Panama Canal on the Ruby Princess 2023 Christmas cruise-photo/ video journal by Bimmer09

Walt fan · January 10

Carol - I was going to ask your opinion as to why they hang around and not fly away - they seem to be well taken care of so between that and having plentiful food and a natural habitat they have no need to fly away - what an incredible amount of species there - I would have taken too many pictures - thank you for chiming in

perfect match · January 10

I loved all the pictures of the birds! Sounds like a place I would enjoy.

I have a question for Carol about Room Service food. When it arrives, is it at an appropriate temperature? Were the hot foods hot? I love the idea of ordering room service, but after a number of tries early on in our cruising days but after numerous tries to order hot meals and getting cold ones I gave up. Now if I order it will be something like fruit or pastries that don’t need to be hot. At least the water for my tea usually comes hot!

Bimmer09 · January 10

Some iPhone video as we head back through Cartagena

Bimmer09 · January 10

Driving through the outskirts of Cartagena

Bimmer09 · January 10

Bimmer09 · January 10

and we are back at the cruise ship dock

There's a big souvenir shop out here and tables outside where you can sit and have a snack and a drink but we can wait until we are on the ship and have some air conditioning and comforts.

We do hit the gift shop for a fridge magnet and are not alone. After the shop we head for a shuttle bus to the ship as it's a long walk in this heat. We pass the little nature park along the way.

Bimmer09 · January 10

They've done a nice job of making the dock entrance welcoming

Rhapsody of the Seas docked while we were gone

We took a free shuttle bus back to the Ruby from this point

Back on board I hit the Salty Dog Grill for some of this

A hot dog buried in cold help-yourself sauerkraut and ketchup and a suitable beverage

The Rhapsody was loading some passengers who may have missed the sailing that brought the ship to Cartagena. Note all the luggage being loaded.

Norris

Bimmer09 · January 10

Bimmer09 · January 10

Yes we left Cartagena at 3 p.m on a sunny Christmas Eve. There was no sign of Christmas apparent there. I had originally wanted to do a walking tour of the old town as I have seen several 4K video walks from there but on such a hot day the aviary was just the ticket and it was very calming and relaxing to be among such beautiful birds. I had been told from CC reviews that vendors can be pests in the old town. Next stop Panama Canal in 15 hours from now. Six a.m tomorrow morning.

Our next stop tonight will be Christmas Eve dinner.

When Kevin tells me there is Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding n the menu I have to order it as it is a National Dish of Great Britain.

Alas, what foul treachery is this??! A Yorkshire pudding missing the eggs? Just a dry brittle pastry casing filled with air? Read the damn recipe man or I'll have you flogged!! I ate half the beef-the half that wasn't fat.

Carol's salmon appetizer

Carol's filet Mignon and lobster tail. I ordered one too, to make up for the earlier disaster.

Carol's "nougat and chocolate thing" for dessert. I needed a stiff drink and so Rizza trekked down to the IC for my Sambuca and espresso.

Edited January 10 by Bimmer09
add clarifying text

Essiesmom · January 10

Rhapsody runs cruises that load guests both in Colon and Cartagena. EM

Bimmer09 · January 10

I recall saying adios to the bartenders at Tradewinds before dinner

Lester and Sanjay

and walking down our beloved Promenade Deck

After dinner we wound up in Club Fusion which is two decks below our cabin for another exciting heat of the Voice of the Ocean

The Bar

We heard a singer tonight with great potential. Nick from Boston. After a slow start Alejandro managed to scrape together 10 singers to entertain and amuse us. Bed by 10.30 as we had a canal to gaze at in the morning.

Bimmer09 · January 10

Here, better late than never is the Princess Patter for our day in Cartagena

marden1970 · January 10

On 1/9/2024 at 11:54 AM, phabric said:

At the port area, there are parrots, flamingo, monkeys, turtles, peacocks that you can walk around and see for free, a gift shop and small snack bar before the exit for the tour buses, taxis.

There was a rumor of sloths but I never could find them.. Just ended up with a stiff neck from looking up.

Bimmer09 · January 10

6 minutes ago, marden1970 said:

There was a rumor of sloths but I never could find them.. Just ended up with a stiff neck from looking up.

We'll see some sloths when we visit Limon, Costa Rica.

Norris

MisterMet · January 11

3 hours ago, Bimmer09 said:

I recall saying adios to the bartenders at Tradewinds before dinner

Lester and Sanjay

and walking down our beloved Promenade Deck

After dinner we wound up in Club Fusion which is two decks below our cabin for another exciting heat of the Voice of the Ocean

The Bar

We heard a singer tonight with great potential. Nick from Boston. After a slow start Alejandro managed to scrape together 10 singers to entertain and amuse us. Bed by 10.30 as we had a canal to gaze at in the morning.

Looking forward to the canal pictures. The Canal cruise is definitely on my bucket list!

Bimmer09 · January 11

CHRISTMAS DAY 2023

I woke at 4 a.m and stuck my head out of the balcony door into the darkness. There were many ships at anchor and lit up for safety. We are close!

Thoughts of returning to the pillow didn't enter my mind. I was awake and I was going to get up at 5 anyway.

I showered and dressed (in that order) and grabbing my camera and medallion I sallied forth.

Ruby interior is looking good. Deck 9

elevator down to 7

Photographer's shop

Ruby's ports visited awards (partial)

down to deck 5 by 4.30. I need coffee!

cool art

Bimmer09 · January 11

I need to get in position by 5.45. Up on deck I go.

I love it when a ship has its lights on

On our port side. All is calm. We are barely moving-I would guess 1knot. No wind. No sound. Quiet.

Bimmer09 · January 11

The Pilot is approaching. I am standing on top of the bridge to get a clear view

The bright lights in the distance are the new Agua Clara locks. Our destination.

Pilot is onboard. We are still creeping forward slower than walking speed.

The lights on the right are the old locks

A crowd has gathered since I got here. There were eight people then. Carol will soon text me to say she is on that level above me.

Norris, loving every second of this journey forward

Deck Chair Queen · January 11

19 hours ago, perfect match said:

I loved all the pictures of the birds! Sounds like a place I would enjoy.

I have a question for Carol about Room Service food. When it arrives, is it at an appropriate temperature? Were the hot foods hot? I love the idea of ordering room service, but after a number of tries early on in our cruising days but after numerous tries to order hot meals and getting cold ones I gave up. Now if I order it will be something like fruit or pastries that don’t need to be hot. At least the water for my tea usually comes hot!

Yes that was the big difference on this cruise. I too learned long ago not to order eggs, but somehow they have licked it (well not literally). I had two omelets, both piping hot and perfectly cooked. I don’t know about the hot drinks as I eschew the room service coffee. And I was ordering during rush hour, I imagine, on port days before early excursions. Also they keep you updated on your order on the app like DoorDash. I gave it the highest rating of anything in the survey. Did I mention you can order from the specialty restaurants (for a charge)?

Edited January 11 by Deck Chair Queen

Bimmer09 · January 11

RE ROOM SERVICE

While I was getting my coffee at 4.30 on Canal Day an officer was telling a colleague that Room Service already had 100 breakfast orders to work on...

Norris

Marvy Mare · January 11

Hi Carol and Norris - I love birds too. Most of my winter photography is birds. One of our stops in our 2025 Cruise is Cartagena. We start planning well in advance and have been watching lots of YouTubes. We have been to Cartagena before. The sail in is so beautiful. I loved your photos Norris. The amazing sky was very cooperative as well. We did an Old City tour with Dora. It was a great tour. It’s not a place we’d be comfortable walking around on our own. The sellers were relentless. Mostly they took a No gracias 🙏 and moved on but a small group of rappers followed one couple in our group for close to 1/2 hour. I guess they made eye contact.
To get to the point, I was considering the bird sanctuary. Now I just have to show Ken all the beautiful pictures. I really want to go there and I did notice it is being offered as a Celebrity Shore Excursion. Thanks Carol.

Maris