Panama Canal cruise review

After 4799 nm I am back in America.  It was a great trip, and I visited three new countries too!

Highs:

·       Panama Canal passage
·       Guatemala
 
Lows:
·       room noise; the coughing next door was awful!
·       needed more sea day activities
·       long bus rides to get to excursions

Day 10: Antigua, Guatemala

We arrived in Port Quetzal, Guatemala, but there isn’t much there!  The closest touristy town is Antigua which is about 2 hours by bus!  While I did book an excursion with the cruise ship, it is called Antigua On You Own.  I am super thrilled that once we arrive in Antigua then we will have time to do whatever we want.  Of course, it sounds great but it was a long process to get to the On Your Own part.

• 830am get off cruise ship
• 9am load bus at Port Quetzal for 2 hour trip
• 11am arrive outside Antigua; transfer from big bus to small bus
• 1145am On Our Own starts
• 3pm meet at designated pick-up point
• 345pm take small bus to big bus
• 415pm big bus departs for ship
• 528pm arrive at Port Quetzal
• 530pm cruise ship All Aboard time

So, this is exactly why you take a cruise shore excursion because they wait on you.  Of the 6 buses on this tour, we were bus 2 so there were 4 buses that arrived after the All Aboard time . . . anyway so how was my day?  It was fabulous except we spent more time traveling and waiting than actually in Antigua, Guatemala.  BUT this town really surprised me and it was exactly what I needed today. 

The cruise excursion was basically transportation.  However, we did have an excellent guide to give us a “tour” on the drive.  It was a very scenic drive through the Guatemalan country side with super lush landscapes, villages, and of course road construction.  It was long . . . like very long but at least it was very beautiful and the bus was air conditioned.  One thing that I did not think about was we would be going from 0 elevation to around 5,500 elevation so we were reminded to take it slow and drink plenty of water.  Some interesting facts about Guatemala:

• 3 technetronic plates
• Guatemala is in The Ring of Fire
• 3 active volcanos
• 1976 there was an 8.0 earthquake
• 22,000 people died
• 5th highest producer of sugar cane
• Antigua has 25 churches in 1 sq mile

It is very hazy due to burning of sugar cane and the volcano is smoking!

Antigua is a UNESCO World Heritage city.  The cobblestone streets, colonial architecture, brightly colored buildings, beautiful churches; it was just a great city to wander around and hopefully not get lost.  I will say the cobblestone streets were rough and did have to mind my step and pay attention because they were a bit dangerous and uneven at times.  Thankfully the city seemed compact.  The bus tour guide told us his city was basically a 10 block by 10 block area.  I had planned ahead and had a list of places to visit so once we were turned on our own; I was off in the opposite direction of the other people. 

My first stop was the Iglesia de San Francisco el Grande (San Francisco Church).  It is a significant landmark and pilgrimage site, particularly for its association with Santo Hermano Pedro.  He was the first canonized saint of Central America and is buried here. The church complex, included ruins, a museum, and the Monastery of San Francisco.  It was worth the $5 to walk around and explore; no one else was there. 

 

With my handy dandy map, I headed to Central Park for a short break because it was super hot.  

I did not stay long because the vendors were everywhere!  Did a walk by the Cathedral.

I saw a kid selling nuts so figured some protein would be good.  I don’t speak Spanish . . . I really, really need to learn.  I basically pulled out two $1 bills and said I want $2 worth of nuts.  He just looked at me but then gave me a bag of cashews and macadamia nuts.  Of course, I felt bad that I might have not given him enough money, but he didn't ask for more.  

A big tourist attraction is the Arch of Santa Catalina.  I think most people take photos from the other side but if you look back the view is better with Volcán de Agua (Agua Volcano) in the center.  You have to always turn around and look behind you!  It is funny that depending on where you stand and the angle of the photo the volcano looks vastly different in size. 

 

Then I just wandered around a bit before making my way to Iglesia de la Merced (La Merced Church).  Either is was closed at that time or there was some secret entrance that wasn’t the obvious door in the front so I just enjoyed from the outside.  Honestly, I have never heard of a church being closed, but I did notice signs at some saying tourist/visitors were not allowed during mass. 

I had seen what was on my list and then just wandered and backtracked and relaxed.  I picked up a mango paleta (popsicle) from a vendor and it was good on this hot humid day!  I sat off to the side at Central Park hoping to not attract any vendors which did last for a bit.  It was nearing time to return to our meeting point to begin the journey back to the ship.  While I had a plan for my day, I should have had a better plan with more places to visit.  The city was more compact that I expected and if I had known of other places I probably could have seen more.  I was happy with what I did see and do but next time will over prepare.  I never felt unsafe walking around by myself. 

Our return meeting point was a jade jewelry workshop, so typical of a cruise ship.  I walked around and watched them working diligently on their projects.

As you read earlier, it was a lot of less then organized people waiting for a small bus to go to the big bus.  There was a lot of wasted time just standing around but sometimes that happens, I guess.  We arrived back to the port two minutes before the all aboard time but I wasn’t worried.  Back on board and off to eat!

Day 7: Panama Canal

Today is the highlight of the cruise.  I am so excited and can’t wait even though it will be a very long day.  Did you know it will take our ship over 8 hours to make full passage from the Caribbean Sea (part of the Atlantic Ocean) to the Pacific Ocean?  I went to bed super early so I could be on deck early to hopefully have a decent place to stand and view . . . I wasn’t early enough for all the old people.  We are approaching the Agua Clara locks (left; where I was yesterday), but we are using the original canal locks (right).

I finally ended up at the front of the ship on deck 12 for the first lock.  It was crazy packed on all levels front and back of the ship . . .I mean it should be because who isn’t outside watching this since it is the highlight of the cruise?  There are two lecturers on the ship that are giving live information about our passage which is fun. 

Fun Facts:

• Opened in 1914
• August 15, 1914, was the first sail
• Took 10 years to build
• The canal is 50 miles long.

Okay so I am going to sound silly but I had no idea it would take all day to get from the starting point to the ending point.  I thought it was just one lock and that was that, but it is way more complicated than that.  Apparently, I did not recall that fact from my education.

GATUN LOCKS

• Raised about 85 feet over 3 chambers
• Each chamber raised the ship 28 feet in about 15 minutes
• 8 locomotive mules used to guide ship

It was a scramble to find open viewpoints from deck 12 and 13 both front and back and down to 5.  It’s funny how territorial people get with their spots.  I mean I get it but it’s funny how people would ask to just snap a photo and people would tell them no.  I did have one very short lady ask if she could get in front of me for a “quick photo” and then she proceeded to stay there for 15 minutes.  I did not say anything because she was so short that I could still get a good view over her head.  After we completed the three cambers at the first lock it was cruising across GATUN LAKE for a few hours before the next set of locks.

I took a late breakfast break and power nap before the next set.  The narrowest part of the Panama Canal is called CULEBRA CUT. It's a roughly 13.7 kilometers (8.5 mile) stretch excavated through rock and limestone.

It’s very narrow and boats must go single file one at a time.

PEDRO MIGUEL LOCKS 

The ship is now being lowered 31 feet.  A rowboat comes out to connect the cables to the locomotives.  I missed seeing this but apparently they have tried more advance options but this works the best! 

So how close are we?  I am standing on deck 5 and could reach out and touch the side of the wall . . . so very close!  The white is the railing of the ship.

 

Fun fact:  In1928 Richard Halliburton swam the length of the Panama Canal.  His journey took him 10 days to swim the entire 48-mile length of the canal.  Oh, and he paid a toll of 36 cents for his passage, the lowest toll in the canal's history.  It was a short one mile to the last set of locks.  By this point, not many people are out watching which is nice.  It is super-hot and humid, but I am here for the show!

MIRAFLORES LOCKS

I finally was able to see the rowboat as it approached the ship to connect the cables to the locomotives. They have found this in the most efficient way even after 100 years.

These are the locomotives that attach to the ship on each side and guide it through each lock and chamber.  I think there were 3 or 4 on each side every time.

Once again the ship is being lowered.  There are two chambers and we will go down 27 feet each time. 

And now we are back to sea level and Panama is in our rear view.

It took about 8 hours to make the entire journey from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Day 6: Colon, Panama

We have arrived in Panama!  Today is a land tour before the big event tomorrow.  It is a very long excursion day since we are docked in Colon and the tour is in Panama City which means a lot of time on a bus!  Our guide gave a lot of interesting history of Panama which the only thing I remember is that Panama has their own coin currency but they use U.S. dollar bills for the bill currency . . . it was part of the agreement when the Panama Canal was established.  I am a good listener but not a good retainer of information. 

First Stop:  Agua Clara locks

The Agua Clara locks are considered the “new” Panama Canal expansion that was completed in 2016.  They allow for those massive cargo ships to pass with thousands of  containers; honestly if might be hundreds, I don't know.  We arrived just as a cargo ship was starting the passage.  They had a nice viewing platform to watch the passage.

You can see how the water is higher in the left chamber to the right chamber with the ship.

As I was standing there, I noticed several people with A&M shirts and caps so I went and chatted with them.  I swear you always find Aggies in the wild . . . these were not just any Aggies but they were in town for Aggie Muster . . . I did know who they were as they had highly recognizable names.  Aggie Muster is one of the most touching Aggie traditions at Texas A&M University.  The ships just sat waiting.

Next ship up . . .

It was back on the bus for the long drive to Panama City.  They did give us a small snack box which was simple but good.

As we arrived in Panama City we did the notorious panoramic tour out the bus window that was a boring drive around different neighborhoods.  

Next Stop:  Casco Antiguo (Old Quarters)

We finally got off the bus to walk around the Casco Antiguo area which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  I felt bad for our guide as she tried to manage our way too large group of less than cooperative people.  At one point I looked back and saw a couple checking out a restaurant menu at an outdoor patio area as the guide was giving historical information.  She kept her cool, but I could tell she was frustrated.  If you were not near her you did not hear any part of the tour which was disappointing.

Iglesia San Joe (St Jose Church)

Compania de Jesus (Church of the Society of Jesus) ruins

Cathedral Square

The drive back was long but the bus window views were nice with a lot of green and almost jungle like dense trees and plants  I was happy to be back at the ship because I was starving!  So a quick walk directly to the buffet and my favorite table on deck 11!

ADIÓS Dominican Republic

It never fails that the morning of a trip is over, I just want to be home.  Today the wait will be long since our flight does not depart until late afternoon.  I guess the silver lining is that we get to enjoy the resort a little longer.  I had planned to go lay on the beach but got a bit lazy.  We ended our last meal at the exact same table as our first meal at The Chinola.  

I always try to have eggs benedict as my last breakfast on vacation and this one was good.  I also asked for a few slices of fresh avocado and got the whole avocado.

The service was considerable slower today than the past few days and the restaurant was packed.  I guess because it is the weekend and travel is busier the week before a major U.S. holiday.  It was still a lovely day.  Due to the slower service, we had very little time to get our bags packed and to the front for our car to the airport.  Of course on the way there we learned our flight was delayed an hour but it was on its way.  So instead of hanging with the masses in the terminal, I gave a credit card perk of free lounge access as part of Priority Pass a try and it worked!  I have known about this perk for years but always afraid it won't work.  Now I am not one of those snobby lounge people but must say I have never seen an airport lounge with a swimming pool . . .

. . . that overlooks the gates or one that is so close to the planes with very little separation.  It was a nice quiet spot to hang out for 3 hours, but we were so glad when our plane arrived too.  So we walked down to our gate and it was absolute mayhem . . . they were boarding two flights at the same gate and instead of using  the public address system they just stood by the door and yelled, "American Airlines flight to Austin this way!"  It was crazy.  It was good-bye Dominican Republic . . .

We settled into our seat on row 2, these seats are way better than the ones we had a few days ago.  Yes, I upgraded our seats thanks to points and it was worth every last mile.  Shortly after take off, dinner was served.  I am not much of an eat on the plane person but Colin sure is.  I had preordered one of each meal in hopes he would like one of them.  Mine was okay but pasta on a plane makes me feel so bloated.  Colin had something like beef short rib.

Colin enjoyed both of the meals while I just picked at the salads.  His salad was way better than mine!  We are both ready to be home and I can not wait for real brewed iced tea!

Dominican Republic day 3

Today is our last full day and my plan was to be outside all day!  I was up super early and claimed my chairs by 7:15am.  Pure bliss!

I had my set up with three chairs . . . two for me with one in shade and one in sun and a third in case the boy decided to leave the room and join me.  It was only 75 degrees and amazing!  Of course Bob and Sue are with me too.  Now let's talk about the beach situation.  I like clear water . . . nothing floating or sticking to me when I get in.  So apparently there is a crew that tries to get the beach clean early in the morning.  Honestly, I think it is pointless and feel bad for all the hard work they are doing.  So there are many men hand ranking the seaweed into piles.  Then a tractor comes along and collects it and then dumps into a truck that carries it away.  

This went on for hours . . . I really felt bad for the workers.  About the time many of the guest arrived a the beach the workers had left.  Since I was up so early, I decided to head to breakfast for a snack.  

Look at those perfectly poached eggs on top of avocado toast . . . how do they get them so white?  When I say I ate, read, napped all day I am not lying.  Only weird thing about being on the beach is there are no waves.  There is a barrier about a hundred yards from shore that goes from surface to sand.  It blocks the seaweed to an extent but also keeps out fish and waves.  Yesterday we walked out there and the water was clear and only chest high.  At first we thought it was a sandbar until we arrived there.  After breakfast, it was back to the beach.   I have enjoyed just sitting around doing very little while reading the adventures of Bob and Sue.  Colin decided to join me for lunch which was nice.  It was back to the beach and pool to enjoy the cooler weather.  We had more beach and pool time before retiring to the room to enjoy our pool and a nap too.

We had dinner at Noodle & Thread which I really think the décor was fun.

The on the house appetizers were yummy too . . . it is all free so it sort of made me laugh that they mentioned they were on the house.

Colin decided he wanted onion soup so back to Brando's for a late night snack.  As we were walking back to the room a storm rolled in causing the power to go off for a bit.  Thankfully it came back on so we could pack for our departure tomorrow.