All Good Things Come To Those That Wait - A Pre-trip Report

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

I think our layover at JFK has just become a lot more pleasurable. We have a 5.5 hours layover at JFK, which is quite long. I know a good chunk of this will be taken up with immigration, customs and then going through security again. Still, we should still have plenty of time to kill. We had always planned to get a late lunch/ early dinner at JFK so that we can go straight to the hotel and straight to bed when we get to Miami. I had expected that we would end up with food court Chinese. Yesterday I was researching book shops at JFK. In the USA, the final book in the Kingdom Keepers series is coming out tomorrow. In the UK, it won't be out until 22nd May. I am hoping to get this while we are at JFK so that I can enjoy this during the cruise. While I was looking for book shops, I realized that there is a Bobby Van's Steakhouse in the terminal where we arrive and depart from. It is a little bit pricey, but that is to be expected for an airport and especially in New York. It will be nice to get a good steak almost as soon as we land in the USA. Corinna

cool re Kingdom keepers! Have to bag that myself in May!

 

[dolphingirl47]

Sounds like that could be a good layover. There's enough time to go get a few things done like shop and eat; but not too long that it becomes overly tedious.

I haven't picked up the Kingdom Keeper books yet. Are they good?

The Kingdom Keepers books are amazing. They are childrens' books, but I thoroughly enjoy them and some parts of them are quite dark and scary. The first four books are set at Walt Disney World. The 5th book starts out at Typhoon Lagoon and then moves to the Disney Dream. The 6th book is again set on the Disney Dream and the 7th and last book will be set at Disneyland.

When we did the Panama Canal cruise in 2011, Ridley Pearson was on the Wonder. This was his research trip for books 5 and 6 as the cruise this is set on is a Panama Canal cruise. He did a couple of lectures and also a book signing. This was one of the highlights of the cruise for me.

cool re Kingdom keepers! Have to bag that myself in May!

As I have said before, patience is not exactly my strength. When we come back in May, I will also be so busy with the trip report that it can be weeks until I pick up a book again.

Corinna

 

[tiggrbaby]

I only read the first one, but enjoyed it. changed the way I looked at IASW!

 

[dolphingirl47]

I only read the first one, but enjoyed it. changed the way I looked at IASW!

I can understand that. I feel much the same about Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin.

Corinna

 

[PrincessInOz]

Looks like I need to get me the Kingdom Keeper books. Great pic of you and Ridley Pearson.

 

[dolphingirl47]

This will be our second crossing of the Panama Canal and I can’t wait. This year is a rather special year for the Panama Canal as it is the 100th anniversary year. I am glad that we can do a Panama Canal cruise during this special year. We have done a westbound crossing in 2011 and I was hoping that I would be able to do an eastbound crossing, too. Unfortunately our plans to do so fell through last September and the timing of the eastbound Panama Canal cruise this year does not work for us. Still, I know that we will enjoy the westbound crossing.

This is going to be long day. The pilot and the line crews will get on the ship between 5:30 and 6:00 AM and we are planning to be up and about from this point forward. If I remember correctly, we crossed underneath the Bridge of the Americas about 12 hours later last time round. We based ourselves on deck 4 last time round and this is what we are planning to do this time, too. Most people tend to watch the crossing from decks 9 and 10 so it gets very crowded. I also much prefer to view from deck 4 as you are so much closer to the locks.











We had tea at Palo last time round and therefore were on deck 10 for two of the locks. I did not like this perspective at all. So this time we will firmly be based on deck 4. Last time round they have tables with tea, coffee, juice and pastries on all the open decks so we did not have to go very far to get a snack or something to drink. I hope they are doing the same this time round. In 2011, we had breakfast at Triton’s after the first set of locks and then tea at Palo later in the afternoon. They always do a barbeque on the crossing day. They did the same during our Tracy Arm day on the Alaska cruise last year and I just quickly went up to deck 9 to get some lunch and then returned the empty plates when we were done. It was rather nice to have a “picnic” surrounded by nice scenery.

The crossing day was rather festive. There were photographers around the ship all day taking photos and they also went on land at some of the locks to take photos from a different perspective. There were characters roaming the open decks throughout the crossing. We also got quite a welcome when we passed one of the visitor centres with a huge amount of people having come to see the Wonder. I don’t think we will get quite such a reception this time round, as we will cross the canal on a weekday.



One thing I am particularly looking forward to. During one of the lectures we were told that Gatun Lake has the clearest water of any body of water in the world. Unfortunately shortly before we went on our cruise, they had some freak storms. They had so much rain that the canal actually had to close for a day, as there was too much water for the lock gates to operate. This also caused extensive landslides and when we were there, Gatun Lake was about the colour of hot chocolate. I can’t wait to see it in its natural state.

 

[franandaj]

The whole Panama Canal crossing sounds like such a neat adventure. We have it on our list for a trip in upcoming years, so I hope that they continue this cruise.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Looking forward to the crossing as well. Hope you get to see that lake this time.

 

[dolphingirl47]

The whole Panama Canal crossing sounds like such a neat adventure. We have it on our list for a trip in upcoming years, so I hope that they continue this cruise.

It really is. If you get the chance to do one, grab it with both hands. I am pretty sure that they will continue doing them as Alaska is such a big success for them and I don't see that they would try again having a ship year round on the west coast anytime soon.

Looking forward to the crossing as well. Hope you get to see that lake this time.

I think they will ban us from Panama Canal cruises in the future. In 2011, they had freak storms causing landslides shortly before our cruise and this time round, they had an earthquake.

Corinna

 

[PrincessInOz]

I think they will ban us from Panama Canal cruises in the future. In 2011, they had freak storms causing landslides shortly before our cruise and this time round, they had an earthquake.

Corinna

Back in 2011, when we were planning the 2012 vacation, we originally thought we'd go to Japan. That was the year of the earthquake and Tsunami........


So we started to think Morocco or Egypt.
That was the year of Arab Spring.



And that's why we ended up going to Hong Kong.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

I can't wait to read about the crossing! Fingers crossed for a clear lake! Oh us too. My famous words were in 2000 in NY when DW said 'we only have time for Statue of Liberty or World Trade centre' which one do you want to see...I said 'World Trader Centre' the Statue will be around forever. DW and her friend that joined us said that was the first then they thought of when they heard about 9/11. I don't even know why I said it. It gave me the creeps being in it. I didn't feel that in Empire building.

The following year we went to New Orleans...before Katrina..

Don't vacation the year after me lol...

 

[dolphingirl47]

Back in 2011, when we were planning the 2012 vacation, we originally thought we'd go to Japan. That was the year of the earthquake and Tsunami........


So we started to think Morocco or Egypt.
That was the year of Arab Spring.



And that's why we ended up going to Hong Kong.

That is quite an impressive list.

I can't wait to read about the crossing! Fingers crossed for a clear lake! Oh us too. My famous words were in 2000 in NY when DW said 'we only have time for Statue of Liberty or World Trade centre' which one do you want to see...I said 'World Trader Centre' the Statue will be around forever. DW and her friend that joined us said that was the first then they thought of when they heard about 9/11. I don't even know why I said it. It gave me the creeps being in it. I didn't feel that in Empire building.

The following year we went to New Orleans...before Katrina..

Don't vacation the year after me lol...

I will bear that in mind ;-)

Corinna

 

[Pinkocto]

Have a magical trip and have a:

Thanks Linda!

The cruise was amazing and now I'm at Vero Beach. Life is good

 

[Pinkocto]

Oh, that is not good. Still, at least you are there safe and sound. We were originally looking at Fort Lauderdale as the flights were a bit cheaper for a long time, but in the end the flight into Miami was a lot cheaper.

I hope you have Wonderful cruise.
Corinna

The cruise was beyond wonderful! I think it might be the best kind of solo trip, I much preferred it over being at WDW alone.

Despite the rocky start Im still glad I went the night before, because weather still affected flights the next day.

According to Cruise Director Peter you will have Cruise Director Jimmy and Captain Fabian.

 

[dolphingirl47]

The cruise was beyond wonderful! I think it might be the best kind of solo trip, I much preferred it over being at WDW alone.

Despite the rocky start Im still glad I went the night before, because weather still affected flights the next day.

According to Cruise Director Peter you will have Cruise Director Jimmy and Captain Fabian.

Welcome back. I am glad that you had a wonderful time. Thanks so much for checking this out for me. You just made my day. Captain Fabian is my favourite from all the DCL captains and Jimmy is wonderful, too.

Corinna

 

[jenseib]

caught up!!!!!!

I am loving all the stuff you have got for your trip.
It looks like it is going to be so fun too.

and I had no clue there was another Kingdom keepers book out. I thought the last one was the final one. I am going to go look and download it on my kindle right this very minute

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

I was just looking and the PC cruises are actually good value considering it's 14 nights full board. Just comparing this to some of those shocking Norway prices. Have you done a Transatlantic? I was wondering if you have which one you preferred. That longer cruise also seems good fun and excellent value.

 

[dolphingirl47]

caught up!!!!!!

I am loving all the stuff you have got for your trip.
It looks like it is going to be so fun too.

and I had no clue there was another Kingdom keepers book out. I thought the last one was the final one. I am going to go look and download it on my kindle right this very minute

Welcome back. Yes, there is a seventh book. This is set a few years later and at Disneyland. There will also be a spin off series with the first book of that being out a year from now.

I was just looking and the PC cruises are actually good value considering it's 14 nights full board. Just comparing this to some of those shocking Norway prices. Have you done a Transatlantic? I was wondering if you have which one you preferred. That longer cruise also seems good fun and excellent value.

Yes, I have done in Transatlantic cruise in 2010. I think my order of preference when it comes to the long cruises is Panama Canal; Hawaii and then Transatlantic.

Corinna

 

[dolphingirl47]

Sea Days are normally my busiest days. I have promised myself to slow down a little and try to restrict myself to one organized activity per day. There are two activities that I won’t count towards this. One is the various character meet and greets and the second is the daily Walk A Mile, which is three laps around deck 4. This usually takes place in the morning, but I have spotted a second session in the afternoon on the Navigators from the Eastbound Panama Canal cruise last year. I am already seeing that I am going to struggle with just one activity. So maybe it makes more sense to say I will spend up to 2 hours per day with organized activities.

DIS Meets

This is a bit of a tradition. On the first afternoon the people from the cruise meet thread meet up before the safety drill. It is great to be able to put faces to names. This time round, we will also have a couple of pin trading meets and I am really looking forward to those. One of them is taking place on the afternoon of a port day so this does not eat into my sea day activity allowance ;-) We are planning a Champagne and Tiara meet. We are also having an open bar hour one afternoon.

Trivia

Most of the trivia goes straight over my head as this is geared towards an American audience. However, it has become a bit of a tradition for us to play the Pirate Trivia together. I also quite enjoy Theme Park Trivia and DCL Trivia and may do them if they do not clash with anything else.

DVC Member Celebration

This takes place on every cruise of 4 nights or more. This is usually good fun with a game of some description, some information about various things that you can use your points for and some goodies being given out. On the longer cruises they usually have member mixer during the second week that is less structured, but offers drinks, snacks and the chance to mingle with other members.

Castaway Club Reception

This is something I normally really enjoy, but I am a little on the fence about it this time. This is normally a welcome opportunity to mingle with the Captain and some other officers and usually also provides the shortest line for Captain Mickey. However, on our Hawaii cruise, this took place on deck 9 by the Goofy pool, as there were so many Gold and Platinum Castaway Club members on this cruise. I had one look at this and walked straight on. I think this cruise may attract a lot of Gold and Platinum Castaway Club members, too so I may decide to pass.



Scavenger Hunts

Somebody on our Facebook group is kindly organizing two different Scavenger Hunts. One is a traditional Scavenger Hunt where we have to collect different items and one is a Photo Scavenger Hunts. Both should be great fun.

Tastings

This is something I really enjoy on my cruises. We are going to have a number of private tastings for our cruise meet thread: Martini Tasting; Tequila and Margarita Tasting; Champagne Tasting and Mixology. I am also hoping to book two other tastings if they are on offer. I have seen a Mojito and Caipirinha tasting on a number of Navigators for longer cruises and I would love to do this. They also do a Chocolate Tasting, which pairs Valrhona chocolate with various drinks. This particularly tasting has taunted me for the last three cruises, but it always clashed with our Brunch at Palo. I am determined to do it this time.




Palo Brunch

Last, but not least, I have booked a Palo Brunch for us. I was a little bit on the fence about this as they raised the prices again late last year. However, in the end the call of the Strawberry Soup, the Chicken Parmigiana and the Chocolate-covered Strawberries was stronger. It will be nice to have a leisurely Brunch with a view.

 

[franandaj]

I love the Sea Days! Much more than the Port days. I don't think I could limit myself to one activity. Too bad that the chocolate tasting always seems to conflict with Palo Brunch. We did both anyways and sort of regretted it.

Sort of.

What is the price of the Palo Brunch now?