Turtles06

I should have been clearer. I don’t think a toilet that fills up with other people’s excrement and stinks up your bathroom is a “working toilet.”

You really need to post the above in the Roll Call for your cruise.

There is no “new” Canal. There is one Panama Canal. There are new locks that opened in 2016 that were built to accommodate the larger neo-Panamax ships. Celebrity’s E-class ships will use the new locks. Many people who are familiar with the Canal believe that these are not as interesting for a first transit, full or partial, as the original locks. If it is true that there are no forward-facing public areas, outdoor or indoor, for non-Retreat guests on the E-class ships, they might not be a great choice for going through any part of the Canal. When a ship is going through the locks, you want to be all around the ship, viewing the lockage from all different perspectives, high, low, fore, aft, midships. (Perhaps Celebrity opens up the bow area to anyone during the transit?) Of course, if you have the option on a partial transit to take a shore excursion from Gatun Lake on a small ferry-size vessel that takes you through more of the Canal and the original locks on the Pacific side, that would help make up for those shortcomings. The Panama Canal ports of call forum here on CC is a really good source of information about the Canal, partial and full transits, shore excursions, etc.

But never in the Panama Canal. In fact, one of the most amazing things about the original locks is that the technology developed for the Canal more than a century ago is still in use today. No mules are used in the new locks, just tugs. Many folks consider going through the original locks a much more interesting experience, especially for a first timer. @Swabia The Rotterdam will use the new locks. It’s a good reason to give serious consideration to a shore excursion on a small vessel that will take you through more of the Canal, including the original locks on the Pacific side. I encourage anyone going to the Canal for the first time to do some reading over in the Panama Canal ports of call forum. You will find descriptions of the shore excursions, more information about the Canal, etc. And please read David McCullough’s masterful book “The Path Between the Seas” before you visit the Canal. You will appreciate the Canal even more.

Both well worth a visit!

Please have a look at The Man in Seat 61, which will give you really useful information on booking rail travel in Europe, when to book, how to book, with whom, etc. It’s an invaluable resource. (And before tickets are released for your dates, do some mock bookings so you’ll be comfortable with the process. I did that on Thalys before our first trip on the Eurostar, and it was very helpful.) https://www.seat61.com

Please check out the British Isles Ports of Call forum for the various options for getting to Southampton from LHR. (private car, train, bus) And in terms of flying from EWR, I think you’ll find that in addition to the typical overnight flights, United I believe has a daytime nonstop that arrives at LHR that same night. Which means you can check into a hotel. Not sure if you are planning some pre-cruise time in London, but that’s a nice way to do it.

One of the excursions that will likely be offered is one in which you will board a small ferry-size vessel and go through the original locks on the Pacific side, which will not only allow you to see more of the Canal, but also give you a very different experience than going through locks in a huge cruise ship. And if the cruise ship you are on is one that can only go through the new locks, such an excursion will also allow you to experience the original locks (which I think many of not most folks here consider to be more interesting). To answer your question— if you take an excursion that does not involve transiting more of the Canal then yes, you will only experience bring “stepped up” in the Atlantic locks. You don’t really “feel” the ship being raised, though, it’s a slow process and a big ship. 😊 There’s a good deal of information in this forum about the small boat excursion I mentioned. And before your cruise, I highly recommend that you read David McCullough’s masterful book “The Path Between the Seas.” You’ll appreciate the Canal even more.

Unfortunately, we had to cancel the cruise about a week before departure. A real bummer for us. ☹️

The South Coast tour from Reykjavik is a full day tour — iirc, the one we did a few years ago was about 10 hours. A very long day, but well worth it. I’m sure that’s why you are having problems finding such a tour with such a late start. You might try contacting private tour operators recommended here, and see if there’s a small private tour they could offer you (and perhaps a group from your Roll Call). Some folks may suggest you rent a car. That’s not something we did, so I can’t help with that. Good luck!

From the minimal information you’ve provided, I’m going to assume that you are on a partial transit of the Canal, going through the locks on the Atlantic side. If so, when your ship is in Gatun Lske after going through the locks, guests will be able to disembark and take ship-sponsored shore excursions. Or, they may remain on board as the ship turns around and goes back through the same locks, then docks in Colon, waiting for the guests who took shore excursions to return. That’s how it works on a partial transit of the Canal (from the Atlantic). Again, I’m guessing that’s what you’re on. If you’re not, please provide more information about your itinerary.

Since you’ve never been to Paris, must you fly home the next day? Can you give yourselves even one more day? (Not enough, but better than the short time you are planning.)

Yikes — I just tried to pull them up and am getting “page not found” for each one I’ve tried. That’s too bad. This must be a fairly recent development — I was consulting his guides earlier this year in preparation for an upcoming cruise. ☹️

There are many cruises that have a port call to Le Havre, which is in Normandy and a good jumping off point for tours to the D-Day sites. Some years ago, a small group of us on our Roll Call used Overlord Tours. They were terrific, and they continue to be highly recommended here. They book up quickly.

On the Gem this past winter, Premium internet was required to use a VPN. (For your convenience of course. 😂)

I’ll stay on topic by saying that I’ve seen the green flash once, a few years ago after what seems a lifetime of looking. So that was fun. And I’ve seen many flying fish. But I agree with you that seeing an albatross soaring over the ocean is in a class by itself. I took this photo in the Drake Passage on the way to Antarctica aboard an expedition ship. Birds follow ships through the Drake; we were having a pretty rough crossing, and most folks were in their cabins. Fortunately, I don’t get seasick, so I was able to be out on deck for this, along with several very serious birders who generously shared their knowledge with me. We were all in awe. (Wandering albatross, Drake Passage, Feb. 2013, photo by turtles06)

You should ask in the British Isles port of call forum.

We’ve done both tours. The South Coast is stunningly beautiful from start to finish. The traditional Golden Circle tour is more focused on several important points of interest. Both are worth doing. Folks who are interested in doing either tour in a minivan with about 16 people will find recommendations for private tour operators over in the Northern Europe ports of call forum.

American here. I first had poutine several years ago, in Quebec City, and I liked it very much. 😊 Also BeaverTails; extremely delicious. Was happy to find them in several other ports on that cruise. I recognize that neither is a healthy choice. 😂

Charles, I can’t speak as to Verizon, but AT&T’s $10/day International Day Pass has unlimited data, talk, and text only when the customer has an unlimited domestic plan. That part is in the fine print. Basically, the International Day Pass lets you take your domestic plan abroad; if it’s unlimited, fine; if it’s not, you will have limits. BTW, one advantage AT&T has over Verizon is that AT&T limits the $10 a day charge in any billing month to $100 — 10 days of use. This worked very well for me on a nearly month-long land trip to the UK last fall. (And I do have an unlimited plan.) It was very nice to be able to use my phone in the UK just as I use it in the US.

@YVRteacher I’m glad you’re home safe and sound. I just want to add my thanks to you for sharing your trip with us. I know it’s a time-consuming thing to do. Your talents as a writer and photographer really made us feel as though we were there with you (except that we didn’t get to enjoy all the cake). I hope your school year goes well, and that you have more wonderful adventures in your future.

Thanks for posting. Do you know if this is the covered garage or the open lot? (The links don’t work, at least not for me.)

We thought the Flow water was fine, and the box was sturdy enough that we were able to refill and use it several times.

Agreed. Those are very helpful forums.

No. Not exactly.