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

[startedwithamouse]

1 hour 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 can say no, not at all. We've been on this cruise in January and had hardly any kids, there were around 30 under 18. We had 1,700 guests on our sailing and it was a really old crowd and activities were geared towards them. The kids clubs have their own activities patter or sheet which has a schedule of activities for the entire voyage. We have been on the November Thanksgiving cruise with 1,000 kids and there were lots of family activities. 

[theloo]

2 minutes ago, startedwithamouse said:

I can say no, not at all. We've been on this cruise in January and had hardly any kids, there were around 30 under 18. We had 1,700 guests on our sailing and it was a really old crowd and activities were geared towards them. The kids clubs have their own activities patter or sheet which has a schedule of activities for the entire voyage. We have been on the November Thanksgiving cruise with 1,000 kids and there were lots of family activities. 

So more family activities when there are lots of kids on board, even outside the kids/teen clubs?  My kids are older, so they would like trivia, but not crafts or karaoke 😁

[jaycruising]

1 hour ago, theloo said:

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

No problems, happens all the time!

[startedwithamouse]

41 minutes ago, theloo said:

So more family activities when there are lots of kids on board, even outside the kids/teen clubs?  My kids are older, so they would like trivia, but not crafts or karaoke 😁

Yes, they always have trivia. They'll have 80s, 90s music, Harry Potter,  star wars,  Disney, Friends, Big Bang Theory, ABBa themed trivia too and more. Lots of fun game shows in explorers lounge. Lots of movies too, all the marvel, Jurassic, top gun, etc. 

[jaycruising]

2 minutes ago, startedwithamouse said:

Yes, they always have trivia. They'll have 80s, 90s music, Harry Potter,  star wars,  Disney, Friends, Big Bang Theory, ABBa themed trivia too and more. Lots of fun game shows in explorers lounge. Lots of movies too, all the marvel, Jurassic, top gun, etc. 

they also have a teens club with activities and an area just for them. 

[startedwithamouse]

18 minutes ago, jaycruising said:

they also have a teens club with activities and an area just for them. 

As I stated in my post #126.

[theloo]

Thank you for your answers while on board@jaycruising!  I'm enjoying the food photos since that will probably be similar to my upcoming cruise, with some regional additions for Hawaii, hopefully.

I just read that the NCL Sun (couple of days behind you) is delayed in Cartagena with electrical problems 😧

Edited April 26, 2023 by theloo

[jaycruising]

42 minutes ago, theloo said:

Thank you for your answers while on board@jaycruising!  I'm enjoying the food photos since that will probably be similar to my upcoming cruise, with some regional additions for Hawaii, hopefully.

I just read that the NCL Sun (couple of days behind you) is delayed in Cartagena with electrical problems 😧

No worries, after our port day tomorrow we have 5 sea days and 2 port days left, so ask away. I can’t believe we have just over a week left!

[jaycruising]

April 24, Puerto Amador for Panama City

 

One of the things I have really enjoyed about this cruise is the length of time we get in port, with the exception of Cartagena. 
 

More views of Panama City from our balcony 

 

We had booked a private excursion that a lady on our roll call had put together, and I was very thankful for that. The pier here just opened a short time ago and you cannot walk anywhere in the area, as it is quite a distance and well a construction zone. I totally blanked on getting any pictures, sorry. They have buses that will take you over to the meet up zone for no charge. 
 

We had to meet our group for 10, so after a light breakfast in the buffet we headed out to catch the bus around 9:20, so glad we didn’t leave it any later. It isn’t that far, but the bus isn’t really driving on the road to start with and they only unload in one place so you had to wait for the bus in front to unload. 
 

If you did not precook a tour, not to worry there are about 200 people out front ready to take you, they are approaching the bus before you even get out and there are deals to be had. The police are in the area and will keep them away from certain areas. 

We were doing a city tour with various stops along the way, some photos are also taken out of the bus windows. 

 

Interesting wiring

 

This is the fancy mall, they also have a mid level mall and then a more discount mall

 

One of the offices in the financial district, Panama City is called the Dubai of the west

 

Edited April 26, 2023 by jaycruising

[jaycruising]

 

We then went to the lookout point for Bridge of the Americas, which is good since it was dark last night when we went under it and they don’t have many lights. 

 

 

 

We then drove more, which to me felt a bit like in circles, but according to Jennifer they don’t have street signs or actual addresses, you just describe your house location. Also, the only post office in the city was built by the Americans for their troops they had stationed there. The Panamanian people don’t send or receive mail. Your meter reading are done manually as they go around and they just leave the bills. 
 

Jennifer described this area as the hood and said the only time the government pays attention to it is when elections are coming up. 

 

 

[jaycruising]

And then as soon as you cross over one street you are in the old city and everything changes…

 

Our first stop in old town was St Joseph’s church and this alter is made of gold

 

 

 

 

 

In the back they have a very intricate nativity scene (I have pictures on the other camera) and these statues. 

 

[jaycruising]

Then we crossed the square and made it over to Metropolitan Archcathedral Basilica of Santa María la Antigua, it is stunning!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They are still working on the organ but Jennifer had a video of them testing it and it was exquisite 

 

[jaycruising]

Back in our bus

 

 

 

Out next stop was the Cocoli locks visitor centre. The fee for the imax movie and viewing platform was $17.22 each. 
 

 

The movie is narrated by Morgan Freeman and took about 45 minutes, the seats are very comfortable. 
 

Then we headed out to wait for a ship to come through to complete the transit

 

 

We couldn’t make it up to the higher platform as it was full, so we did have a low view. 

[jaycruising]

We saw 2 catamarans, a sailboat and a tanker go through at once. 

 

 

 

 

the catamarán and sailboat have disappeared 

 

 

Here are a couple Timelapse’s 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[jaycruising]

Here are the mules that pull the ships through the old locks

 

It was time to make our way back to the ship, we needed to leave plenty of time as traffic in Panama can be very busy. Our ship in the distance 

 

This is our guide Jennifer beside the Panama sign. 

 

Once we had our bumpy ride back to the ship we both laid down for a little nap as we had a big night. 
 

Some final views of Panama City

 

 

[gnatz007]

In Fuerte Amador did you have to tender in?  Or did you use the new cruise terminal and pier?

[jaycruising]

5 minutes ago, gnatz007 said:

In Fuerte Amador did you have to tender in?  Or did you use the new cruise terminal and pier?

The pier, the terminal is not ready yet, they pick you up on the pier and bus you in. 

[KyloRen]

12 hours ago, theloo said:

  I'm enjoying the food photos since that will probably be similar to my upcoming cruise, with some regional additions for Hawaii, hopefully.

 😧

yes and the menus! I’m on the June 01 Hawaii sailing and I don’t recall the food looking this good when I went on the Hawaiian cruise years ago. There’s defo going to be Regional stuff (they roasted a pig on deck one evening). 

[theloo]

27 minutes ago, KyloRen said:

yes and the menus! I’m on the June 01 Hawaii sailing and I don’t recall the food looking this good when I went on the Hawaiian cruise years ago. There’s defo going to be Regional stuff (they roasted a pig on deck one evening). 

If you could post a couple of the Patters (for at-sea days) after you get back from Hawaii, I would really appreciate it!  I will be on the July 6 sailing.  

[CalLuvsCrusingToo]

Enjoying all your pics!  Deja vu

 

Can't believe we were just there at the Locks, couple weeks ago....

 

We reserved Sancturary too, and had booked seats First, getting dead center forward.

We thought, this will be awesome....

Didn't take long for the foursome, who booked a couple rows Behind us, to move forward

and Stand in Front of our loungers most of the time.  ☹️

Can't believe Sanctuary staff let them do that?  

The foursome could have easily moved over a little, and never did.

It was pretty rude. So much for having reserved seats in Front.😞

 

Think our Fav stop was Panama City.

 

As much as we liked seeing Cartegena, the Highrise Haves, vs. the Shanty Have Nots, was

very evident.  We traveled over an hour each way thru some of it.... sad.

 

But very thankful for all we got to see, and enjoying your Live reporting! 

Great job!

 

 

Edited April 26, 2023 by CalLuvsCrusingToo

[jaycruising]

5 hours ago, CalLuvsCrusingToo said:

Enjoying all your pics!  Deja vu

 

Can't believe we were just there at the Locks, couple weeks ago....

 

We reserved Sancturary too, and had booked seats First, getting dead center forward.

We thought, this will be awesome....

Didn't take long for the foursome, who booked a couple rows Behind us, to move forward

and Stand in Front of our loungers most of the time.  ☹️

Can't believe Sanctuary staff let them do that?  

The foursome could have easily moved over a little, and never did.

It was pretty rude. So much for having reserved seats in Front.😞

 

Think our Fav stop was Panama City.

 

As much as we liked seeing Cartegena, the Highrise Haves, vs. the Shanty Have Nots, was

very evident.  We traveled over an hour each way thru some of it.... sad.

 

But very thankful for all we got to see, and enjoying your Live reporting! 

Great job!

 

 

We were in the second seats over and had some people doing that too The lady in the morning would make people move, not the one in the afternoon. 
 

I can’t say yet which is my favourite, I have really loved parts of all of them. 
 

Thank you!

 

[nini]

1 hour ago, jaycruising said:

We were in the second seats over and had some people doing that too The lady in the morning would make people move, not the one in the afternoon. 
 

I can’t say yet which is my favourite, I have really loved parts of all of them. 
 

Thank you!

 

Good grief!!! Why are people so stupid and rude?!?!?!

[jaycruising]

After our nap from our fantastic day in Panama City we had to be in vines by 6:30 for our evening at Chef’s Table. 
 

Here are a few interesting facts we learned about the process. 
*Corporate says they only have to do 1 on a 7 day cruise and 2 on a 14, and it is up to the Maître D and Chef if they will do more. 
*It is a first come first served model, first to sign up will be first to be asked, so if you really want to do it make it a priority when you board. You can put your name down by calling the dine line, asking guest services to call for you or speaking with someone at one of the restaurants. We inquired at Sabatinis. 

* They are only held on port days, in hopes the kitchen is slower. 
* On our sailing 88 people had expressed interest but only 40 would be chosen. 
 

our reminder was slid under the door the day prior. 

 

We were greeted at vines by a waiter in a tuxedo and provided whatever we would like to drink. 
 

Then Chef and Rui came over to meet us and lead us into Michelangelo finding room. On the newer ships they have a more private area, but here we were just seated in the dining room. 
 

Once in the dining room we gathered for our group photo, women seated with the men, chef and Rui behind. 
 

We then found our assigned seats with placards. Rui and Chef then came around and did individual photos with either solos or couples. 

 

 

 

They brought out breadsticks and small buns, but I decided to pass as I didn’t want to waste any room I had in my stomach!

 

[jaycruising]

it was a timed serving and we were served at pretty much the same time. 
 

We also began with Cartier Champagne 

 

We then began with our Amuse Bouche, a cheese roll, tuna tataki, poached lobster and a shrimp roll with puff pastry

 

It was all so good but I think the shrimp was my favourite 

 

Next was the Confit which was a veal Ravioli served with a Sauvignon Blanc

 

This was absolutely amazing!

 

Now was time for our pallet cleanser and almost stole the show both in presentation and taste. It was a passion fruit sorbet with vodka

 

For our main course we had 3 proteins, grilled beef filet, herb crusted lamb chops, and a Brazilian grilled lobster. This was my first time having lamb and I enjoyed it. Our wine was a merlot. 

 

I am not certain I saw anyone clear their plate. Also we were not done, there still was dessert 

 

First course of dessert was a milk chocolate and raspberry mousse, served with an ice wine and tea or coffee if you like. 

 

We also got homemade pralines, served I. A carved chocolate container, almost all of us took this to go. 

 

 

Finally we were each (or couple) provided with our photos, a signed copy of the menu and the ladies were also presented with a long stem rose 

 

The cost including wine is $100 per person, without wine is $85. I have had a few people ask me if it is worth it and that of course will depend on the person. For me… absolutely, I will happily pay for good food and experience. We were treated like gold throughout the whole dinner, I was never left wanting anything, the food was fantastic and the experience was too!  Only you can decide worth it or not. 
 

Dinner took just over 2 and a half hours, after it was done we decided we needed to walk, so we did a few laps arrufe the promenade deck and then realized we were too tired after 3 long days of activities, so an early bedtime. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Olympic Crow]

Wow! Thanks for sharing your experience at the Chef's Table!