sailings?

[Fly and Sail]

I lasted about 45 minutes out there due to lack of sunscreen and Panama Hat. Watching the freighter pass by next to us was an amazing experience as well. So after today, another bucket list item can be crossed off the list. 🙂

[Fly and Sail]

27 minutes ago, mahdnc said:

 

I presume you have done the canal before from among your nearly 100 cruises.  Opening the helipad to all passengers--have you seen this in your past canal sailings?

 

It was busy but not overcrowded or at the point where they had to turn people away. SkyLounge is also quite busy and then the upper panorama deck (Retreat?) so there was an even spread.

 

Seems like a prudent decision to me to offer guests something special along the way. I feel for the staff that has to work out there today.

[DaKahuna]

14 hours ago, mahdnc said:

So you did receive your helipad invitation for tomorrow?

No, the Helipad is open to any/all passengers for the canal crossing.

 

I went up to the Retreat Sundeck and took pictures from there. 
 

[DaKahuna]

@mahdnc  I apologize for the delay

 

[Fly and Sail]

4 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

@mahdnc  I apologize for the delay

 

 

This is false advertisement btw. I haven't seen any guests of this demographic/appearance on board.

 

Off to Guest Relations! 👻

[cruisestitch]

55 minutes ago, mahdnc said:

 

I presume you have done the canal before from among your nearly 100 cruises.  Opening the helipad to all passengers--have you seen this in your past canal sailings?

Yes it has been opened to all passengers for the transit

[DaKahuna]

Some photo’s from last night, including a little food porn.  I was very remiss in my duties last night.  A certain someone thought I was spending too much time on the internet.

 

Dinner last night was in Tuscan Grill

 

love the fresh cut basil, olive oil and balsamic vinegar 

 

 

who does not like a Caesar Salad

 

 

DW had originally ordered the bruschetta thinking it would be slices of crusty bread topped with sliced tomato and mozzarella.. instead it was a ball of mozzarella, and whole tomato, and croutons.  She had it replaced with a caesar’s salad.

 

For her main course she had the spaghetti and meatballs 

 

 

and I had the filet .. it was ordered medium rare and came out beautifully delicious, tender and flavorful.

 

 

For dessert she went with the strawberry shortcake

 

 

and I had those wonderful donuts

 

all in all the service and food was wonderful! 
 

It is obvious that the food is prepared when ordered and not pre-staged.  Yes that causes it to come out a little slower but is very similar to how it is done in fine restaurants ashore. 
 

[DaKahuna]

10 minutes ago, Fly and Sail said:

 

This is false advertisement btw. I haven't seen any guests of this demographic/appearance on board.

 

Off to Guest Relations! 👻

actually I have seen one couple in the Retreat that is around this age group. 

[DaKahuna]

Today was room service so I could get to the sundeck early

 

[DaKahuna]

I have tons of pictures from the sundeck, including a video of approaching and going under the Bridge of the Americas. 
 

I  going to pick a couple and upload but have not even had time to go through and edit or crop, so you are gettin raw footage, most of which was shot through the glass windscreens on the sundeck.

 

 

[DaKahuna]

And more

 

 

 

 

[DaKahuna]

BTW, the couple show in a couple of the shots from the balcony were observed reaching out and touching the walls.

 

[Essiesmom]

That’s the Atlantic bridge.  Bridge of the Americas is at the other end:

Edited April 26, 2023 by Essiesmom

[Essiesmom]

Approaching the Gatun Locks, and moving from second to third lock at Gatun

 

 

[DaKahuna]

6 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

That’s the Atlantic bridge.  Bridge of the Americas is at the other end:

ah, okay. 
 

[WestLakeGirl]

55 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

BTW, the couple show in a couple of the shots from the balcony were observed reaching out and touching the walls.

 

You can’t fix stupid

[Fly and Sail]

7 minutes ago, WestLakeGirl said:

You can’t fix stupid

 

What's so stupid about that? Just be careful, it's not like your arm will suddenly be chopped off.

[hcat]

1 hour ago, DaKahuna said:

actually I have seen one couple in the Retreat that is around this age group. 

it is wishful thinking/ marketing ..on Celeb's part.

 

Perfectly well dressed younger cruisers who are willing to spend on Specialty dining like LPChef, adventure excursions and Retreat Class, etc..

 

But they are still willing to take "oldsters" money just as fast!

[Texed]

2 hours ago, Fly and Sail said:

This is false advertisement btw. I haven't seen any guests of this demographic/appearance on board.

 

They look about the age of my son and daughter-in-law that just got off of Edge.  So, not false advertising.  😊

Edited April 26, 2023 by Texed

[hcat]

Your photos did not disappoint.. They are amazing. Thank you so much for sharing!  A thrilling experience, no doubt!

 

On our partial  canal transit which I think was on a Royal ship, the  space going through the lock was tight.  one of the trugs  (?) or something scraped our ship.  Our Captain had a fit and had a paint crew out there next port..painting the litte scrape.

 

I still remember reading the Path Between the Seas( David McCullough..sp?).before our cruise.

very long and maybe dated now but a  great history. 

[Texed]

Mr. DaKahuna.

Outstanding pictures.  Thank you for posting. 

[Essiesmom]

Meeting up with Hanseatic Inspiration (Hapag-Lloyd)