Cruising the Panama Canal December 2023

 

The best trip of our ongoing cruising adventures was our trip to Panama in December of 2023. We were aboard the Ruby Princess, which although it is an older ship, has a charm and appeal that can't be matched by the huge megaships in the fleet.

What made the trip memorable? First of all, our cabin was spectacular. We opted for a full penthouse suite which, if you ever get the chance, is a must-try. As "sweeties" so-named by the Events and Guest Services supervisor, Tina DeBarros, we were spoiled beyond belief.

Embroidered house slippers and luxury robes, umbrellas and a fruit basket waited to welcome us to the room. The towels were extravagantly thick and felt new. The bathroom was beautiful with a full tub and a glass-enclosed shower along with a separate toilet room.

Our balcony was twice the normal size of our mini-suites and the closet space was extravagant. Topping it off, the service by our room steward was impeccable.

But, before arriving at the ship, we were invited to a special gathering at the headquarters in Ft. Lauderdale with a pre-boarding photo session and a spread of delectable food treats.

Staff members answered questions and made dinner bookings for us at specialty restaurants onboard. They labeled our luggage and whisked it off to be taken directly to our rooms.

Before a transport van took us directly to the secret entrance for embarkation with NO waiting in line, we had a fascinating conversation with Tina whose insight about the ports we were to visit was truly enlightening.

Our daily breakfast location was at Sabatini's, reserved for suite holders and Elite level passengers. One morning, I ordered the traditional eggs Benedict meal and it was fabulous.

Throughout the cruise we would run across Tina who never failed to recognize us and give a huge hug. She photobombed our breakfast pics, taken by the Maître D,  Ivan, whose sense of humor had us in stitches.

The ten-day cruise took us to Jamaica, Cartagena Columbia, the Panama Canal, Costa Rica and the Cayman Islands. My favorite port was Costa Rica where the tourist shops at the end of the pier offered native artwork, beautiful paintings on wood, hand-made leather items and the usual assortment of t-shirts, hats and carry-all bags.

The nearby shopping area in Jamaica was the only area we explored while there. The merchandise was a bit overpriced, (t-shirts for $38) but if you compared from shop-to-shop you could get a few deals.

Jamaica

Cartagena Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas

In Cartagena Columbia, we took a bus tour of the city that stopped at a fort for 10 minutes to explore the area. A bit longer would have been nice.

Flamenco Dancers

We traveled on to a luxurious residence to watch a performance by Flamenco dancers, onward to a cathedral and then to a museum. The outdoor heat was nearly unbearable but the air-conditioned bus trip was well worth the short-lived discomfort.

The tour ended at a souvenir shop where we found magnets, hats and other gift items.

The walk-through on the way back to the ship took us through a parrot and flamingo filled garden where the birds roamed free. It was beautiful.

The actual transit through the Panama Canal was an experience in itself. We stood on the bow of the ship and watched as the locks opened and closed allowing the ship passage through the narrow canal. It was the experience of a lifetime.

Panama Canal Ship Locks

But the very best part of the trip was being with our friends, Renee and Keith whom we'd met on a trip in April when we visited Cozumel, Costa Maya and Roatan. Our foursome managed to stay awake late enough to close down the dance party in the Piazza when the classic rock band  played.

We enjoyed great food, entertainment, tours, games, invitations to the Captain's party, a private Concierge Lounge a few doors down from our room where we could get coffee in the morning, snacks and drinks at happy hours. It was a fantastic voyage!

The Carriage Driver 3 - Book Review

A collection of uplifting stories where the recently departed spend eternity in the destination of their choice. The Carriage Driver guides the deceased to an ideal future where artists get to paint, compose, sing with the greats. Dancers find new steady legs and music. It's Heaven that we would hope to find.

Have you ever wondered what Heaven would be like? This collection offers glimpses into the realm of possibilities. If presented with an eternal hereafter, the reader must only choose their destination in which to live out their dreams.

These stories are about people who've demonstrated a spirit of love and caring during their lives. For these folks who've crossed over, a better place awaits that matches their talents, interests and desires. For those that promote evil and nefarious deeds, there also awaits a destiny. That is, if you believe The Promise.

This book is the third in a series of short stories about the afterlife by Fiction Award-winning author Michael Friedman. In the Carriage Driver³, the author continues to share glimpses into what might await us in our next life among the stars.

These stories tend to reassure readers about the fate of loved ones who've journeyed to the other side. This collection of stories is delightful and poignant, told by a master at telling tales.

What Happens to Our Pets?

The book opens with a story about a man and his six-year-old Labrador Retriever, who, after losing her master, makes a new acquaintance and finds a new life here on Earth. For pet lovers that wonder what will happen to our pets should we depart first, it gives a sense of peace that all will be well with the beloved creatures we leave behind.

Those guided by the carriage driver and his noble stead will make the journey safely and in good company.

Through these stories we meet Nichole, Ann, Magruder, Betty Lou, John, Annie, Paula; professors, farmers, hippies, pilots and soldiers, children, mothers, brothers and blue-bellied warriors. Some have seen nearly a century of life, balancing their toils with joys, dancing their way across the years while others are plucked early from life by the ruthless, murderous spawn of Satan.

The characters are from Texas, Florida, New Concord, Pakistan, north, south, east and west. They've explored the Euphrates and the deserts. They represent people from every walk of life. Each story has a character with which we can feel a bond, a familiarity and presence of someone we knew or held close.

In one story, the reader meets a character quick with a practiced smile and devilish blue eyes whose penchant and passion included illegitimate schemes for making money. It seems every family has one of these characters that operate the "small cons, even on members of his family."

This particular stocky man, fond of wearing black and tons of gold jewelry, thinks he is in charge of the destiny of others even in the afterlife.

"There would be hell to pay," and his self-assured promises were put to the test when Dottie’s name appeared in “the book.”

A Woman Like Me

Anyone familiar with Goth or Emo will recognize Lisa whose wardrobe consists of a black leather jacket with silver studs, heavy black boots and layers of mask applied over many years. She wears layers of darkness to distance herself and to pull “the cloak of fear” about her.

After she manages to escape on Nuelle the horse, she's comforted by the oracles that take her under their wings. Later, at Elysian fields, they render aid along with a heavy dose of much-needed healing.

Louise

The story of Louise tugs hard on my heart strings as it reminds me of my mother's sister, my maiden aunt whose life was one of gentle simplicity, kindness and charitable actions. In the story, Louise transcends a life where her mobility has been restricted by age. After a life of active sports, dancing and grace, she's confined to a wheelchair. Her vision's been taken away by age-related Macular Degeneration, and at the age of ninety-seven, she's removed from even the simple pleasures of reading, playing bingo or watching her favorite game shows on TV.

Her transition to the afterlife includes a brand new pair of emerald green dancing shoes fit for a ballroom. Like Cinderella, she's transformed from her former diminished self into a new and enchanting world of music and song awaking in a great hall filled with handsome and willing dance partners where they twirl merrily under a galaxy of glittering stars.

The Legend

This story highlights a young musical singer and performer, Chuck Berry, who drew hordes of youth out on the dance floor bopping to his tunes. He brought generations of teenagers together.

Every day in the news we hear of the death of one of our childhood stars or musical heroes. From Elvis, his daughter Priscilla, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, and Tom Petty, the stars are falling from the sky like raindrops.

In this fictional story, when Chuck Berry's time came to take the ride to the stage in the sky he reminisced with the driver about meeting Elvis, and how the influence of the Beatles, Marvin Gaye and Otis changed the world.

Captain Griffin Chaffey and his trusty steed, Nuelle, travel the skies, transporting dearly departed souls to the destination of their wishes, sharing an apple and small talk while we eavesdrop into their journeys, gleaning a fragment of hope and solace in our hours of need.

For me, this book was a great comfort when loved ones passed away, something that as we grow older, seems to happen with regularity. With this sobering realization comes the importance of making the most out of life and poses the question, "Who goes to Heaven and why?"

It's a book that offers comfort and hope, a book to be shared and treasured. It's a book that explores “our deepest desires for an afterlife free from the stress and the constraints of our earthly bonds.”

I highly recommend keeping a copy of this book on the nightstand to read during sleepless nights.