Countdown to Panama

Panama Here we Come

Some of you may know that we had booked the Panama again, sailing from Vancouver to San Francisco to Fort Lauderdale, 17 nights in total. Our friends Shelly and Rob had booked this cruise way back in February, so when we decided to book this trip in August, then we thought, lets keep it a secret from them and surprise them.

Shelly and Rob

The first month went by and I was good at keeping the secret but I kept slipping up, using words like when "we" sail, instead of when "you" sail.... anyways they finally figured it out and came right out and said "are you sailing with us" and I couldn't lie straight to their face so we told them.


Now we did this cruise last year, and the only minor change is it visits Cabo San Lucas instead of Acapulco and it doesn't visit Huatulco at all -- too bad we love Huatulco and will miss seeing our friends.



So now we are busy planning, currently our plans for each port is as follows:

San Francisco, meeting with past cruise friends for lunch then stocking up on some wine
Cabo San Lucas, take tender and enjoy a yummy Mexican Meal and visit Starbucks
Costa Rica, not sure would love to go zip lining but we really should see some of the area so may just get off the ship and hire a tour guide
Panama, we are doing a tour with My Friend Mario again, this time we are visiting the Embera Indian Village
Cartegana, taking taxi to old town again and walking around and enjoying another local meal
Aruba, well we have been here quite a few times and really we are not here that long so I am for just staying on the ship and relaxing

We fly home from Fort Lauderdale, got a GREAT deal flying home to Vancouver for $220 that is almost half what we paid last year.

I will be blogging while on board so stay tuned for our day to day adventure on board the Island Princess.

October 4 - Vancouver - All Aboard

Today is the day! We board the Island Princess for our second cruise thru the Panama Canal.





Again we booked thru Best Prices Cruises, and again their price just couldn't be beat. I can highly recommend them. As you read prior, this cruise was booked sort of last minute. Two months ago as we relaxed on our weekend I went and checked the prices and the cost for flight home and well we felt we couldn't pass it up. We booked in a lowest balcony guarantee as that was all we could get. About five days before sailing we got a cabin assignment, we were upgraded from a BG category to a BD category, our cabin was B716.

Joining us on this cruise will be Shelley and Rob, and their friends Laurie and Jim.

Rob arranged a limo to drive us all to the pier. We were picked up shortly after noon and got to the pier around 1 pm.

After our last experience at the pier in May and the long line ups, we knew this time would be different as the Island was the only ship in port. From the minute we got out of the limo to when we got into our room I think it was only 15 minutes!


Since this cruise was sold as the entire 17 day voyage to Fort Lauderdale, but also as a two day repositioning cruise to San Francisco many were just doing the two day port. I would guess that about 75% were doing just the two day portion and therefore luggage was minimal and that allowed our bags to be delivered in RECORD time to our cabin. We were maybe in our cabin for 20 minutes when our bags arrived. We quickly unpacked and then went for something to eat.

Bernie remembered as he passed the ice cream bar that ice cream is free, so here he is getting his first of many ice cream cones.

Up to the Sun deck to watch the sailaway. The band Revolution was playing and the dancing began.

We ordered our drinks and took in the beautiful scenery.

This cruise will take us to San Francisco, Cabo San Lucas, Puntarenas Costa Rica, Panama City, Panama Canal, Cartegena Columbia and Aruba then back to Fort Lauderdale where we will fly home. Lots of relaxing sea days to spend with friends and my honey.

This waiter was hilarious, he comes out spinning the tray and showing off his talents, only to discover that it is glued onto the tray. The weather was a little cool, you definitely needed a sweater, but then again it is October.

But check out these young girls in the whirlpool. The other pool had a guy in it who had a beer in one hand and a ice cream cone in the other. Now that is dedication.

That night we decide to head to dinner in the dining room, but check out this sunset first.

We head down to the dining room for 7:30 but the line up is so long for anytime. I think everyone who is doing the two day cruise has anytime dining. Bernie tells us to hold on as he heads up to the traditional dining room. He comes back and says we are in for 8 as there are tables available. While dining we see a retired driver at the table next to us, Al and his wife are doing the entire 17 days too.

It is an early night for us and we head back to the cabin around 10:30 and hit the hay, dreaming of the next 16 days of pure bliss.