August 20, 2005 - L.A. to Port Canaveral - Eastbound Repo Cruise - The SHIP OF FOOLS Part 2

[DenverVal]

86. You will forget every one of these rules by your fifth drink.

Tracy, could you please add DH and me to the wine-tasting list? Is champagne allowed? We tried one we really liked for New Years Eve.

 

[Mom2Belle&PeterPan]

Hi Jen,

I posted this in an earlier thread:

"The Long Beach airport would be the closest to fly in to. It is the smallest. Don't know if they have flights here from your airport though. LAX is the next closest. Some people hate it, but we are local and we fly out of there for good fares when we cannot fly out of Long Beach (we live five minutes from the L.B. airport). We do not find LAX to be bad, but we have our routine. John Wayne (Orange County) is the next furthest out, is smaller, and easy to maneuver with a rental car. You should be fine getting a shuttle from LAX to San Pedro. Some are even coming in to Ontario, CA. It is about a one-hour drive to San Pedro from here and is the furthest away. Traffic from any of these other than the Long Beach airport should be a factor to consider. It will be the worst during the morning and afternoon/evening work commutes, with Friday traffic being the very worst. The shuttle from the L.B. airport would most likely take the streets to San Pedro, not the freeways. It's an easy drive, and a fun one via the streets."

Have fun planning!

Barbara

 

[Mom2Belle&PeterPan]

Grumbo, that is NOT Arlene!!! You will be walking the plank with Mark...chained to the "other" side of the fridge while the cheapo wine pours out.

Stop disrespecting your Great Grandmother!!!

 

[izzinmac]

Grumbo, that is NOT Arlene!!! You will be walking the plank with Mark...chained to the "other" side of the fridge while the cheapo wine pours out.

Stop disrespecting your Great Grandmother!!!

Does that mean comparing one's great grandmother to Arlene is disrespectful to one's great grandmother? Poor Arlene!!! Barb, shame on you!!!

 

[kmiles]

I don't think that is Arlene. But, she should send in a pic for the cruise list just so we know for sure!

 

[Bmwdsny]

I don't think that is Arlene. But, she should send in a pic for the cruise list just so we know for sure!

Uh, Don't you pick on Arlene!! What about MARK?????? At least she is consisitent and DOES NOT LIE and does not make us guess who she is!!!!


Going to work in a few ...YEAH WORK!!!!! yeah, i am in the same boat as the rest of you now!! Didn't get a chance to read all the posts last night but i did read some and i had a heated discussion with Bob last night and finally told him to "shut up GRUMBO!!" Of course, bob looked at me and asked why am i calling him Grumbo and i said, "Because i am now married to Grumbo!! You are Grumbo and have American Parents!!" He said, ALL YOU PEOPLE ARE NUTS!!! (i told him what IZZI did) YOU ARE IN TROUBLE NOW, IZZI!!!! Now my DH wants to have a "discussion" with you!!!!
Be afraid, oh very afraid!! hee hee hee!!!

later....

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I have a question about the cruise..... This is probably such a stupid question, Okay, so, the itinerary says one day is spent at the Panama Canal... Does that mean on the ship going thru the canal?? Or off the ship somewhere on/near the canal?? ~Jen

Some of this I have mentioned before:-
I have done the Panama canal before on a cruise ship but in the opposite direction.

Firstly, the cruise ships pay a bit more to have a guaranteed time to go through the canal, part of it on the Galliard Cut is one way for big ships.

You are likely to wake up very early and see the ship, stopped in the bay outside the entrance with other ships, cruise and cargo and tankers.

The ship will be told an allocated time to go through each lock, and we may follow through, other cruise ships in a convoy.

The first excitement is when the Panama Canal pilots come onboard, their small tug will pull aside and they will jump on and take full control of the navigation of the ship from the captain.

They will take the ship up to the first lock at is allocated time, shoot small cables across to the shore and then pull across large cables to tow the ship in, These are connected to train engines called mules, about three each side of the ship.

There are two locks at each of the three sections, and we can go either side in, an arrow before the lock is your only indication which side you will use. Two ships going the same way is very likely.

A local guide is likely to be on the ships PA system giving you a running commentary of what is occurring.

You are unlikely to get off, Not in transit, but however, there is a chance. Often at each end depending on the time taken to get through, or your booked time, say to arrive to early. the ships stop at either Bilboa or Christobel, Often this is to refuel and take on supplies, it is cheaper around here, and local markets often appear at the harbour side, We had an unadvertised stop for six hours in Bilboa with three other cruise ships at the end of our trip. These ports are at each end so there will not be photo opportunities here of PC.

Ship photographers will also get off at the locks, and take picture from landside of you in the locks and they will be displayed later.

Tips,
A long day, if on deck sun hat, sun cream, lip balm, take water regularly.
You are very near the equator here, its hot and humid.
Listen to the lock times it takes most of the day to get through, and plan your breaks, meals etc. accordingly.
Some of the best views are in the galliard cut, not at the locks, look for the rivers that supply the water for the canal, and various small waterfalls, local houses etc.
The arrow in front of each lock will let you know which way you are going, so you can plan your camera shots.
Charge cameras and ensure lots of film or memory available with batteries on the day.
It is very likely to be crowed at the front of the ship and on the promenade deck. Try the stern deck 7, or topsiders for a view and food!
If you have a verandah, enjoy and order room service and enjoy air con.
Headache tablets re humidity,
Vidieo camaras try to take pictures when PA annocements are on, and you then can play back with commentary later!

 

[kmiles]

Thanks for the rundown, Andrew. It's always nice to have a little insider's information and great tips. Helps one to enjoy the experience more!

 

[kmiles]

Uh, Don't you pick on Arlene!! What about MARK?????? At least she is consisitent and DOES NOT LIE and does not make us guess who she is!!!!

Very, very, very true!

With all of this concern over trip reports you would think that a picture would have already been sent in, huh?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thanks for the rundown, Andrew. It's always nice to have a little insider's information and great tips. Helps one to enjoy the experience more!

Thanks, its a bit of a marathon day so it will help to plan.

On my last PC cruise the timetable for a Westward transit:-

7AM Pilots embarkation
8.30AM Gatun Lock
12.40PM Galliard Cut
2PM Pedro Miguel Locks
3.30PM Miraflores Locks
6pm Balboa Port refuel, leave 11pm.

You can see its a full 11 hour experience without a possible port stop!

 

[kmiles]

It should really be a great experience to see the canal first-hand. I only hope that we do have the chance for an unscheduled stop at some point during the day. As you said, it may be unlikely but I think I'll keep my fingers crossed!

 

[mississaugamom]

Also for those that want to know what the ladies of Mississauga look like here is Arlene in an "undated photo".

Cheers,
Grumbo

VERY FUNNY, GRUMBO!!! (NOT!)

This, people, is a photo of Mississauga's Mayor Hazel McCallion (in office for the past 27 years, and still going strong at age 86!!!)

I'll keep my photo to myself, thank you very much! I'll let you figure out at the port which family we are. A big "THANK YOU" to all my Sisters for your defence!!!

Arlene

 

[invaderzim]

Hi, All....

I haven't been on the threads for weeks due to family problems and now I really feel out of the loop! I don't think I'll ever catch up.

Hope you all had a nice holiday. And now that 2005 is here I just wanted to say -- YIKES, our trip is THIS year! Time will certainly fly now.

Also, I was shocked to see the new format and a little confused. Does anyone know how to access their old stored inbox messages? Mine seem to be gone!

Cathy

 

[kmiles]

Happy (belated) 2005, Cathy!

Glad to see you back on the boards. Don't get too stressed out on reading the thread from where you left off. Things tend to come up again at some point so you can just catch up as they do.

Not too sure about the old private message info, sorry!

 

[mississaugamom]

Welcome Back, Cathy! Hope your family problems are better now.

When the "Board Maintenance" took place (late November?) all PM's older than 1 week were deleted from Inboxes. I know mine were all gone, except what I had copied out and saved in "Word" format before the upgrade.

It's very exciting to finally be able to say the cruise is "this year"!!! However, I want to enjoy the time here planning everything before we actually get there. Come back here whenever you can!

Arlene

 

[kmiles]

I'll keep my photo to myself, thank you very much! I'll let you figure out at the port which family we are.

Hey! You'll have to at least give us a hint then. Tell us what you'll be wearing or something. That way, if you see us before we see you, you won't be able to totally hide from us!

Not that you, or anyone else, would ever want to hide from our group!

 

[mississaugamom]

Hey! You'll have to at least give us a hint then. Tell us what you'll be wearing or something. That way, if you see us before we see you, you won't be able to totally hide from us!

Not that you, or anyone else, would ever want to hide from our group!

No Way I'd ever want to hide from THIS group! No worries - I think we'll be easy enough to recognize but I'll make sure I provide some description ahead of time.

(Actually, aren't you at the HOJO Anaheim before the cruise? I'll meet you there!)

Arlene

 

[kmiles]

No Way I'd ever want to hide from THIS group! No worries - I think we'll be easy enough to recognize but I'll make sure I provide some description ahead of time.

(Actually, aren't you at the HOJO Anaheim before the cruise? I'll meet you there!)

Arlene

We are! Whhew! Now that's one less thing I have to worry about and can check off my list:

Things to Do During Cruise:
.
.
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492. Be sure to identify Mississaugamom.
.
.

 

[mickeyfan1]

Hello everyone. Glad to see y'all have been so chatty. I had 5 pages to read! Welcome back to all those who have been away. And to all the new people, welcome.

I have started on my new get back in some type of shape other than fat program, watching my diet, riding the new exercize bike my husband bought yesterday and walking. I sure hope it works. If it doesn't, I will be the one y'all will be talking about, "the fat lady in the 2 piece swim suit, has she no shame?" Actually, I don't but that's beside the point. And when I get in shape and thinner, no one will recognize me! I will be able to hide too!!!!!

 

[Bmwdsny]

Some of this I have mentioned before:-
I have done the Panama canal before on a cruise ship but in the opposite direction.



Panama Tips,
If you have a verandah, enjoy and order room service and enjoy air con.

Headache tablets re humidity,

That is exactly why i switch from Cat 8 to Cat 6!!

Oh, hope no sinus problem for me that day!!!! or i will be miserable!!


Hi everyone!! Got back 1/2 hour ago...Whew...too much work!! Just kidding!!
I like these hours and am home by 11:45. Good enough for me!!

Arlene, You and i have to meet others wearing a disguise!! While you may have my picture but you won't reconize me!! I will be thinner!! i hope!!