Panama 08/17 With Andrew Derek

[ragdoll]

Oh, how I wish all of us WB DISer's were back on the Magic! DH and I really want to do it again. It was our best cruise ever!

Enjoy EB DISer's!

 

[granmaz]

I'm so pleased the weather is good for them.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Having a fabulous view of the first two locks, we seem only to be about 10 mins behind the schedule and now in Perdo Miguel locks.

We are port side so as well as being in the shade, we see the central island between the locks and the other lock lane working with a Maeske Container ship coming close up behind us going through the other lock.

There are lots of people on the freight ship, or on the locks taking our pictures and of the ship.

Also shutters staff have taken at least three pictures of us so far. A very comfortable and careful progression through all of the locks,

After this I am going up to the deck BBQ, as we haven’t really eaten this morning,

We are staying in our stateroom on the verandah as we have an excellent view and the front of the ship is absolutely rammed with people who are in the sun and very hot as well.

Stateroom TV is giving us a commentary and also TV pictures of our side the starboard side and the front of the ship from various angles.

Whilst this is my third crossing still great to watch.

Weather is great, we are in the shade but there is a chance of a thnder storm later.

Currently 22 mins past and going up in the PM locks will be out within 30 mins and on the way to Gamboa

 

[DMMarla07860]

Andrew if you happen to run into Luke from the cruise staff, can you tell him Julia from facebook says hey. Hope the rest of the cruise goes well, and can't wait to get home to a faster computer to keep up with all the reports

 

[scottishwee35]

Nearly at the bridge now, Look for the 'english' flag, not a scottish one!!!!

Ha Ha

rush home now and watch on computer

my husband thought I am mad

Scottishwee35

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Ha Ha

rush home now and watch on computer

my husband thought I am mad

Scottishwee35

I am typing this at 2.25pm we have just gone around the top part of Barro Colorado island and going into Gatun lake where we turn right and across the big lake to the Gatun locks, I think we are making very good progress so we will be there before 3pm-local suggest looking on from 2.50pm.

We have seen a lot of container ships going the opposite direction very close to us some must have 800+ containers on them.

It’s very hot and humid and the top decks are difficult to stay on for a long period of time, there is a storm to the port of us, a bit dark.
BBQ on deck was nice and as well as salads there was steak, ribs, kebabs, burgers, fish, etc.

The front of the ship is less crowed at the moment and the pools have filled back up, but I bet within the next 20 mins people will go back to the viewing areas for the last set of locks that will take us about 2 hours plus to go through completely so will be out by 5.30pm.

All dinners tonight start at 6pm, and there is not show in the WRD, but they are showing Wall-E. Twice.

Last nights adults hypnotist show was great, more than the previous night, I cannot post on here all the things he did, but the audience were naked to the people on stage at one part, and there was lots of dancing, rock band playing, people stuck to seats, people with electric shocks under there seats, it was very funny, and the men lost parts of their bodies and had to call them back from the audience. On these boards that’s the best I can post

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thought I would update,

We have come to a full stop in the last 10 mins or so, the storm I mentioned in previous posts has also come in, spectacular lighting storm, the pools are all closed, and heavy rain around.

I think however its congestion in front of us that has brought us to a stop, slowing repositioning ourselves,

 

[Verandah Man]

Thought I would update,

We have come to a full stop in the last 10 mins or so, the storm I mentioned in previous posts has also come in, spectacular lighting storm, the pools are all closed, and heavy rain around.

I think however its congestion in front of us that has brought us to a stop, slowing repositioning ourselves,

I can see the storm on the webcam, looks nasty indeed.

 

[edna mode]

Yes, we are watching the storm too and it looks like the ship in the locks have come to a complete stop.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

So what does that mean? What happens?

 

[Tink rules]

Probably delayed just a little...

 

[scottishwee35]

Yes, I can see the weather changed now as it get darker

Scottishwee35

 

[Tink rules]

Raindrops keep falling on my head... (sorry...I'm getting a little giddy... )

 

[scottishwee35]

did you see the lighting, I mean thunder

Scottishwee35

 

[Tink rules]

No Deb... you were right.. you see lightening.. .hear thunder...

 

[edna mode]

I keep thinking I'm seeing lightening, but I'm trying to work while watch in my upper corner.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

3.50PM (WORDRO)for the first time in about 45 mins we are now moving forward very slowly, a severe storm came about 3pm, I said in a previous post it was to the port side, it just came in, and we have been treated to considerable lightning, thunder, and very heavy rain, so much that it looks like a fog.

I couldn’t see too much from my verandah for some time bar just one buoy, and could see we were only drifting a bit not moving at all.

We still have the storm but the rain eased a bit, might be coming back, I can see a large container ship in at the Gatun locks, they have moved another ship out of the way off us, and we are moving very slowly. I think they must have shut down lock operations or progress very slowly.

All deck 9 and 10 services were stopped, it’s very very wet and heavy with rain.

TV in room journey planner showed us at the locks at 3pm, but then the storm came.

4PM, Online, TV was down, We are moving slowly forward still have the storm close, might come back can see it and lightening, but the rain eased off.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

We are at the locks can see the pier, we are there now!

 

[Vanvmom]

The webcam link I have still shows the Evergreen container ship at the Gatun locks. Is it blocking the view of the Magic?

 

[scottishwee35]

We are at the locks can see the pier, we are there now!

Right, bring out the England's flag now

Scottishwee35