Panama Canal on the Ruby Princess 2023 Christmas cruise-photo/ video journal by Bimmer09

[Bimmer09]

1 hour ago, ljhershey said:

Gorgeous photos!  

 

Could you please comment on how the messaging service in the app functioned... specifically

 

Does the sender know if the message has been sent or received?

 

Does the recipient get a notification/tone/vibration when they receive a message? 

 

Is internet access required for messaging?

 

Thanks so much for your thorough coverage of your trip.

I can only say one thing for certain- internet was required via Medallion Net/Airplane mode.

Ashore we used our Verizon plan.

I don't recall getting tones or vibrations. I carried my phone on a belt holster. I have the sound turned off.

I only knew if the message had been received if I saw an answer to my text.

Norris

[ljhershey]

2 minutes ago, Bimmer09 said:

I can only say one thing for certain- internet was required via Medallion Net/Airplane mode.

Ashore we used our Verizon plan.

I don't recall getting tones or vibrations. I carried my phone on a belt holster. I have the sound turned off.

I only knew if the message had been received if I saw an answer to my text.

Norris

Thx very much.  I shall continue to enjoy your journal.

 

[Deck Chair Queen]

1 hour ago, Bimmer09 said:

I can only say one thing for certain- internet was required via Medallion Net/Airplane mode.

Ashore we used our Verizon plan.

I don't recall getting tones or vibrations. I carried my phone on a belt holster. I have the sound turned off.

I only knew if the message had been received if I saw an answer to my text.

Norris

Actually we did not use the Medallion messaging so I don’t know about the notifications or internet requirements. We used regular iMessage SMS texts using the ship wifi and Verizon in ports. For full access to your wireless data plan (unlimited data in our case) you pay $10 per day per device with a Verizon Travel Pass. $5/day for Canada and Mexico. 

Edited January 11 by Deck Chair Queen

[ljhershey]

12 minutes ago, Deck Chair Queen said:

Actually we did not use the Medallion messaging so I don’t know about the notifications or internet requirements. We used regular iMessage SMS texts using the ship wifi and Verizon in ports. For full access to your wireless data plan (unlimited data in our case) you pay $10 per day per device with a Verizon Travel Pass. $5/day for Canada and Mexico. 

Thanks for clarifying.  As an Android user, I am hoping WhatsApp will work similarly for us 

 

[Bimmer09]

The view from breakfast at Sabatini's

 

 

Sabatini's

 

The usual starters, drinks and a hearty entree

 

We are still climbing up through the locks as we eat. Each lock lifts us 27 feet Carol tells me. 3 locks then we'll emerge into Gate Lake. Santa will be visiting the Piazza at 9.15 a.m. So we'll be going there next for a look-see.

[Bimmer09]

THE ARRIVAL OF SANTA!

 

 

 

 

[Bimmer09]

Hosted by CD Natalie with a silent assist from Stanley the bear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bimmer09]

 

1300 passengers were tendering ashore this morning on excursions. Not us. That would leave 1900 aboard in Gatun Lake.

 

 

The canal is just over there (pointing)

 

 

but we'll wait here

 

 

 

 

Da Vinci is open for lunch as this is seen as a sea day. Crab Shack is a pop-up in the Crown Grill from 12- 1.30 also. We'll pop along to Da Vinci for a nice relaxed lunch.

[Bimmer09]

Before we get to the food this lunchtime here is the gang who serve us or just want to get into our videos.

Our waiters  are Kevin and Rizza-the rest just want to get into showbiz....

 

 

[Bimmer09]

What's for lunch?

 

 

My country style lentil soup

 

Carol's Thai Spring Roll -veggie forward which is her style

 

My dull as dishwater Monte Cristo sandwich 

 

Carol's Fried Chicken with Collard Greens which lacked ham in the cooking. Kevin warned Carol but she went ahead and regretted it. Chicken off the bone and NOT deep fried. Big fail.

 

My yummy overloaded ice cream sundae!

[Ellipooh]

How did you know how many pax went ashore? I couldn’t discern anything from the accompanying picture. 

[MustangGT]

@Bimmer09 That is the worst looking Monte Cristo sandwich I have ever seen! 

[LC1950]

9 minutes ago, MustangGT said:

@Bimmer09 That is the worst looking Monte Cristo sandwich I have ever seen! 

 

Trust me, it tasted far worse than it looks!  I ordered it in the MDR for lunch on my Grand Princess New Zealand cruise last month.  One small bite was more than enough.  Yuk! 

I had to have a scoop of icecream to recover my tastebuds.

[Bimmer09]

11 hours ago, Ellipooh said:

How did you know how many pax went ashore? I couldn’t discern anything from the accompanying picture. 

There were many announcements over the PA to muster those with excursions as they didn't have specific tender times-the Canal Authorities were in control of the timings. The CD said over the PA that 1298 people had excursions and that those people should listen for their tours being called.

Norris

[Bimmer09]

We're going back through the canal

 

 

We left the lake behind

 

 

The tug draws us in

 

 

The ship will be secured to some of the yellow bollards once in position

 

 

The sheltered bow on deck 8- a superb Grand Class feature

 

 

 

I went back to our balcony to get a shot of the tug at the stern

 

 

 

[Bimmer09]

 

 

 

 

 

Freight train, freight train, going so fast

 

 

 

[Marvy Mare]

Pete Seeger and the earlier Beautiful Morning song from Oklahoma. 

Edited January 12 by Marvy Mare

[Bimmer09]

 

 

Colon

 

 

 

 

[Bimmer09]

I shot some video of the canal process some of which might seem like a paint-drying video but we were surprised how fast each lock was filled or emptied. I'd say 40 minutes or so in each lock. Once we are free of the locks the Captain heads for the Atlantic Bridge, pedal to the metal and leans on the horn while passing under it. He said this was his 50th time in the canal and he was pumped!

 

 

[1emerald1]

Thank you so much for getting up so early to take these incredible photos for us!!

[Bimmer09]

1 hour ago, 1emerald1 said:

Thank you so much for getting up so early to take these incredible photos for us!!

Thank you for reading along. Glad you enjoy the photos.

It was worth getting up early for! Definitely one of my best days on a cruise ship. Next Christmas Day we'll be in Aruba on the HAL Rotterdam.

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Colon at sunset

All those excursions return to Colon to rejoin the ship. The ship waits for 3 hours or so and anyone who wants can get off and look around. That's what I should have done.

I would definitely have taken photos of the ship lit up at night. Next time-yes we will be back through the canal at some point. Maybe a Los Angeles to Ft Lauderdale trip.

There are no ship excursions to be taken there. Just walk off get a beer or a snack or a walk to the huge shopping mall at our feet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's a ship nerd's heaven!

[Bimmer09]

My dad was a cargo ship's Captain so I have been witness to docks and ships and cranes coming alive as darkness falls since I was 6 years old and sailed with my dad to ports like Liverpool and Preston in England. So I get excited when the sun goes down and the lights come on. I reach for the camera.

 

 

 

One last look to the marina and the little park

 

The supermarket roof. It just rained the way tropical places rain-a deluge for just 5 minutes.

 

This is where you can get get off and have a drink, a snack and do some shopping. Pretty impressive from deck 16 of the Ruby. Lots of families were on the quay admiring the ship all lit up.

 

and we sail away

[perfect match]

I loved the canal pics, Norris! Thank you!

The Panama Canal is one of my bucket list trips. I will get there, hopefully soon.

[Bimmer09]

A very festive but poorly focused greeting at Da Vinci

 

 

my butternut squash soup

 

Carol's seafood salad

 

 

I looked forward to lobster thermidor. Small lobster. Kevin offered to bring me more but I declined. That tells you something.

 

another small salad for Carol

 

 

Carol's entree-ham, veg and mashed potato underneath. Culinary excellence ?

 

 

My English Christmas "pudding" was tasty enough but not what it said on the menu, which was the case with some dishes. It was a tiny piece of dry fruit cake with some luke-warm custard. The Exec Chef (an Indian) would do best to steer away from claiming regionality for his dishes as he's often off the mark geographically somewhat.

Edited January 13 by Bimmer09
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