2020: South America with Sheila & Nick

DAY-35: The Cruise Ends - Arrival Home at St. Pete Beach Day – 35: Monday, March 23, 2020 Starting Location:  M.S. Marina at Sea in the Caribbean Interim Location: Port Miami, FL Ending Location: Home, St. Pete Beach, FL As we awoke this morning the ship was just offshore of south Florida and by 6:45 we were in the ship channel passing through the barrier islands toward the Port of Miami. At this early hour the city was still illuminated making for a good view. By 7:20 we were moored, the cruise was over except for the debarkation. Boaters were out early this morning. The gang way is so close! For the next 3 hours or so the ship's crew did whatever was necessary with the port authorities to make ready for passenger debarkation. Around 11 AM the first groups were called. By then we had vacated the staterooms so that they could be prepared for who knows what. Like our fellow passengers we meandered around the ship a...

DAY-34: Cruise  Bonus  Day #8 - The Caribbean Day – 34: Sunday, March 22, 2020 Starting Location:  M.S. Marina at Sea in the Caribbean Ending Location: M.S. Marina at Sea in the Caribbean Let's start the new day off with a healthy breakfast. This morning we passed the western-most point of Cuba at Punta Cajon (Point Cajon); from there we turned to the northeast and paralleled the Cuban coast throughout the day passing to the north of Havana this afternoon. Today will be much like yesterday except that we are one day closer to debarkation. A schedule for debarkation has been published, we're Brown-#5 but other than being after #1, #2, #3 & #4 we won't know the details until tomorrow. Our timing has continued to improve and we're now scheduled to arrive at Port Miami around 7:30 tomorrow morning. The expectation is that it will take a couple of hours for arrival administration and customs/immigration clearance of the ship before anyone goes a...

DAY-33: Cruise  Bonus  Day #7 - The Caribbean Day – 33: Saturday, March 21, 2020 Starting Location:  M.S. Marina at Sea in the Caribbean Ending Location: M.S. Marina at Sea in the Caribbean Woke up this morning around 6:15 AM as the sun peeked through the door. The rocking & rolling from last night has moderated a bit but we're moving along at 21+ knots so a smooth ride is a secondary consideration to making good distance today. The outside visuals are stereotypical for a Caribbean sunrise, fluffy colorful clouds on the horizon with temps already in the mid 70's surrounded by bright blue water. We weren't expecting much activity today though Sheila's bridge club played on as usual. As afternoon approached a distant squall line developed. We actually passed through a shower or two but stayed the course, no deviations delaying the Miami arrival now tentatively planned for Monday AM. So another enrichment lecture by D...

DAY-32: Cruise  Bonus  Day #6 - Panama Canal Day – 32: Friday, March 20, 2020 Starting Location: M.S. Marina at  Balboa, Panama Anchorage Interim Location: Panama Canal Ending Location: M.S. Marina at Sea in the Caribbean Today we made the transit through the Panama Canal. Here is the tentative schedule for our trip across the Isthmus of Panama. and here is a profile of the canal system from the Pacific east to the Caribbean. For our transit we will travel through three sets of locks: Miraflores Lock System  Pedro Miguel Lock System Gatun Lock System The ship weighed anchor at about 5:30 this morning and began the journey toward and through the Panama Canal. Today there would be nothing but canal as we expected a 10-hour transit from beginning to end. We had scheduled an early breakfast so as to not interfere with the canal entry and viewing opportunities. As the sun was rising on our starboard side we passed the very colorful B...