10-Day Island Princess - Panama Canal Partial Transit - Chistmas Cruise Photo Review

[LittleMissMagic]

BTW and fyi... that's a Silversea's ship. :)

 

I told you I can't tell the difference! :D I get Silversea and Seabourn confused on a regular basis. Unless I can read the name, I have no idea. "Uh, one of those small luxury lines..."

[Winnigirl]

Why you look just like a little Buzzer I know!;)

 

Wonderful report Victoria - like they all are! Anxious to read more and see a lot more pictures! (llama)

[LittleMissMagic]

Llama! Nice to see you on board! :)

[LittleMissMagic]

After going through the canal that morning, we ate breakfast and then headed to my parents' room to open Christmas presents. We then fell asleep while watching the Love Boat. Took a good hour nap. Then Dad went to work out, Rachel went to the spa for a full body massage, and I went to shower and get ready to go back through the canal.

 

I started watching us go back through the canal from the front of the ship. There's access on decks 8,9, and 10. It looks like you shouldn't go through there, but once you open the door, there is a door outside. I never would've found it if one of the ship photographers hadn't told me about it earlier.

 

DSC_6367 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

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[LittleMissMagic]

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[LittleMissMagic]

DSC_6387 by vshingl, on Flickr

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[LittleMissMagic]

DSC_6398 by vshingl, on Flickr

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If you were wondering where the kids' staff was, I found them -

 

DSC_6410 by vshingl, on Flickr

[LittleMissMagic]

After I attempted to teach a lady how to use the panoramic setting on her camera, I decided to check out the back of the ship.

 

DSC_6414 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

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The back of the ship was more awesome than the front coming back because there wasn't any obstruction by the bow, and you could really tell you were sinking. It was so cool.

 

DSC_6417 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

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[LittleMissMagic]

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[LittleMissMagic]

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This is when it started getting really awesome...

 

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[LittleMissMagic]

DSC_6438 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

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I realized that this was really awesome, and I needed a photo of myself... selfie time.

 

DSC_6443 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

And then I remembered that I had my Gorilla Pod with me - so I set the timer and took a few less-selfie-looking selfies.

 

DSC_6449 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

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[LittleMissMagic]

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[LittleMissMagic]

After seeing the photographers walk by, I remembered that I should wave my Tiger Rag. So I went back to the stateroom to get it, then headed to the 7th deck.

 

DSC_6471 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

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I got the attention of a photographer, and he took my picture with the rag. I bought it because it was a unique opportunity to be photographed on the ship from the outside.

[LittleMissMagic]

I wanted to catch up with my family, and I figured they'd be at the front of the ship.

 

DSC_6475 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

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Sure enough, they were on the deck above me.

 

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Rachel was having an awesome time going through the Panama Canal. She's a civil engineering major and geology minor, so this was fascinating to her. She was in our stateroom on the 5th deck when she looked out the window and saw the wall of the canal going by.

 

DSC_6482 by vshingl, on Flickr

[LittleMissMagic]

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Look how little room we have!

 

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[LittleMissMagic]

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Christmas decorations!

 

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Edited January 2, 2013 by LittleMissMagic

[LittleMissMagic]

DSC_6503 by vshingl, on Flickr

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After passing through the canal, we went to eat lunch in Horizons. It was the best dining in Horizons crowd-wise that we had, since over half of the passengers had left the ship with an excursion.

 

I was glad that we stayed on the ship because I enjoyed going back through the canal and having the entire ship to roam around to get different views, levels, and photos. If I went back through the canal on a partial transit again, I would consider taking an excursion on a smaller ship to go all the way to the Pacific. However, if (More like when... this is something I would want to share with my future family) I go back through the canal again, I might just do a full transit. Going through the canal definitely isn't something I'd do year after year, but it was a great experience and the highlight of the cruise (like it was intended to be).

[iloverags2]

Back to Christmas festivities, Rachel and I decorated cookies.

 

DSC_6190 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

I think I see Mickey!

 

Really enjoying your report, and all the wonderful pictures!

[cormike1]

I have really enjoyed your review so far. We did this at the beginning of November and loved it. We took the excursion on the smaller ship through to the end and we were really glad we did. Amazing! Looking forward to seeing the rest of your pictures.

[RickEk]

Thanks for all the great photos. We've done the partial transit twice and stayed onboard the second time. Yes, it is VERY nice to be able to roam around a basically empty ship for the transit. :)

[highheel girl]

Is that not one of THE best Promanade decks at sea!!! :D

Edited January 2, 2013 by highheel girl

[LittleMissMagic]

We docked in Colon, which I have determined is just a port they constructed for the sole purpose of getting the cruisers who took excursions back to the ship.

 

DSC_6509 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

The souvenir shops were overcrowded and cramped, so after one, I was finished with that. We decided to check out another grocery store.

 

We picked up beer, alcoholic drinks, and champagne.

 

When we went to board the ship again, we noticed children below playing on bikes, rollerblades, and other rolling vehicles. It must've been the native children playing with their Christmas presents! Too cute. We stopped to watch for a bit.

 

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[LittleMissMagic]

That evening was Christmas dinner!

 

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[LittleMissMagic]

The appetizer was a little creepy-looking...

 

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And for dessert, we got gingerbread cookies!

 

IMG_1690 by vshingl, on Flickr

[deelastcre]

We did your itinerary on Coral in November. Great pictures and review. It looks like you had great weather. My pictures of the canal was filled with rain drops.