Finally...the Panama Canal!

It seems I've been planning for the Panama Canal cruise for so long.  Well 18 months to be exact.  It felt so far away but as time always does, it ticked away until time to go.  This cruise was another solo group cruise which means I knew several on the cruise....and we got some great benefits for free...including free drinks, tips, and the added gratuities.  This time, I invited Uncle John to join me.  We had solo cabins which are about 100 sq feet total but have private bathrooms.  We planned to have connecting rooms which seemed to work out perfect.  As solo travelers, we also had access to the solo lounge which is like a big living room with snacks and such.

We decided to fly to Los Angeles the evening before.  We stayed in the Doubletree in San Pedro which was nice and right on the marina.  At 5 am, I saw our ship come into shore.  It was all very exciting.

We were on the brand new Norwegian Bliss that came out this Spring.  In fact, I saw it in Manhattan when I docked after Bermuda in May.  I couldn't wait to check it out and sail on her.

Our ship is the golden lights on the left.

Happy Hour at the hotel

The marina view from our room

We headed over to the pier in the morning.  As a handicapped person, I get to board as one of the first groups which was fabulous.  We got on the boat by about 11:00 and had a cocktail before meeting  my friend Maureen and her friend Joni for lunch.

Our boat

Waiting for our room from the Waterfront area

Putting that drink package to work

Before we knew it, we were checked into our room, unpacked, and ready to watch us sail away.  We decided to go find out group in H2O which is an outside area on the back top of the ship.

Sail away Margaritas!

Mr.  Hot Legs??  We weren't the only ones ready for 2 weeks of fun.

This is the studio cabin.  Where I am standing is the
toilet on one side and the shower on the other.

Our first stop was Ensenada.  Neither of us were thrilled about this stop but we did decide to get off and check it out.  John of course bought some leather.  I bought a mini sombrero for Bella.

We hopped back on the ship and decided to take advantage of our treat....the thermal spa package.  We pre-purchased access to the thermal spa as a way to avoid the crowds and have some down time away from the other 4200 passengers.  They have all kinds of pools, salt room, saunas, etc.  My personal favorite is the heated loungers.

Ensenada from the heated lounger. 

THIS is why I still work (the heated lounger)

Gorgeous sunset  while at sea

We had a sea day or two (I lost track) before we landed in Mazatlan.  That was exciting as it is a new stop for me.  Our ship is so large, we  had to come into shipping piers for most our stops which wasn't very picturesque but nice to hit land once in awhile.  I didn't get off the ship as it was too difficult but John did and of course, did a bit more shopping.

Corona Factory

Our next stop was Guatemala.  I didn't get off here either and I understand I didn't miss a thing.  People were very unimpressed with that stop.

A few more (or one) sea days and we landed in Costa Rica.  John and I made plans to go do an aerial tram in the rain forest.

River with lots of crocodiles

Costa Rican lunch??

Our boat as we make our way around the shipping containers

The next adventure was to go through the Panama Canal.  I had attended a few seminars on the Panama Canal. I was beyond excited as was everyone else on the ship.  We were scheduled to go under the "Bridges to the Americas" at 3:30.  We got up at 3:00 and headed up to watch only to find out we did it at 2:30 am.  So we waited and waited and waited. It takes about 8 hours to go through the canal.  We went through the new locks which accommodate large ships.  In fact, our ship is the largest ship that has gone through the canal.  I could guess there was about 3-4 feet on each side of the ship as we went through.  It was surreal.

Going from the Pacific to Atlanta, you go through 3 locks up.  Then to the "cut" and a large lake.  Then down 3 locks to the Atlantic side.

Waiting to get going

Surreal

Almost impossible to see through all the people but you can see the 3 locks.
There is a ship in front of us in the last lock.

Away we go to the second lock

You can see how far up we have to go to the next lock (pool)

These green things are the locks.  They go across the waterway and block
the water so the elevation can change.  Each lock has 2 gates just in case.

The lock retracting.  See how the water is all the same level now?

This is inside the second set of lock chambers.  We  start high and lose water
to move forward.  We were at the level of that railing.

It was raining but here is the control center for the second set of locks

New bridge they are building on the Atlantic side.  Scheduled to be done 2019?

I thought I would be able to feel the ship rising and lowering but you really couldn't.  And I was so dang tired, I had to go take a nap while we went through the cut.  It really was for the safety of all those on board.  Tired Alex is not a good thing for anyone around.

The next day, we were in Cartegena, Columbia.  John and I had planned separate tours.  He did a walking tour.  I did a Hop on Hop off bus (which I planned to just stay on).  I was so glad I got to see Columbia even though it was from the bus.

The walled city

The clock tower

Vendor selling hats

Ode to Havana and loyalty to Castro.

The fort and flag

Love the Ocean

Armed men with machine guns on the street

The walled city

Gorgeous architecture

Cartegena as we sail away

Both John and I had trouble with our tours in Cartegena.  John lost his tour.  I didn't hear to get off the bus and had to do an extra circle and then rush back to the ship before last call.  We were both so happy to be back on the boat where people spoke English.  Columbia was beautiful but it was clear they didn't really care for Americans.  English was spoken very little and difficult to understand.  They loved our tourist dollars though.

We had 2 sea days (this I know for sure) to Miami.  It was tough to believe we had been gone for 2 weeks.  And we were landing on the complete opposite side of the US.  And we went to such exotic crazy places.  We teased that we did the whole "Drug Cartel Cruise" because every stop is known for their drug cartel and aren't especially friendly to America. But we made it safe and what a trip of a lifetime!