ITINERARY Los Angeles At sea 3 days Huatulco Puerto Quetzal Puerto Corinto Puntarenas At sea 1 day Panama Canal Cartagena Aruba At sea 1 day Ocho Rios At sea 1 day Fort Lauderdale

Our Panama Canal Cruise  during February / March 2008 aboard the Island Princess was a wonderful holiday and a great success. We boarded the cruise ship at Los Angeles and after one night at sea, we were able to relax and enjoy hot sunny days right through the cruise to Fort Lauderdale.
The Island Princess is described  as "a beautiful cruise ship" and we would agree, our fully equipped  stateroom on Caribe deck 10 was very comfortable and with a large balcony it suited our holiday needs. The cruise ship from bow to stern offerers American style 5-star luxury, it boosts a dazzling array of onboard activities, comfortable theatres, lounges, and sumptuous cuisine.
The 8 hour passage through the Panama Canal was an experience that cannot be repeated on any other cruise itinerary. The day started (for many passengers) with a Champagne breakfast on their balcony.  Throughout the ship, there was excitement and expectation with passengers waving from the ships decks to sightseers on the docks.
The canal is considered to be the eighth wonder of the world and  it took 400 years to build, it was massive engineering achievement. The huge locks raise and lower ships 26 meters from sea level to the man made Gatun Lake. The tallest and heaviest miter gates are at the entrance to the Miraflores Locks, they are 25 meters high and weigh 730 tons each. 

My wife Usula and I enjoying
our champagne

THuatulco - Mexico                                                                                                                                                    Huatulco was our first port of call and we were ready to go ashore, it is a beautiful location and is considered to be "a place close to paradise". It is surrounded by 36 golden-sand beaches with crystalline waters and coral reefs . Inland, the coast line is carpeted with rain forest and coffee plantations.                                                                                                                                                               hi                                               Click HERE for more Photographs                                        "Inset Box".

Puerto Quetzal - Guatemala Guatemala boasts 37 volcanoes and is well known for the colonial city of Antigua. Ursula striking a bargain. Ursula with our friend Ray from Newcastle, we met him in 2007 on a Caribbean cruise. Ray joined up with us again for this cruise, we enjoy his company and we all had a good time.

Porto Corinto                       Puntarenas Nicaragua                                        Costa Rica

 

 
            

Cartagena - Colombia Left - The photograph show the Fort of San Felipe, constructed in the 17th century to defend the city. Center -The photograph show tunnels under the Fort, where the military waited, pending attack. Right - Cartagena port market. his is an example of an "Inset Box".

Dinner Gallery Top photograph show our dinner table companions, we all got on well and enjoyed our meals together. Back Row: Bob,Lynn,Ursula.Ray, Me & Dorothy. Front Row: Jeannie, George & Ken

Aruba  Aruba is a small island, it is only 20 miles long and 6 miles wide. Its beaches are amongest the best in the Caribbean. Below: Ray being dump by a wave whilst snorkeling from Boca Catalina Beach and Palm Beach, the most famous beach in Aruba

                                     Time at Sea

When the Island Princess was at sea we spent most of our day on the Sun Deck, stretched out relaxing
under the warm sun. We enjoyed the Band playing topical music, the poolside displays , frequent dips into the pool and  the refreshing drinks. The ship’s daily activity programme was excellent and there was always something for us to participate in .
The evenings was to be looked forward to, at dinner we shared a table with guests from the USA, we got on well together, the food was wonderful and it was a very enjoyable occasion.
After dinner there was much entertainment, but invariably we would watch the excellent live shows in the comfortable Princess Theatre, after the shows we would end the evening with discussion and a night cap in one of the many bars.








                                                                                                           

Click image to see video of the canal.                             Click HERE for photo gallery.
                                                                                         Click on photo to enlarge or select Sideshow.