2015 Christmas Cruise, Day 11

Wednesday, December 30th.

Today was the day we have been waiting for.  Past cruisers say that the Panama Canal is an engineering masterpiece and a wonderful cruise experience.  We certainly found this to be true.

There were fewer organized activities today as most passengers wanted to watch the transit.  A reason we get a balcony is to enjoy the views from the comfort of our room.  But to really enjoy the canal, one has to observe the locks in action, watching the gates open and close, and the locks fill or empty their water.  We started with a very early breakfast (can you say 5 am is early?). 

Sunrise over the Pacific Ocean

Early morning on the Promenade deck

We then made our way to the 7th deck, or the Promenade deck, the lowest deck that would allow us to watch the operations of the locks.  We also chose to station ourselves on the starboard side so we could see the LDS Panama temple.  It was very close to the canal and beautiful.  Yep, we see them everywhere!  

Panama City LDS Temple seen from the Panama Canal

Mules that guide the ships along the Canal

Locks of the Panama Canal

Locks of the Panama Canal, allowing the ship to go up in elevation

Mules working hard

Lots of greetings from the workers

A new visitors center/museum is ready to open

First lock of the Panama Canal

Original bridge cantilevered out over the canal when needed.

One of the locks was undergoing maintenance and as a result traffic along the canal was very light, about 1/2 of what it normally was.  Cruise ships receive priority in transit.  It was interesting to note that the cost of transit for our ship was based on the number of passengers, which cost the ship about $220,000.  We also saw the new locks which should be open very soon.  So far no cruise lines have indicated they will be using them.  It is also interesting to note the Chinese are planning a new canal in Nicaragua that will allow the China-max ships to pass (ships even bigger than the Panamax ships, those build specifically with the canal dimensions in mind).

Lots of ships transit the canal

Kent on the Balcony on the Panama Canal

Lock undergoing maintenance

Locks are massive

2 sides of the lock allows flow both ways (most of the time)

Double locks allow for more efficient operations

Amazing to think the Canal is over 100 years old

The official logo of the Panama Canal

The original canal, as started by the French

Speaking of food, we have to say that we enjoyed Princess food most of the time.  There was a few duds along the way.  Our breakfast usually included fresh fruit, bacon, potato paddies, yogurt, pastries, and eggs, even made to order.  Water is gathered from the sea and then treated.  It is actually pretty good.  Our room steward would leave us with a fresh bucket of ice each day, allowing us to have ice water, or add Kool-Aid to it.

Our alternative to soda

Today we also began a transition from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. We found the waters very rough as we hit the Atlantic. In fact, it was the roughest waters we experienced on this cruise and pretty closest to the worst we have ever experienced.

Its official!

Ships log: At 0547 we contacted Flamenco Signal Station and confirmed our ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) at the pilot station and our transit number for the day N15Z.  At 0647 we embarked the local pilots and the Canal Inspectors to inspect our vessel prior to our transit.  At 0710 we enter the Panama Canal and at 0739 passed under the Bridge of Americas.  25 Marinos along with 3 more pilots jointed the ship at 0745 to make the mules fast and assist with our entry into the locks.  At 0821 our bow was in line with the center wall of the first set of locks.  At 0844 Island Princess entered the first lock: Miraflores.  At 1114 the vessel was inside the Pedro Miguel Locks and at 1147 the Marinos disembarked after completion of our accent of Pedro Miguel Locks.  Noon position: Panama Canal (Northbound).  Temperature: 31°C (88°F).  Wind Northerly force 5.  Barometer 1009.5 and cloudy skies.  During the early afternoon we transited the Galliard Cut and passed through the town of Gamboa before making our way through Gatun Lake.  At 1414.25 Marinos embarked the ship for our final set of locks.  At 1516 we entered Gatun Locks and began the descent back to sea level.  At 1640 the pilots and Marinos disembarked and shortly after we exited the breakwater at Cristobal, this marked our entry into the Caribbean Sea.  An Easterly course was set overnight at full speed towards Cartagena.