PANAMA CANAL Cruise 2019
A nice cruise that covered five countries Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Mexico plus of course the USA. The transit through the Panama Canal was somewhat slow and boring due partly to the huge size of the ship which didn't really provide an intimate experience of moving through a series of lock gates. We had a variety of towns and wildlife including a wonderful whale watching experience in Mexico. I hope you will enjoy my record of the voyage.
SLIDESHOWS (Click on each main photo to play the sequence)
HALLANDALE BEACH, MIAMI
(1 night stay pre-cruise)
CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA
A visit to the delightful Old Town.
A visit to the delightful Old Town.
PANAMA CANAL
The new locks at the Panama Canal were designed to cope with the giant ships of today. There are 2 sets of locks (a set of three at each end) which lead to an artificial lake (Gatun Lake) in between. Going through the canal takes all day and proceeding through the lock gates is a very slow process (45 minutes per individual lock). At the Pacific side we took a tour back to the Caribbean side locks and then on a small boat to see the wildlife on Lake Gatun.
COSTA RICA - TARCOLES RIVER CROCODILE & BIRD WATCHING
We love Costa Rica and took advantage of the cruise to repeat a trip to the superb Tarcoles River to view American Crocodiles and superb birdlife.
SEABIRDS
I spent a while trying to photograph Brown Bboobys from the ship at sea. Not as easy as you might think !
NICARAGUA - GRANADA
Nicaragua looks and feels very similar to Costa Rica. We made a trip to the pretty small city of Granada which is located on the shore of Lake Nicaragua.We visited a small museum, went for a carriage ride, sailed around the small islets on the lake and went for lunch near the city square.
Nicaragua looks and feels very similar to Costa Rica. We made a trip to the pretty small city of Granada which is located on the shore of Lake Nicaragua.We visited a small museum, went for a carriage ride, sailed around the small islets on the lake and went for lunch near the city square.
MEXICO - HUATULCO
A pretty little Mexican port. We decided to go visit a crocodile sanctuary which was a bit of a disappointment, but you can't win them all !
A pretty little Mexican port. We decided to go visit a crocodile sanctuary which was a bit of a disappointment, but you can't win them all !
MEXICO - PUERTO VALLARTA
This port is famous for its whale watching, so that is what we did and were not disappointed. As you can see from the photos, humpback mothers and calves come here to use the bay as a nursery to teach their young how to survive. Interestingly, the females inject milk into their calf - the calf does not suck like a normal mammal. While they are there males follow them and jostle for position to mate with the mother, jumping out of the water in the process.
This port is famous for its whale watching, so that is what we did and were not disappointed. As you can see from the photos, humpback mothers and calves come here to use the bay as a nursery to teach their young how to survive. Interestingly, the females inject milk into their calf - the calf does not suck like a normal mammal. While they are there males follow them and jostle for position to mate with the mother, jumping out of the water in the process.
LOS ANGELES - VENICE BEACH
When we left the ship, we took a morning tour of Venice Beach and Santa Monica.
When we left the ship, we took a morning tour of Venice Beach and Santa Monica.
LOS ANGELES - SANTA MONICA
Santa Monica is quieter than Venice Beach and less brash, more laid back. The big attraction is the pier.
Santa Monica is quieter than Venice Beach and less brash, more laid back. The big attraction is the pier.