There was a lot of information provided yesterday by various people that turned out not to be exactly accurate.
1) I had asked one of the managers of the Observation Lounge if the lounge would be open early because we had been told we were starting the locks at 0500. As it turned out when I attempted the lounge early, I was politely but firmly told by the young staffer in charge that the lounge was not open till 0500, like every other day. Please note that a lot of other cruisers besides me are routinely in the lounge before 0500.
2) See comment about locks above. In actuality, it might be accurate, or not just depending. In fact, all aboard time last night was 2230. When I got up early just in case, I have already mentioned the result of attempting to be comfortable in the lounge. Secondly, we vary quietly started sailing out of the dock right before 0400. Since the ship had been positioned facing the sea, this was a fairly easy and smooth operation.
So I am sitting at one of the outside tables on Deck 16. I am in easy reach of the side board where the 24 hour coffee service is provided and close to the Garden Cafe (buffet). The downside is a bit of buffeting from a breeze every time the door opens. I checked on Deck 17 – the deck with the running/walking track and great views as well as some more of the upper areas. I think I will just stay at my breezy table and wander up a deck if I really need it for photos. And, watching various people stumble out to grab coffee early, all I can do is shake my head at what people think is fine to wear in public…. I had been wondering why I hadn’t clearly see the Bridge of the Americas… Answer is that it doesn’t open for traffic till 0700….
We had cleared the first lock before 1000 and headed into the complex of estuaries, islands, water flows etc that make up the center of this north-south oriented piece of Panama. Learned a few interesting points as well. First, the Panama Canal Authority assigns a temporary letter/number designation to each ship. Odd numbers are North Bound, even numbers are sailing South. Next there is also a letter designation for the type of ship/cargo; So passenger vessels are designated differently from those carrying hazardous cargo. Which leaves me wondering what they do with the Carnival and Princess ships that go partway down the canal from the Caribbean and then head back toward Miami/FFL etc. Then I realized, watching a huge Carnival ship sitting in the outer portion of Gatun, that they don’t actually go through the lock, just go, hang out and return. Perhaps they tender people ashore to visit the Millefiorie Museum or an animal sanctuary? No Clue.
second lock was cleared by 1400 which was seriously earlier than scheduled but it worked. Then it was motor on toward Cartegena
Pictures are now following:
From the dock – you enter Panama City Bay, where we were in a holding pattern. – going under it
then you approach the locks. There are three locks at each end to take the ship up or down 26 meters. And apparently the cruise ships only transit during the day. I figure that is either because of passengers wanting to see things. Plus, if there is an accident, you really don’t want to be fishing thousands out of the alligator infested lake in the dark.
Looking along the port side of the ship as we are exiting the first lock you can see how little clearance there really is.
approaching the last set of locks…
while we are watching the locks – there are a ton of observers hanging out up on the side under a sun shield.
you can also see some of the buildings along the canal, controls, management, engineers and the like.
thus us one of the retaining pools helping recycle water so that inordinate amounts of water aren’t lost from the central lake (I heard 32,000 gallons for each ship that is cycled through)
And finally the bridge of the far side.
If you have made it this far, you can also admire Cornflower Blue , Owl Forest is the designer.
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