Our Panama Canal cruise, the final chapter

Feb. 29 found us docking in Cartegena, Columbia, parking next to two other cruise ships. We watched the deck crew attaching lines & setting up the metal detector & X-ray machine to greet us back on board (any packages were X-rayed & we passed thru the metal detector.)

We had chosen to pass on any organized shore excursions, and to head out on our own into the Old City. We admired the tame flamingos, peacocks, parrots & macaws hanging around the cruise terminal then jumped into a cab with another couple (of course to save money - $20 total cost) & headed inside the walled Old City. Cartegena was built in 1533, being a prominent port for sending gold & silver back to Spain, it was walled to protect it from marauding pirates. Columbia is now the world's largest producer of emeralds, plus of course, coffee. We wandered the streets, admiring the old architecture & the many street vendors - lots of very colorful items for sale.

part of the Old City wall

We got directions to Las Bovedas, an area of boutiques & handicrafts stalls, all housed in medieval prison cells and walked there. Picked up a few trinkets, had our photos taken with a colorful "character" & found local beer for $1(much better than $7 on the ship). We passed on purchasing any emeralds, but there were shops everywhere.
 Most Spanish speaking countries here have "Alto" on their "Stop" signs but it was strange to see signs here with "Pare".
It was quite pleasant to be somewhat on our own schedule, not rushed with a tour. We were only docked from 9:00 - 2:00 so still couldn't dawdle.

Las Bovedas market

city wall

view of the Old City from the harbour

Princess cruises wants to know if you are celebrating any special occasion, so for dinner we presented our Anniversary card - we were treated to special cake & a song sung for us!

celebrating our 40th anniversary

Our last port was Aruba, again a shorter time docked, 1:00 - 6:30. I had signed up for the snorkeling tour, Robin decided to pass on that & wandered about in Oranjestad What a sight to behold, the turquoise waters & white sand beaches. No bus to take, just a short walk to the catamaran, and off we went. I have a prescription mask which I took from home, they provided the vest & fins. We stopped in two places to snorkel, over a coral reef & over a ship wreck. Both interesting, but seas a bit rough & many people, all trying to kick each other in the face with their fins! I brought a single use under water camera, photos not great but OK. Fair number of fish & lots of coral. After we finished in the water they brought out the rum punch - definitely not light on the rum! I was pretty happy when I met up with Robin, then we had a bit of time to check out the local market. The ship's entertainment was a very funny comedian (OK maybe it was still the punch).

amazing turquoise water 

Our last two days aboard were sea days, time to stuff everything into the suitcases & hope the weight was alright, and to enjoy the sun. Another production show, On the Bayou, best one yet, excellent costumes. Our last formal dress night, escargot & lobster! Haven't had a bad meal yet, or missed dessert! Traveled along the north coast of Cuba, could see lights & land - strange to listen to a presentation about the possibility of future cruises to Cuba (the Americans have yet to be free to travel there). Several lectures to attend, Navigation at sea, back stage theatre & a culinary show. They definitely don't want you to get bored!

buffet, can't miss the hand sanitizer!

On the Bayou show

formal night!

sample of a menu

We were already docked in Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida when we woke at 6;00. We opted for a tour that would handle our luggage & drop us at the airport in time for our 3:45 flight. We were off the ship by 8:30, slow process through US customs then off to the Everglades. We had an exciting air boat ride into the Everglades & an "alligator wrestling" show. Not lucky enough to spot any wild alligators but did see several birds.

purple gallinule

From there we were bused to the Flamingo Gardens, had an enjoyable ride through the property & time to explore on our own. The highlight was an aviary with many "tropical" birds & of course, flamingos.

huge trees

Our flight home, also with Air Canada (surprisingly the best price) took us through Toronto but did get us home. A very long day, finally hit the bed at 2:00 AM (Florida time), but we were pleased to see not much snow & temp. of 1C.
 A wonderful vacation, definitely will do more cruising, still living the dream!!!

Existing Panama Canal Locks, the Future & our Transit

 Feb. 27, 2016 we awoke to over 40 ships waiting their turn to transit the Panama Canal, at anchor in the Puerto Amador/Panama City harbor. We were also anchored, taking in the imposing skyline of Panama City. This would be our first tender experience - having to take a "tender" (life boat) to get to shore. These boats are winched down from the ship, they open a "door" and you hop onboard. The tender holds 150 people, rather squishy - we opted for the rooftop deck - much better for views of the city! I booked our tour for the day months ago, figured that seeing the locks up close & visiting the new & not yet opened lock was the way to go, "Panama Canal - Today's Lock System & the Future". We were not disappointed!

Panama City

We were taken by bus across Panama from the Pacific side to the new lock "Agua Clara" near the Atlantic, via a good four lane toll hiway. The new locks, one at each end of the canal were to open in 2014, now projected for June this year. The existing locks are 110 ft. wide, 1000 ft. long and will accommodate ships 106 ft. wide & 965 ft. long. (Our ship is 105.6 ft. wide & 964.3 ft long) - Panamax size, built just to fit! The new lock will be 180 ft wide & 1400 ft long and will utilize water saving basins to conserve water (currently the water gets flushed out to sea). We were able to observe the new lock from an observation deck & we actually drove over the new canal. The tour then proceeded to the Gatun Lock visitor centre for our "up close" view of ships transiting.

new Agua Clara lock

Some history: The construction of the canal was started in 1880 by the French, it was taken over by the Americans in 1904 and the first ship to transit was in 1914. The channel was dug (a very difficult task), the concrete lock chambers constructed and the Chagres River was dammed to create Gatun Lake, (at the time the world's largest man-made lake, flooding over 30 settlements) -  this lake provides the water used by the locks. Their are 2 sets of locks on the Pacific side - Miraflores, 2 lock chambers & Pedro Miguel, 1 lock chamber - together they raise ships 85 ft from the Pacific to the level of Gatun Lake. At the Atlantic side are the Gatun Locks, 3 chambers which lower the ships 85 ft. back down to sea level. The original lock chambers & gates continue to be used, filled & emptied by gravity, raising or lowering the ships 27-31 ft. per chamber. Still considered an engineering marvel!

aerial views of the canal, taken from a presentaion

We spent time at Gatun, watching 2 huge container ships passing by us, less than 20 ft away - being lowered 28 ft per chamber.These container ships were huge - 13 sea cans across & 6-7 high above deck.  Electric locomotives, called mules are attached to the ships & control their passage - the ship uses it's own power, the mules keep them in place. As the ship is raised or lowered the mule travels up or down along the track, keeping alongside the ship. 35-40 ships pass through the canal daily, there are 2 lanes in the existing locks which can be utilized in either direction, depending on demand. The toll varies, an average being $55,000 US, our ship paid $257,000US!

a mule

a wild coati

Once our tour returned us to Puerto Amador we had to wait in a very long line for our turn at the tender, so we decided to enjoy the wait with a pitcher of sangria! Here we picked up 2 bottles of Panamanian dark rum - $9 for 1 L.

Feb. 28, canal transit day - up at 5:30 to claim our viewing spot, standing on deck 11. Still dark! The canal pilot boarded at 6:00, we passed under the Bridge of the Americas after 7:00.

passing Panama City

Bridge of the Americas

 The entire canal is 50 miles long and takes approximately 8-9 hours to transit! We watched as we went thru Miraflores locks & Pedro Miguel, the biggest rise - 31 ft.

 By then it was 10:00 & time for breakfast. We were still able to follow our progress through the windows & via the ongoing commentary from the bridge. During the passage through Gatun Lake we sat on our balcony & enjoyed the view, islands that used to be hilltops, frigate birds, vultures & one lone crocodile.

from our balcony

looking straight down, pretty small clearance!

view from the bridge on the movie screen

dredging machine

Gatun Lake

 Back to deck 11 viewing for Gatun Locks, passing the dam over the Chagres River & being lowered 85 ft thru the 3 chambers. Strange to see a one-way vehicle bridge over the canal tucked behind the last lock, traffic waits for a lull in the ship transits & the bridge swings out & they can cross.

entering Gatun locks

 We left the last lock around 5:30 & passed the Breakwater of Cristobal after 6:00.

It was a "Bucket List" experience, much enjoyed - we have transited the Canal & have the T-shirts to prove it!
Later that night we took in another production show, Piano Man, a good way to end a great day!
The final chapter in our cruise adventure....... soon.