So you can do all the sea day activities today that you want. However, the focus is on the traversing of the Panama Canal. On one of the early sea days, the Travel Director (a different position from the Cruise Director) did a long presentation about the Panama Canal history in the World Stage. I had heard it before, so I didn’t attend this time, but it is very well done. Today, she kept up a running commentary about our location and some of the history. I was glad I was able to hear it from the balcony.
I got up early so I could be sure to see us passing under the Atlantic Bridge and to have a cup of coffee and a couple of cream-filled Panama rolls on the Sea View deck.
I spent the rest of the day going around the different parts of the ship to get different views of the canal. I also went to the Panama Marketplace on the Lido deck. I was disappointed at the paltry selection of true Panama items. Most of what I saw could be found in the ship’s gift shops.
It was so very hot – Dante’s levels of hell hot. The staff constantly walked around the bow, Lido pool area, the Sea View deck, and the promenade giving out glasses of ice water, frozen grapes, and cool wash cloths. The Travel Director kept reminding everyone to stay hydrated and come into the air conditioning periodically.
We stayed pretty much on schedule until it came to exiting the Cocoli locks to the Pacific Ocean. Every ship waiting to enter and exit the Canal, on both sides, is at the mercy of the Canal officials. When they say you can go, you go. We did not pass under the Bridge of Americas until it was almost dark.
We arrived in port around 10:00 p.m. We were free to start exploring Panama City then and a number of people chose to go ashore immediately (we did not). All aboard would not be until 4:30 p.m. tomorrow.
Next Up – Panama City, Panama
