Disneyzellin through the Canal,12/9 - 12/23 the Wonder Final Chapter updated 8/21/13!

[Kirbo]

I don't think I mentioned this before, but one of the things I like about your TRs is that you and your wife obviously enjoy each other. So nice to see a couple that has been together for a while that still likes one another and still seem to have that zing. Sorry, that was totally off topic

 

[dededisney]

Nice update....cool stuff. Would the bigger ships like the Dream be able to squeeze their fat aft through there?

No, the Dream and Fantasy cannot fit through the locks right now, but as soon as the new locks are completed, they will be able to...the retired pilot boat captain that gave talks about the canal said the biggest ship to go through the canal was a U.S. military ship and it had just a few inches of clearance in the locks, where as the Wonder had about two feet.

 

[dededisney]

I don't think I mentioned this before, but one of the things I like about your TRs is that you and your wife obviously enjoy each other. So nice to see a couple that has been together for a while that still likes one another and still seem to have that zing. Sorry, that was totally off topic

Yes, we really do enjoy each other's company, even after almost 18 years of marriage I am lucky he puts up with me!

 

[davidls]

I've been following your trip report. Very well written Drew. I've been following it because DW and I have wanted to do a Panama Canal crossing for few years now. Well we finally booked the Eastbound Panama Canal crossing for 2014. We have a ways to go for ours. But your report is keeping us entertained and excited about our up coming cruise. Keep up the good work Drew!!!

 

[Kirbo]

Yes, we really do enjoy each other's company, even after almost 18 years of marriage I am lucky he puts up with me!

And I bet he's lucky you put up with him. Win/win

 

[DisneyZell]

Nice update....cool stuff. Would the bigger ships like the Dream be able to squeeze their fat aft through there?

AS DW said, no, they would not fit. The Wonder and Magic are what they can Panamac ships..ie. exactly the right size to go through. Apparently Ship Builders like to have their own language!

Great update (other than you all getting ). Fun pictures and the damage pictures

I know, right? I assume they turn them into insurance and get paid back for the repairs. Not sure how much damage a ship can take before it has to be pulled out of the water.

I don't think I mentioned this before, but one of the things I like about your TRs is that you and your wife obviously enjoy each other. So nice to see a couple that has been together for a while that still likes one another and still seem to have that zing. Sorry, that was totally off topic

Thanks, yes we do manage to get along most of the time. We fight as normal couples do, particularly when DW doesn't see things my way. But really we do have a great relationship and see most of the things eye to eye which makes a huge difference I think!

Yes, we really do enjoy each other's company, even after almost 18 years of marriage I am lucky he puts up with me!

Yup, you are lucky.


ha! just kidding. DW puts up with alot more from me than I do from her!

I've been following your trip report. Very well written Drew. I've been following it because DW and I have wanted to do a Panama Canal crossing for few years now. Well we finally booked the Eastbound Panama Canal crossing for 2014. We have a ways to go for ours. But your report is keeping us entertained and excited about our up coming cruise. Keep up the good work Drew!!!

Thanks for joining in. Now I'm Jealous that you have that to look forward to. It is a great experience...and now any cruises shorter than 14 nights will be hard for me!

And I bet he's lucky you put up with him. Win/win

yes...yes...I am!

 

[Linda67]

Wow, I loved seeing the photos of the ship going through the canal

I knew it was a tight squeeze but not that tight!

I feel sorry for the "driver" when he or she heard that scrape along the side

 

[aan1701]

I remember going to see Captain Puckett on the 2011 WBPC. Someone asked him about damage. He said when dealing with Panamax ships, the ship company agrees to a certain amount of damage. What that is, he said did not know. Now that one scrape I am sure was not covered. That one looked bad.

Sent from my iPhone 5 using DISBoards

 

[Brixton]

Thanks for coming back to the canal!

Just sitting here in San Diego, living vicariously through your TR, 'til we leave for the WBPC in May.

Completely off topic...We recently moved here from Mid-Coast Maine, nice to see another couple representing New England on Funnel Vision

 

[dsnydaddy]

Hi Zell, just subscribing as I'm planning to also be on the 2014 WBPC.

Nicely written. I'm enjoying your report.

 

[mom24cuties]

We were also on this cruise and I love spotting my tall husband in the background of your photos. Thanks for your report!

 

[Grooovertoo]

Are we still stuck in the canal?

 

[MPS516]

You don't suppose DisneyZell went on another trip and left us hanging here in the Canal

 

[DisneyZell]

Wow, I loved seeing the photos of the ship going through the canal

I knew it was a tight squeeze but not that tight!

I feel sorry for the "driver" when he or she heard that scrape along the side

I know, right? can you imagine standing next to the captain...uh...that's just normal.

I remember going to see Captain Puckett on the 2011 WBPC. Someone asked him about damage. He said when dealing with Panamax ships, the ship company agrees to a certain amount of damage. What that is, he said did not know. Now that one scrape I am sure was not covered. That one looked bad.

Sent from my iPhone 5 using DISBoards

No idea..but yeah that one was pretty bad. And again being able to see us hit the side was a pretty interesting experience that you don't get often. We came close a few other times but I only saw us hit the once on that side (maybe we hit the other side, who knows!)

Thanks for coming back to the canal!

Just sitting here in San Diego, living vicariously through your TR, 'til we leave for the WBPC in May.

Completely off topic...We recently moved here from Mid-Coast Maine, nice to see another couple representing New England on Funnel Vision

Welcome! and sorry as you see I do leave people hanging from time to time. and yes, of course we had to represent our Patriots. Unfortunately they decided to not show up in the first half of this one...

Hi Zell, just subscribing as I'm planning to also be on the 2014 WBPC.

Nicely written. I'm enjoying your report.

thank you very much.

We were also on this cruise and I love spotting my tall husband in the background of your photos. Thanks for your report!

Which one??? I have seen myself once in a photo in someone else's report. pretty funny when that happens!

Are we still stuck in the canal?

having trouble getting out of the other side of the locks...

You don't suppose DisneyZell went on another trip and left us hanging here in the Canal

Ah I wish! No, life has just gotten in the way!

Sorry about that folks, next chapters coming up!

DZ

 

[DisneyZell]

Again I apologize for the amount of time that has passed since my last chapter. Unfortunately life does get in the way and my typing time suffers! Yikes!

So back on the ship...we made it through the canal....but unfortunately DW is down for the count. She got walloped by something...headache, not feeling well in general. To be honest I wasn't feeling 100%...which I cannot tell if it was sympathy sickness (yeah...If you have not figured it out I'm kinda loony like that. If I know someone is not feeling well I will frequently end up feeling the same way. It's annoying as all get-out! ) or really sick.

So while we pulled into Cartagena (now Tuesday, December 18th), we didn't make it off the ship.

We did get a photo of me though. This was an interesting port as obviously they don't get alot of cruise ships...just alot of merchandise. So the port was not the nicest of places to be docked!

You could, however, see the city.

We did make it up to the pool for a little bit, DW tried to eat. I didn't have the non-eating issue. But for the most part it was hanging around in the room relaxing. I think I took 3 naps...which is why I think I did have a little bit of what DW had...as I don't normally do that. I'm lucky to take one nap a year!.

Tonight we were supposed to do Palo...but obviously with DW not feeling well that wasn't going to happen. So I cancelled that. They were very nice about it and offered to reschedule. As I had no idea if/when DW would feel better I declined. And you know what? I'm actually ok with that. I prefer Brunch anyway.

It was pirate night...but DW was still unable to come down to Dinner. I went down on my own though...everyone was very worried about DW. The food at dinner was the same...just ok like it had been. So I guess there is a consistency thing going on!

After dinner we both went to see Wreck-It-Ralph in the Walt Disney Theater. I really enjoyed this moving, DW thought it was pretty good. Kind of weird to be going to a cartoon movie without kids. yikes...we have become *those* Disney people!

After the movie we headed up to Deck 10 to watch the fireworks and a bit of the show.

As usual it was packed. I've seen this show alot...so no surprises there.

Cool shot of the funnel at night...

Mickey flying through the air!

It is hard to get pictures of fireworks...but I got a few..

and another one...

Then it was time for the Pirate Buffet. We figured we would go and see if anything looked interesting to DW.

Cool decorations

And fruit art

We got a turkey leg. yes I am a good looking guy while eating my big slab of turkey!

DW also picked up some nachos so she did end up eating a little bit. Neither of us got desert which is unusual...so clearly I was a little sick. Of course some say I'm very sick in the head which is a whole other issue.

That was it for the day...kind of boring I realize...but more to come soon. I leave you with a monkey...

Thanks for sticking around!

DZ

 

[DisneyZell]

This is getting redundant! I love days at sea...but from a TR perspective there just isn't much to tell so you get a bonus episode for today. Yes, yes, I am extremely nice, and incredibly close. Wait...no that's not it...ahem. Anyhooo...

DW still was crushed by whatever it was she had...so it was another day in bed reading and watching movies on the TV for her. For me I wandered the ship a bit, feeling better overall. Did some sitting on the comfy chairs by Cove Cafe...but the highlight of the day was a Magic Workshop with Scott Pepper. Zach and I went to that...and boy was that fun.

First we showed up with nothing when apparently we were supposed to have a deck of cards. I would guess this was written somewhere and that I just missed it...as that would be about standard for me. Luckily Zach had a couple of decks of cards back in his room so he dashed up to get them (I would dash but I'm getting old. He is 18, so very much still able to dash. If I dash I might break a hip.

This was one of my favorite things on the ship. Zach and I really enjoyed watching Scott do some more magic and teach us a few tricks to use on others. I have since dazzled and amazed many people with my tricks....cool stuff. I can't share with you the tricks as that would be breaking the magician's code. No...no...no, but again it was neat...except when you show skeptical people. what is wrong with you people that you have to question everything????

Scott Pepper showing us some tricks

Scott and Zach

DW made it to dinner though she still couldn't eat much. At least we were getting back to a bit of a normal routine, and it was good to see DW up and about. Don't get me wrong, I can certainly exist on my own, but everything is more fun when we are together...vs. going our own way. So it's like not having your right leg with you while you are walking...er....hopping along. You can get along without it but you'd rather not.

After dinner we changed and headed to the Walt Disney Theater to see the Crew talent show. While the show was ok....it felt very much to us like they were just trying to fill the time. They were too cheap to bring on additional entertainment so they needed to do something. I know some of the crew members worked very hard on their performances so I'm not trying to bring them down...but that is what it felt like.

Then it was off to bed for the sick woman and me...

maybe a turtle?

DZ

 

[Kirbo]

Thank you for the updates!

I'm sorry to hear about Mrs. DZ being sick, but glad that she seems to be on the mend in the last update.

 

[jstkpswimming]

Thanks for the update, DisneyZell!

I can't believe my PC cruise is only 32 days away! My, how time flies! Hopefully my time on the cruise won't fly by quite as fast...

 

[Grooovertoo]

Cool update! I can imagine this long of a cruise can start to ware on one after a bit. Too bad DW got sick, that is no fun at all.

 

[OrcaPotter]

Is it "wrong" to see an animated movie without children? One could say the same about a Disney cruise without kids! the western view of animation is that it is just for kids, while the rest of the world sees it as just another art form. Sorry, I'm sure you meant your comment to be lighthearted but it came across as a bit rude toward anyone who enjoys the art regardless of age.