Live from the Emerald Princess - Panama Canal - 1/22-2/6

[Harleygirl77]

Looking forward to your travels.  We are looking at this cruise.  Just from LA to Ft. Lauderdale in February 2025.

 

Keep up the great pictures !  

[fpsphil]

Day 4 patters and day 3 dinner menus

 

 

Edited January 25 by fpsphil

[fpsphil]

Cartagena:

 

Woke up early to watch us dock. Was nice to finally not be rocking like we have been for the previous 2 days. Did the Best of Cartagena tour today and absolutely loved it. Our tour guide Sandy was amazing.

 

Loved the aviary at the port as well. Watch out for the stealing monkeys though!

 

Couple pictures:

 

 

[fpsphil]

On approach

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[trashnob]

I think you're on the ship with Don and Scottie. Say hi!

[Essiesmom]

Welcome to the Agua Clara locks!

 

[fpsphil]

2 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

Welcome to the Agua Clara locks!

 

Can almost see myself on the port side on the bridge

[fpsphil]

Slow transit today about 6 knots. Clario locks around 3:15

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[mrell345]

37 minutes ago, fpsphil said:

Slow transit today about 6 knots. Clario locks around 3:15

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About the same speed as us 30 days ago, the Captain is in no hurry, you should be out the other side by about 6 PM then drop anchor for the night before Puerto Amadore tomorrow.

[Essiesmom]

Passing Amadea, Pedro Miguel and Miraflores locks on the way to Cocoli Locks

 

[Essiesmom]

Cocoli Locks

 

[fpsphil]

What an amazing transit today. Will be posting pictures after dinner and show tonight. Thank you @Essiesmom for the screen grabs from the webcam. Think I can see myself out on the deck 8 forward promenade

[fpsphil]

Panama Canal day

 

its been over 25 years since I last went through the canal and of that trip those memories are very hazy (I was 5 or 6 at the time) but wow what a feat of engineering. Got up early to watch us come into the Atlantic break water and we were straight into the first of the agua clara locks. Took about an hour and a half to get through Agua Clara and immediately set out at 6 knots across the lake (even though we were told we would have to wait for another ship to finish the old locks apparently they were delayed enough for us to get the green light to proceed)

 

Took us a lot longer to get through Cocoli locks. We arrived right when targeted but with 2 ships ahead of us already in the locks we ended up sitting outside the first chamber for almost 45 minutes. Overall one of the most memorable days of cruising for me every and will 100% be doing a full transit crusie again at some point in the future

 

 

[fpsphil]

Panama City

 

After leaving the locks we proceeded out to sea at a snails pace as per the captain was to take care of some “marine business”. Not sure if they needed to just touch international waters for legal reasons (they had the casino open on canal day plus were running bingo) but as soon as we got out to the 30 mile mark we immediately turned around the dropped anchor near Panama City.

 

We did the best of Panama City tour including the Miraflores locks and we were lucky enough to see a ship passing through while at the observation tower. We also went to the old town for a small walking tour and free time. Before heading back to the ship our bus dropped us at the shopping center near the ship and me and my fiancé had some appetizers and drinks at a restaurant there.

 

Today we are at sea. Completely calm and flat and doing maybe 15 knots max. Not too hot either which is nice. 

[fpsphil]

Rescheduled champagne waterfall tonight due to the rough seas at the beginning of the cruise. Have been slacking on posting patters but will get caught up tommorow

[fpsphil]

Goodmorning from Huatulco

[nini]

6 hours ago, fpsphil said:

Goodmorning from Huatulco

 

I remember that port! When we were there, there were two U.S. Coast Guards ships docked.

[Nina On The Sea]

Such great pictures and information, we are thinking of this itinerary and ship for next year. I hope you enjoyed the ship. Thank you!

[fpsphil]

On 2/1/2024 at 2:01 PM, Nina On The Sea said:

Such great pictures and information, we are thinking of this itinerary and ship for next year. I hope you enjoyed the ship. Thank you!

Would 150% recommend this itinerary and we are likely to do it again in the future

[mrell345]

On 2/1/2024 at 3:01 PM, Nina On The Sea said:

Such great pictures and information, we are thinking of this itinerary and ship for next year. I hope you enjoyed the ship. Thank you!

We did the same itinerary at Christmas and ran a thread here

 

 

[avonlady6390]

I can sympathize with you over the carnival 3 day cruises took the carnival liberty out of port Canaveral a few years ago it was the last time on carnival for me.  If anyone is interested it is still sailing 3 and 4 days out of port Canaveral.😂

[fpsphil]

One note onboard as we return to LA, Churchills is being turned to an arcade this cruise. Said smoking lounge when we boarded and they’ve been working in there the whole cruise

[Nina On The Sea]

On 2/2/2024 at 12:09 PM, mrell345 said:

We did the same itinerary at Christmas and ran a thread here

 

 

What a great read, the menu pictures are great too. Thanks! 

[Nina On The Sea]

5 hours ago, fpsphil said:

One note onboard as we return to LA, Churchills is being turned to an arcade this cruise. Said smoking lounge when we boarded and they’ve been working in there the whole cruise

Is the cigar lounge disappearing for good? Shucks, my hubby was looking forward to enjoying a cigar there. 

[mrell345]

5 hours ago, Nina On The Sea said:

Is the cigar lounge disappearing for good? Shucks, my hubby was looking forward to enjoying a cigar there. 

They have apparently been disappearing on all the ships