Live from Emerald Princess, April 16 - May 4, 2023, full Panama transit

[Essiesmom]

About to pass under the Centennial Bridge

 

 

From the Pedro Miguel cam:

 

 

From the Miraflores cam:

 

 

 

[azbirdmom]

Looks like you are coming up on some locks?

 

[Essiesmom]

Cocoli Locks

 

 

[jaycruising]

The boat let us off right at the entrance and by the Animal Sanctuary (not exactly sure of the name) We did a short walk around to see some of the animals. 

 

 

 

You can also find the Colombia sign here, shopping, a cafe and duty free. 
 

I was so overheated, I was in the sun on the boat on the way back and in a rookie move for got my hat, that I just really couldn’t wander around anymore, so it was back to the ship around noon, it is a bit of a trek to get to the ship but they do run a shuttle. 
 

After a very quick change in the cabin we headed to the lotus spa pool and I wasted no time getting in. The was was a great temperature (not heated), and it was nice and quiet back here. 
 

 

 

One thing to note is that it is not an area on the ship that you can order from the app too, so I ran down and got a couple slices of pizza, pepperoni and margarita are on the menu everyday and then they have a special one each day, and today was Hawaiian, my choice

 

it was tasty and filled the need, not as good as Alfredo’s IMO. 
 

Time for another swim and then I was feeling good again. So we decided to try and figure out how to get on top of the bridge for the view before the masses tomorrow. And it was pretty easy, all the way forward on 15 to the non descript doors. this was our view in port

 

 

[jaycruising]

Back to the cabin to enjoy sail away from our cabin

 

 

 

Then I laid down and had a little nap before dinner, oh these cruise life is alright!

 

Dinner as usual was in Da Vinci, we sat at a table with friends tonight. 

 

 

I started with the Corn Cakes, I was surprised they were cold and the roe was very fishy (I don’t find it all to be that fishy) 

 

My main was the short rib, it was very good, but far to much for me

 

 

I went with the apple dessert, it was ok. 

 

We then went back and hung out in the cabin and on the balcony for a while. Shortly after 9 we headed up to deck 15 so we could watch Top Gun Maverick on MUTS. 

 

 

 

It was my second time seeing it and I enjoyed it again, it is nice to sit out in the warm air and enjoy a movie!

 

Back to the cabin as we have a big day tomorrow for our canal crossing. 

[jennifereisme]

Sailing Emerald for a B2B next month. Have they been offering any port spa "specials" that you have seen?

[jaycruising]

5 hours ago, jennifereisme said:

Sailing Emerald for a B2B next month. Have they been offering any port spa "specials" that you have seen?

We haven’t seen anything 

[jaycruising]

April 23, Panama Canal Transit

 

 

 

We were again up and at it very early this morning in anticipation of today’s events. Got a couple sunrise photos this morning. 

 

 

Then we got dressed and headed up to deck 15 to get some views, it was already quite busy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had booked seats in the Sanctuary for today, the cost for today was $60 and was open from 7-5. 
 

We arrived right around 7 and headed to our seats, we’re i came across a man claiming my chair as his own. Turns out he, like a few others up there didn’t realize that it was a paid area and they were scoping out good seats. We did in fact have good chairs for the day we were in the front row chairs 3 & 4. 
 

it was a little tricky trying to get photos from there as there is glass all around. (I will get some photos from the area later in the cruise as we have 3 more afternoons). 

[jennifereisme]

12 hours ago, jaycruising said:

We haven’t seen anything 

Thanks!

[jaycruising]

As we were getting close to the Bridge of the Atlantic I went out to the open deck to get some photos

 

 

 

 

Then we began making our way into the Agua Clara locks on the left, to the right is the old locks. 

 

Our tug coming to guide us through the locks

 

The locks beginning to open for us. 

 

 

 

Edited April 25, 2023 by jaycruising

[jaycruising]

As we continued to make our way into the locks, I was thankful for our personal space in the Sanctuary because there were so many people out there and it was so hot!

 

 

These are the gentleman who tie off the ship to keep us steady as we go through each lock, there are some of them on the ship as well. 

 

 

We made it through the first lock. 

 

[jaycruising]

It was time for a little breakfast 

 

 

I had the pineapple and granola and DM had the citrus fruits

 

 

After breakfast I headed down to deck 7 to see the locks from different angles. 

 

 

Closing the locks behind us

 

 

The doors used for the locks are hollow to allow for them to close quicker

 

Edited April 25, 2023 by jaycruising

[jaycruising]

Making our way out of the final lock and into Gatun lake

 

 

 

The lake is beautiful, we anchored there for about an hour. 

 

 

 

Looking towards the old locks

 

Edited April 25, 2023 by jaycruising

[jaycruising]

After just over an hour we lifted our anchor and began the scenic cruise through Gatun Lake and the river. 
 

 

 

For lunch we both had the Sesame Tuna, good but a little salty

 

Continued our scenic cruise

 

 

 

[DavidsNana]

Thanks so much for your wonderful detailed reports.  I have been on 3 Panama Canal cruises but always the old locks.  I'm loving your pictures of everything but especially the new locks so as to get a perspective between the old and the new.  So interesting.

 

[jaycruising]

More cruising, it was very relaxing

 

crossing under the centennial bridge

 

 

About 3:15 we came to the entrance of the Cocoli locks, but we didn’t actually go through them until closer to 4:30

 

 

 

 

[jaycruising]

I did a few Timelapse videos, I had hoped to do one, but it was scary holding my phone very still off the back of the ship!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[jaycruising]

We stayed up in the Sanctuary until we cleared the final locks, which was around 6:30. 

 

 

We caught a bit of the sunset as we made our way back to our cabin

 

We decided to skip dinner tonight since we had ate so much up in the Sanctuary, we also had tea time again. We were also pretty tired so we just enjoyed our balcony for a while and called it a night!

Panama City in the distance. 

[travelin.sisters]

thank you so much for taking the time to do this! it is a wonderful report & your photos are great!

 

[sammyjoanne]

We was on the cruise before 1st-16th, and we absolutely loved it. My fave place was costa rica and going into the rainforests. Enjoy the rest of your trip 🙂

[theloo]

On 4/18/2023 at 7:22 AM, jaycruising said:

Sorry to report I checked this morning and there is not one in the change rooms, they have nice showers. So the only one is in the Thermal Suite. 

Did you check the men's change room or the women's?  I was on the Ruby a few years ago and there was a sauna or steam room in the women's dressing room.

[theloo]

Also, I will be on the Emerald for a Hawaiian cruise in July.  I and one of my kids would really like to know what the activities will be.  Do you think that the Patters for this (Panama) cruise or the Hawaii live (on the Crown) would be a good predictor for what we will get?  Or some combo of both?  I know from our roll call that we will have Hawaiian ambassadors on board, so we will at least have those programs 🙂

[jaycruising]

1 hour ago, theloo said:

Did you check the men's change room or the women's?  I was on the Ruby a few years ago and there was a sauna or steam room in the women's dressing room.

They will only let me go in the women’s and the ship has been in dry dock last year. 

[jaycruising]

50 minutes ago, theloo said:

Also, I will be on the Emerald for a Hawaiian cruise in July.  I and one of my kids would really like to know what the activities will be.  Do you think that the Patters for this (Panama) cruise or the Hawaii live (on the Crown) would be a good predictor for what we will get?  Or some combo of both?  I know from our roll call that we will have Hawaiian ambassadors on board, so we will at least have those programs 🙂

I would Guess your patter’s would be closer to the Crown’s. Travelin.sisters did a live recently so I would check those. 

[theloo]

2 minutes ago, jaycruising said:

They will only let me go in the women’s and the ship has been in dry dock last year. 

Since you don't have a profile picture, I didn't want to assume your gender.  Sorry!