richwmn Goes around the world in a daze

[erewhon]

@Essiesmom  thank you for posting the photos.

[Essiesmom]

1 hour ago, erewhon said:

@Essiesmom  thank you for posting the photos.

You are welcome.  I capture from the canal cams for another forum that is canal focused.  It is no trouble to repost on live from threads.  It’s a view that the guest on the ship will not see.  When I did a full transit on Oosterdam in 2009, they put ashore a photography crew that took lots of great pics.  Don’t know if they still do that.  EM

[oakridger]

7 hours ago, leerathje said:

Really see the difference in size of the ships.

 

 

I honestly didn't realize just how much larger the Vista Class (Zuiderdam) ships are than the Rotterdam (Volendam) Class!  Wow!  Thanks to @Essiesmomfor posting.

 

~Nancy

[POA1]

Thank you for taking us along with you, Rich! I'm finally caught up.

[Oceansaway17]

On 1/8/2023 at 2:28 PM, Essiesmom said:

Sisters at Miraflores

 

 

 

wow very nice,  wonder if the scheduling planned this meet up.  

wondering who got out into Pacific first???

[sandiego1]

19 hours ago, oakridger said:

 

I honestly didn't realize just how much larger the Vista Class (Zuiderdam) ships are than the Rotterdam (Volendam) Class!  Wow!  Thanks to @Essiesmomfor posting.

 

~Nancy

While the Zuiderdam is about 150’ longer than the Volendam, the Volendam was already lowered when the photo was taken. So it appears much smaller.

[lindaler]

Well we leave you today to head south as you head west. I hear that your ship was struck by lightning as it sat next to us. I hope it’s repairable. 

[richwmn]

Just now, lindaler said:

Well we leave you today to head south as you head west. I hear that your ship was struck by lightning as it sat next to us. I hope it’s repairable. 

I didn't hear any mention of it, but I arrived back a little after 4 after a very nice day in Panama

[lindaler]

1 minute ago, richwmn said:

I didn't hear any mention of it, but I arrived back a little after 4 after a very nice day in Panama

Our captain said it hit your radio antenna and took it out but no other details. 

[Essiesmom]

That must have been when there apparently was a bad storm…this is Amanda (Phoenix-Reisen) in Miraflores today…about 3:15pm.  EM

 

 

[oakridger]

4 hours ago, sandiego1 said:

While the Zuiderdam is about 150’ longer than the Volendam, the Volendam was already lowered when the photo was taken. So it appears much smaller.

 

Ah ha!!  Now I can see that with glasses on!  Thanks for pointing it out @sandiego1

 

~Nancy

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

5 hours ago, lindaler said:

Our captain said it hit your radio antenna and took it out but no other details. 

And cracked a window. 

[TiogaCruiser]

5 hours ago, lindaler said:

Well we leave you today to head south as you head west. I hear that your ship was struck by lightning as it sat next to us. I hope it’s repairable. 

 

5 hours ago, lindaler said:

Our captain said it hit your radio antenna and took it out but no other details. 

 

3 minutes ago, Gail & Marty sailing away said:

And cracked a window. 

We need an Oh No! button 

[richwmn]

January 10^th, 2023 – At sea

 

Good morning from Zuiderdam and the first of many days at sea heading for French Polynesia. It is a beautiful day, after 2 full days in Panama.

 

When I last posted we had completed the Gatun Locks and were headed toward the Pacific. The passage went without any problems, and we arrived at Fuerte Amador about an hour early. We did take a lightning strike which made a hole in the top of the Lido.

 

I had arranged a Night Life tour of Panama City. We met in the Ocean Bar at 7:30 and left the ship. The dock are at Fuerte Amador is new and is still under construction. The area around the dock is full of construction equipment and dirt roads. We had to take a shuttle from the dock to Isle Perico. Our host was there, along with thousands of party goers. Monday was a holiday for Panama and locals were out in droves celebrating on Sunday night.

 

The walk to where the van was parked was a bit long, but filled with commentary about Panama. Then we drove into the city and had a dinner at a very nice local restaurant. We had a section of tables set aside and had a selection of three meals. I chose the fish and it was very well done. Others said their meals were excellent as well. The service was great and portions large.

 

After dinner we took a walk with commentary about the history of Panama and the architecture. The next stop was a roof top bar. After an elevator ride we got to a wonderful view of Panama City. The weather co operated and we had a good view of the city lights. Our host pointed out notable areas. The provided drink was good and we stayed about 45 minutes.

 

After another short walk, we arrived at the second roof top bar. This was a party bar with techno music and a large crowd. The other thing it had was another spectacular view. Everyone was having a good time and again the weather was great. After another short stay we took the elevator to the ground floor. Our van was waiting and we were taken back to Isle Perico. The shuttle got us back to Zuiderdam around 1 am.

 

 

 

 

 

[richwmn]

Continuing on with Monday, about 6 hours since I returned to Zuiderdam. I had another excursion to Panama City. We had the same host as last night and the same sequence. Shuttle to Isle Perico, then a van ride into the city. Again there was walking along with narration on the history of Panama. It was interesting to see some of the same areas as the previous night, only in the light and with the crowd that we had Sunday night. We were told the history of Panama, along with the events the led to control of the former Canal Zone returning to Panama. It was very interesting and our host was well versed in the history of his country.

 

Administration Building for the former Canal Zone

 

 

 

 

Hand made Molas from Panama, always very pretty.

 

My Garlic Shrimp lunch, all very good!

 

 

We got back to the ship in plenty of time, and I was in time to play Beatles Music Trivia at 6:30. I didn’t win (I missed one) because several teams got perfect scores. It was fun.

 

At 7:30 I went into the Gallery Bar where they were supposed to be playing the College Football National Championship Game. At the beginning it didn’t appear that the game would be playing in the Gallery Bar, the screens had a error message, even tho we could see it on screens in the Casino. The bartender didn’t really seem concerned until right at 7:30 we asked him to call and try to get it fixed. A few minutes later the screens reset and the game was available. I watched the first three quarters with friends there, then watched the finish in my cabin. I shouldn’t need to say I was very pleased with the outcome.

 

[KKZ1923]

Thanks for organizing the Panama City day tour, Rich. It was perfectly organized with a great guide. We thought it was one of the best tours we’ve ever taken. 

[richwmn]

 

 

 

 

 

 

[richwmn]

 

 

 

 

 

 

[richwmn]

 

 

 

[richwmn]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RedneckBob]

Thanks so much for posting the daily reports. Very interesting to see variety of entertainment on a world cruise. As far as Pinnacle Grill menu last June 2022 while at the PG on the Eurodam in Alaska, a man behind me ordered for him self, jumbo shrimp cocktail, lobster bisque, 36 oz tomahawk steak, lobster tail supplement plus baked Alaska. He ate it all and later told me excluding the bone in the steak it was only 24-26 oz of meat !

[cccole]

richwmn, I am so enjoying your posts!!!  Because of all of your past cruises with HAL do you know many of your fellow WCruisers?  Like many, I hope to be a WC passenger in the future.

 

I loved Panama City the one time we visited.  Can you share the contact info for the two tours that you planned?  The "After Dark" and "Daytime" tours sounded amazing.  Thank you so much for letting us cruise with you.  Cherie

 

p.s.  We live in L.A. and there were lots of Georgia "dawgs" in town last weekend.  Congratulations on the HUGE win.

[Essiesmom]

@richwmni would like to add my plea for the links to the tour arrangements.  If you could post them over on the Panama Canal board under Ports of Call.  With the increasing numbers of overnight stops in Panama City, or cruises starting or ending there, a lot of people are asking about tours and there just is not much out there.

[richwmn]

18 hours ago, cccole said:

richwmn, I am so enjoying your posts!!!  Because of all of your past cruises with HAL do you know many of your fellow WCruisers?  Like many, I hope to be a WC passenger in the future.

 

I loved Panama City the one time we visited.  Can you share the contact info for the two tours that you planned?  The "After Dark" and "Daytime" tours sounded amazing.  Thank you so much for letting us cruise with you.  Cherie

 

p.s.  We live in L.A. and there were lots of Georgia "dawgs" in town last weekend.  Congratulations on the HUGE win.

 

18 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

@richwmni would like to add my plea for the links to the tour arrangements.  If you could post them over on the Panama Canal board under Ports of Call.  With the increasing numbers of overnight stops in Panama City, or cruises starting or ending there, a lot of people are asking about tours and there just is not much out there.

I have sent a message to see how they might want to be contacted. Please be aware that these tours were organized by someone I met in Panama a few years ago, and while he does now run a business doing tours and such this was different than what he normally provides.

 

[richwmn]

@cccole @Essiesmom

 

The contact email is gustavo at dynamotravel dot com