Bit of a blog – Jewel of the Seas – Panama Canal – March 2nd 2009

[cruiseacecat]

Hi,

Really enjoying your blog. Almost puts me right there. Can you tell me who the guitarist is? Thanks

Anne

[MAZANDSTEVE]

safety!! why didnt we think of that? LOL:)

A too difficult question for him I think.;)

 

Nice report, thanks. :)

[NorbertsNiece]

Day 11 – Wednesday 11 March

We’re not moving. I have woken before the alarm. I thought Darran had set the alarm so he could see us into Grand Cayman. We’ve arrived. He’d set the alarm for the wrong time. I have to say the whole business of changing times is confusing to say the least. I have completely lost the time difference with home now. And the clocks go forward again tonight. We are surrounded by 3 Carnival ships..... this does not bode well for crowds in town. We assemble our gear and head for breakfast. I have secreted a whole load of cards in my bag and present them to him one by one at the breakfast table. The people we are with enjoy the show.

I’m concerned that we’re told to allow 45 minutes to be at the pier by tender. We are to be there for 945am. We head for the tender around 845; no queues at all. We’re on board the tender straight away and are at the pier by 9. There is a plethora of tour guides touting for business. You can get an island tour for $20 pp. They are offering all sorts of other tours. We take a wander around the shops and people watch.

Collected by the RCI rep we board a bus and head for the little dock. The driver is a hoot. He sings loudly all the way and there is nothing to do but join in. He sounds his horn whenever he turns a corner in a residential neighbourhood. It’s a short but fun ride. We board the catamaran for the 45 minute trip out to the sand bar where Sting Ray City is. As the wind is up we get sprayed along the way. It’s fun. We sit in the front on purpose!

There are quite a few boats there and the water is full of people and sting rays. There is quite a wind so the water is choppy. It’s a little bit more than waist deep, if that; it’s warm. We have been given a briefing on what to do and what not to do. I take pics of Darran as he goes in and then join in. He is snorkelling. The water is so clear I don’t feel the need to. The sting rays are used to people. The boat crew have food for them. We are able to touch them. I accidentally step on one; we have been told not to wear footwear for that very reason. I guess we’re in the water for around 45 minutes.

The ride back to the home dock is much smoother. Once we get to the canal the catamaran is slowed down so we can take pictures of the many lizards lounging about on the private docks. There are many houses along the canal side each with a dock and most with boats. Back at the home dock the bus is waiting for us with the same driver. We sing our way back to the pier.

Lunch is in order and we go to look for a restaurant. First stop is a place called Senor Frogs. It is there we realise that it is Spring Break for US college kids. They are out in force. They appear to have dined on alcohol. The place is heaving and very, very noisy. We beat a hasty retreat. Across the road is a smaller restaurant called Bacchus. Quiet and cool. Immaculate, clean toilets. Lunch is delicious.

We then go window shopping. We have a voucher for the Colombian Emerald shop. There’s nothing there I like, at least not in the reduced price part. We look at T-shirts. Again, they are expensive. We run into a few Cruise Critic people. The queues for the Carnival tenders are very long. Ours is long but we all board the next tender. Back to the room for a nap.

Dinner is at Portofino’s. I have always been a staunch supporter of this venue from a wonderful experience on Independence last year. We were joined by Lynne and Murphy. There is a saying somewhere about not revisiting past experiences in the hope of recapturing that time. I am saddened and surprised to say that I didn’t really enjoy the meal. The company was excellent. The service however did not match that from our last experience; we have had more attention in the MDR. The food was good, there’s no denying that. Maybe I’ve become a grouch. I don’t know. I do know that I didn’t clear my plate. We missed the amuse bouche we’d had on Independence. I’d called ahead so they would be aware of Darran’s birthday. There was no acknowledgment although they did comp his Irish Coffee. I don’t think they even saw me leave.

Beatles tribute band tonight. The Beatle Maniacs. Not bad. Not the best I’ve heard but they were fun and had costume changes. ‘Ringo’ sounded more Irish than Liverpudlian. ‘Paul’ was the best vocally. Audience loved the show. Even Darran got out of his seat at one point!

Lynne and I post a note on the community board to invite our CC roll call to come for a farewell meet tomorrow. I win nothing in the Casino again..... I am nothing if not consistent. Post yesterday’s blog and order a supermarket delivery for the Saturday afternoon of our return. We fly out Friday night.

There’s a poolside midnight buffet. We go to look. Very loud music and much frivolity. We take some ice cream back to the room. We don’t eat food.

[NorbertsNiece]

Will get guitarist info for you and post it when back home..... it's in the Compass....

Day 12 – Thursday 12th March

It’s the day before debarking. Am sat in Latte-tudes where there is a wi fi hotspot. Just tried to post the finished blog and the Internet is down L If you’re reading this clearly I managed to get on! Darran is sitting opposite. He has his eyes closed. They’re playing U2 (his favourite band) on the speaker system.... Beautiful Day. He’s tapping his fingers along. Happy man.

I slept in this morning. All morning. Get up for lunch. Wonderful salad in MDR. Order the RCI cookbook for DD1 from our Head Waiter. He will get it signed.

Park West is now up and running with the ‘Art’ Auction. I want to slap him. He is so jolly. He’s Australian I think. I have a decaf cappuccino.... as we’ve had a few specialty coffees we had accrued a free drink voucher. This is the only problem with the centrum here..... whatever is going on on deck 4 can be heard right up to deck 10/11.

I’ll not be posting again until we get back to the UK. Have used up the vouchers we were given and almost all the prepaid purchased amount. If I can scrounge another voucher I may be back but more than likely not. Just want to be sure to be able to check in to the flight tomorrow. Thank you so much for taking the journey with us. I’ve been stunned by the number views this blog has achieved. Your encouraging comments have been lovely. Hope your next cruise is as much fun for you as this one has been for us. A unique experience which we will remember for many years to come.

[Bobal]

What a fantastic blog - informative, amusing, intelligent - it has it all :D I'm particularly interested since we're thinking of doing exactly the same cruise next year - I've already saved this in my favourites.

 

What a shame they didn't do more for the birthday - shame on you RCCL:mad:

[cruiseacecat]

Will get guitarist info for you and post it when back home..... it's in the Compass....

 

Day 12 – Thursday 12th March

 

It’s the day before debarking. Am sat in Latte-tudes where there is a wi fi hotspot. Just tried to post the finished blog and the Internet is down L If you’re reading this clearly I managed to get on! Darran is sitting opposite. He has his eyes closed. They’re playing U2 (his favourite band) on the speaker system.... Beautiful Day. He’s tapping his fingers along. Happy man.

 

I slept in this morning. All morning. Get up for lunch. Wonderful salad in MDR. Order the RCI cookbook for DD1 from our Head Waiter. He will get it signed.

 

Park West is now up and running with the ‘Art’ Auction. I want to slap him. He is so jolly. He’s Australian I think. I have a decaf cappuccino.... as we’ve had a few specialty coffees we had accrued a free drink voucher. This is the only problem with the centrum here..... whatever is going on on deck 4 can be heard right up to deck 10/11.

 

I’ll not be posting again until we get back to the UK. Have used up the vouchers we were given and almost all the prepaid purchased amount. If I can scrounge another voucher I may be back but more than likely not. Just want to be sure to be able to check in to the flight tomorrow. Thank you so much for taking the journey with us. I’ve been stunned by the number views this blog has achieved. Your encouraging comments have been lovely. Hope your next cruise is as much fun for you as this one has been for us. A unique experience which we will remember for many years to come.

Thanks so much. I will be looking forward to it. Usually when there is a guitarist, there I am also. :)

Anne

[emdmistycc]

Hi

Just want to say Thank You for taking me along our your cruise. I really enjoyed reading your blog. I sail on the Jewel on 3/23 so reading about your cruise confirmed our choice of ships and destinations. Thanks again for taking the time to post each day.

[abs]

We were on the same cruise last month. Thanks for letting us do it over again. By the way we had better weather then you..lol

[abhb]

Thanks for the blog. We were on the Jewel 10 day over X-mas. Everytime I read this blog, it stirs up wonderful memories.

 

What did you think of Joff and his staff? We absolutely loved Amanda. I don't think I have ever seen anyone with so much energy at all hours of the day or night.

[ShipsInBergen]

Thanks for the great posts. I hope you have a safe journey home :)

[Loucat]

I loved everyone of your entires. You have quite a great sense of humor!! Thank you for taking the time to share your cruise. I felt like I was right there with you. I am rethinking doing an excursion the day we are at Gatun Lake. Your decription of going through the locks was so descriptive. I hope you will have a safe flight home and that you had a wonderful cruise:)

[MomtoCCC]

I've enjoyed your blog as well. Thanks for posting it. Someday I would like to see the Panama canal.

[Lynne95]

Just wanted to drop in and say hi! Look forward to reading all your posts later today. I was looking for a site that might have a cam history of our sailing thru the canal. I seem to remember seeing one before we left, but I didn't bookmark it. I may be wrong, but I think I was able enter a date, and it let me see some of the cam history on that date...oh well, I'll keep looking!

 

Thanks to you and Darran for all you did to make our trip so special. I miss everyone already!

 

It was a great cruise!

[NorbertsNiece]

We're home. Darran is upstairs snoring. HE slept on the plane.... I barely managed a half hour. Pets are home too. Hope others from the cruise will post their reviews.

We had a lovely day on Friday with my Uncle in Tamarac, then met up with a couple of cousins in North Miami. Had a drive down to South Beach. And then...... on our way back to the hotel to fetch our bags..... we saw Jewel sailing out on her next voyage. There was someone on MY balcony..... cheek!!

With regards to Joff......

Joff.... if you're reading this.... I'm the mad woman who came up to you after the farewell show (which was brilliant btw) and gave you that spiel about being sure to have a show reel..... and to tell Graham that we thought you were better than he ;)

Lynne..... we miss you guys very much already. Hopefully in June we can fix up a reunion when we're in Asheville.

[NorbertsNiece]

Here's the links to the different tour companies we used and I recommend:

 

Aruba : http://www.abc-aruba.com/index.html

Cartagena : http://cartagenatour.com/

Costa Rica : http://www.okeydokeytours.com/

 

We did Sting Ray City on Grand Cayman via the cruise line and recommend it. You can just take the ride..... you don't have to go in..... but it's a wonderful experience..... there is a ladder to climb down into the water.....

[abhb]

Glad you are home safely.

[NorbertsNiece]

Glad you are home safely.

 

Thanks :D

Have started uploading pics from Darran's camera to flickr, link below. Please keep checking back for more and let me know if there's something you'd like to see...

[dacsmom]

Thank you so much for posting that wonderful blog. I enjoyed it very much.

[cruiseacecat]

Please, please don't forget the name of the guitarist? Please? :)

 

anne

[Fozzycat]

Please, please don't forget the name of the guitarist? Please? :)

 

anne

 

It was Mario D'Andrea

[NorbertsNiece]

Thanks Fozzycat.

There was also a solo guitarist who played in the centrum called Jovencio Rosario.

[cruiser429]

Enjoyed reading your blog. We were on the Jewel from Dec. 8-19. I re-lived our cruise through your writings. We also had very high winds. I thought it was just December. Couldn't even swim with the Sting Rays in Cayman--they canceled all the water tours because of the winds. We've now been to Cayman 3 times and had it canceled each time!

 

We love the Jewel--it was our second time on it. The Radiance class are our favorite ships.

[ArkieCruisin]

What a wonderful review. I really enjoyed every bit of it. You have me considering this cruise in the future :) Thanks again for sharing.

[cruiseacecat]

Thanks Fozzycat.

There was also a solo guitarist who played in the centrum called Jovencio Rosario.

Thanks so much to both of you. That was exactly the information I needed.

Anne

[niesco]

The Jewel is a great ship.We miss it dearly after going on the CCL Valor.

We had Sergey (? Spelling) from the Ukraine as our assistant waiter and Ulrich was our waiter from Trinidad Tobaggo.They were great .I always wonder if they are still on the ship?? i will go out of my way to sail on her again.Thesawch

 

We happened to be on the March 2nd sailing and we had Sergii for our waiter. His assistant waiter was a young woman also from Ukraine (or near there) named Katrina. He plans on staying on the Jewel because its the only RCCL ship that sails to Russia. They both were fabulous!