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!

Cruising to Alaska in August 2024

Glacier on the Inside Passage of Glacier Bay

August, with temperatures sweltering in Texas, it's a great time for a cruise to someplace cool.

Our trip to Alaska started with a flight from Dallas to Seattle. The flight would have been better if my window shade had worked. Sadly, flying isn't what it used to be. Most passengers keep their window shade down during the entire flight, making it dark and dreary in the cabin. Are electronic devices more fascinating than the view from 30,000 feet? Not for me.

We spent the night at the Westin, Downtown after a car ride from the airport. The trip to the hotel was eye-opening. I'd heard about the "housing challenges" but wasn't prepared for the number of seemingly unhoused people lurking in doorways, walking aimlessly about and hanging around the area. It was enough to make me stay inside the hotel.

But we were pleased to arrive safely at the port where 3 cruise ships were disembarking. The entire process to offload and embark thousands of people would rival the best days of theme park guest management. One particular lady, Bonnie, made sure people didn't hang out in the wrong areas or wait for ride shares where passengers were waiting to get onboard. We watched her in action for over an hour. At the end of our wait, she came over and gave me an unexpected hug. That was nice. We also met a drug-sniffing dog whose tail never stopped wagging. Behind us in line was a family of 5 with 3 teenage boys who were so well-mannered it was refreshing to see. We ran into the Wilsons several times on board, at meals and even shopping in Ketchikan.

Food onboard was spectacular, particularly breakfast at The Catch by Rudi where we met another couple and enjoyed talking over French toast, eggs and a fruit plate for my hubby. We ate there for a specialty dinner also, and wow! The service was amazing, the food was more than plentiful and way too much for us to finish. My Dover sole was deboned at the table with expertise by our waiter, Virgilio, with a nice visit by the Maître d, Johannes who was incredibly personable and a lot of fun.

The ports of Juneau and Skagway were not easily accessible for us. Due to recent damage to the port, a tender boat ride was necessary to get ashore. With the brisk wind and splashing seas, we opted to stay on board, warm and dry. We did make if off the ship for one port, Ketchikan. With an average rainfall of 270 days per year, we were fortunate to enjoy a sunny day with mild temps in the high 60s.

Thankfully, our trip was a couple of weeks before the devastating landslide that damaged property and took lives. A sad outcome in a breathtakingly beautiful place.

Despite the fun, food and friends we enjoyed, a cold cruise would not be the top choice for our next adventure. We were raised in tropical climates and found the temps a bit too brisk for us.

Onward, to the Caribbean in October.