Live! Radiance of the Seas - Panama Canal cruise - April 8, 2024

[Teeara]

3 hours ago, island lady said:

 

Excellent picture!  Thanks for sharing!

 

It is also beautiful all lit up at night, though I don't think you are returning to Tampa?   If so, that sight is around 2-2:30 am.  Gorgeous!

Nope.  Full transit to Los Angeles.

[Teeara]

The second half of my photos didn’t post yesterday.  Grrr….  So, to continue.

 

We were finally allowed into our cabins at 1:30.  No luggage (we didn’t get it until after dinner).

 

We have cabin 7094 next to the Business Center and Centrum.  It’s waaaaaay smaller than our Owners Suite on Wonder and we’re feeling the pinch.

 

 

We got this cabin for the deeper covered balcony.

 

 

3:00 was eclipse time so we headed top side to catch the view.  This was taken with a filter and I think it turned out well.

 

 

We then grabbed Bahama Mamas (our sailaway drink) and found some loungers in the shade.

 

 

Sailaway is always fun to watch, especially when you know you won’t be setting foot on land for a couple of days.

 

 

I was getting hot and the last thing I needed was more sun, so I moved back to the cabin in time to watch the sheriff’s boat speed by.

 

 

Dinner tonight was in the MDR.  I had the fried chicken and Pam had the prime rib.

 

 

As mentioned earlier, the captain came on to say we were approaching the bridge so I hustled out of the dining room in time to catch us going under the bridge.

 

 

When we got back to the room we found all our luggage outside, so we spent the rest of the evening unpacking and listening to the Centrum music until 11 pm.  Another thing we didn’t like was the Casino’s smoke smells coming up to us.

 

Off to bed at 12:15 am.

[RobInMN]

1 hour ago, ONECRUISER said:

Think I saw you doing these, didnt realize you had the protection. Nice! Watched bunch of Passengers and Crew staring at the Sun w/o any. Chatted with my Grand Daughter, she said they kept all kids inside all day. Irony is when I was also in 8th Grade(45yrs ago) the Science Teacher took us out in small Groups to learn about the Eclipse. We had Double Welding Glass and did the Paper with hole in it trick and another placed beneath. 

We were actually on an aft balcony when I took those. I was just holding a pair of solar glasses over the phone's camera lenses 😁and blocking the sun from my eyes with my phone. I did not pre-plan anything.

[RobInMN]

I love doing this shot on the Radiance class

[island lady]

40 minutes ago, Teeara said:

Nope.  Full transit to Los Angeles.

 

Ahhh...LA.   Did you book the Royal transfer to the airport there?   We were worried about LA traffic (which ended up being practically null on Sunday am)...so we booked with them when we disembarked WC Serenade 1st  quarter.  

 

Was good service and not much different price wise than a taxi to the airport.  I actually booked it on the ship 2 days before we got to LA.  

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 9 by island lady

[Teeara]

3 hours ago, island lady said:

 

Ahhh...LA.   Did you book the Royal transfer to the airport there?   We were worried about LA traffic (which ended up being practically null on Sunday am)...so we booked with them when we disembarked WC Serenade 1st  quarter.  

 

Was good service and not much different price wise than a taxi to the airport.  I actually booked it on the ship 2 days before we got to LA.  

 

 

 

 

 

We’re going to take a Lyft.  I hate waiting for buses to fill up, etc.

[Teeara]

8 hours ago, RobInMN said:

I love doing this shot on the Radiance class

I need to get that shot.  I was there this afternoon turning in my form to get my first crystal block!

[Teeara]

 

Today is our first sea day.  We had a lot of motion on the ocean overnight and today.

 

 

We’ve been doing approximately 21 knots since we need to get to Cartagena on time.  Today we are going around the tip of Cuba.

 

 

After breakfast we went hunting for a quiet pace to read and found this lovely spot in the back of the Colony Club that looks out on the ship’s wake.

 

 

After lunch it was time for the enrichment lecture on the building of the Panama Canal.

 

 

The Stockhams will be doing many more lectures during this cruise.

 

 

Here is today’s Cruise Compass.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had our first specialty dining at Giovanni’s tonight.  We both ordered the calamari for our appetizers, then Pam had the Branzino and I had the Garlic Shrimp.  We finished it off with Tiramisus.

 

 

And here’s the MDR menu for Day 2.

 

Let me know if you want to see some food porn 😉😁😮. I haven’t been taking any pictures but I can.

 

And we’re ending our day in the Centrum listening to the house band after watching the evening show in the theater (Piano Man).

 

 

See you tomorrow for Day 3 and our second sea day.

Edited April 10 by Teeara

[gambler]

Following along. Great review so far. Yes, food porn is good.

[perfect match]

16 hours ago, island lady said:

 

Excellent picture!  Thanks for sharing!

 

It is also beautiful all lit up at night, though I don't think you are returning to Tampa?   If so, that sight is around 2-2:30 am.  Gorgeous!

 

This night owl would most likely be up to see the bridge all lit up at night! 😎 There are advantages to being a night owl 🦉!

 

14 hours ago, ONECRUISER said:

Agree. For being Sister Ships lot of Differences between the 4, Shower Curtains or Doors, Centrum stairs or not. And many more... 

 

Inquiring minds want to know - which of these ships have shower doors and which have shower curtains? What other little details like this do I need to know about before I book us to sail on one of them?

 

13 hours ago, RobInMN said:

I love doing this shot on the Radiance class

That’s a great shot!

 

4 hours ago, Teeara said:

I need to get that shot.  I was there this afternoon turning in my form to get my first crystal block!

We get our first crystal block on our upcoming Allure cruise! I’m excited to get it. 

[FionaMG]

I am a food porn fan too. 😂

[surgie]

On 4/8/2024 at 6:59 PM, Teeara said:

So our driver picked us up 15 minutes early and we were at Terminal 3 a few minutes before 10 a.m.

 

 

We were quickly whisked upstairs, checked in and waiting in the suites/Key area in less than 10 minutes.

 

 

We stopped to watch them add ship provisions prior to boarding the ship.

 

 

I work so I can have this view every yeStanding in line at Chops to make our dinner reservations.  I came with a post-it with the dates and venues written on it.  I got everything I wanted, but I still think it’s stupid that we have to “rush for classes” in order to make specialty dining reservations.

 

 

After lunch we went for a stroll on the Promenade.

 

 

We walked to the front of the ship and found the helipad was open.

 

 

 

[surgie]

"Standing in line at Chops to make our dinner reservations.  I came with a post-it with the dates and venues written on it.  I got everything I wanted, but I still think it’s stupid that we have to “rush for classes” in order to make specialty dining reservations."

 

Wondering why you had to stand in line to make dinner reservations instead of reserving in advance? Better pricing?

[island lady]

16 hours ago, Teeara said:

We’re going to take a Lyft.  I hate waiting for buses to fill up, etc.

 

Good choice also.  We usually take a taxi, very rare for us to do the transfer, but ended up being surprisingly comfortable.  Does not mean we will do it again, but was worth the experience and less stressful for us at the time.  🙂 

[irishgal432]

11 hours ago, Teeara said:

 

Today is our first sea day.  We had a lot of motion on the ocean overnight and today.

 

 

We’ve been doing approximately 21 knots since we need to get to Cartagena on time.  Today we are going around the tip of Cuba.

 

 

After breakfast we went hunting for a quiet pace to read and found this lovely spot in the back of the Colony Club that looks out on the ship’s wake.

 

 

After lunch it was time for the enrichment lecture on the building of the Panama Canal.

 

 

The Stockhams will be doing many more lectures during this cruise.

 

 

Here is today’s Cruise Compass.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had our first specialty dining at Giovanni’s tonight.  We both ordered the calamari for our appetizers, then Pam had the Branzino and I had the Garlic Shrimp.  We finished it off with Tiramisus.

 

 

 

And here’s the MDR menu for Day 2.

 

Let me know if you want to see some food porn 😉😁😮. I haven’t been taking any pictures but I can.

 

And we’re ending our day in the Centrum listening to the house band after watching the evening show in the theater (Piano Man).

 

 

 

See you tomorrow for Day 3 and our second sea day.

I met the Stockholms on an Alaska cruise.  They are very interesting people.  If  you get a chance strike up a conversation with them.

[Another_Critic]

11 hours ago, Teeara said:

... turning in my form to get my first crystal block!

 

7 hours ago, perfect match said:

We get our first crystal block on our upcoming Allure cruise! I’m excited to get it. 

Congrats on your first crystal block.

 

I earned my first block on Adventure in 2019.  Will earn my fifth (420 point) block on Oasis in two weeks.

[RobInMN]

Delete

Edited April 10 by RobInMN

[RobInMN]

13 hours ago, Teeara said:

I need to get that shot.  I was there this afternoon turning in my form to get my first crystal block!

Congrats! We earned our second (210) on Allure last September, and we'll be with you on the Allure TA in 2025, and wouldn't you know it, that will be when we earn our third block (280)🤣. I guess I'll be in the market to trade an Allure for symphony (or Odyssey?)😁

[ONECRUISER]

13 hours ago, Teeara said:

 

Today is our first sea day.  We had a lot of motion on the ocean overnight and today.

 

 

We’ve been doing approximately 21 knots since we need to get to Cartagena on time.  Today we are going around the tip of Cuba.

 

 

After breakfast we went hunting for a quiet pace to read and found this lovely spot in the back of the Colony Club that looks out on the ship’s wake.

 

 

After lunch it was time for the enrichment lecture on the building of the Panama Canal.

 

 

The Stockhams will be doing many more lectures during this cruise.

 

 

Here is today’s Cruise Compass.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had our first specialty dining at Giovanni’s tonight.  We both ordered the calamari for our appetizers, then Pam had the Branzino and I had the Garlic Shrimp.  We finished it off with Tiramisus.

 

 

And here’s the MDR menu for Day 2.

 

Let me know if you want to see some food porn 😉😁😮. I haven’t been taking any pictures but I can.

 

And we’re ending our day in the Centrum listening to the house band after watching the evening show in the theater (Piano Man).

 

 

See you tomorrow for Day 3 and our second sea day.

99% the time I've always done Aft Corner(Vision/Radiance Class), but picked lower Deck 7 last Fall to get closer look while going threw the Canal... Sea Sick Bags out for 2 days, usually tell by that if expecting a rocky ride though really isnt bad at all, was worse last Fall's Radiance PC Cruise. That was 6 straight Sea Days steering around the Hurricane.

Edited April 10 by ONECRUISER

[clochette]

looking forward to following you, we did this trip a year ago on the Radiance from Galveston, it was our first time on a Radiance class and we loved it.

[njkruzer]

8 minutes ago, ONECRUISER said:

99% the time I've always done Aft Corner(Vision/Radiance Class), but picked lower Deck 7 last Fall to get closer look while going threw the Canal... Sea Sick Bags out for 2 days, usually tell by that if expecting a rocky ride though really isnt bad at all, was worse last Fall's Radiance PC Cruise. That was 6 straight Sea Days steering around the Hurricane.

Gosh didn't think the weather was that bad going around the hurricanes!

[ONECRUISER]

2 hours ago, irishgal432 said:

I met the Stockholms on an Alaska cruise.  They are very interesting people.  If  you get a chance strike up a conversation with them.

True, met them on another PC Cruise, yesterday they just walked up and started talking to me. Very friendly, approachable 

[Another_Critic]

19 minutes ago, RobInMN said:

Congrats! We earned our second (210) on Allure last September, and we'll be with you on the Allure TA in 2025, and wouldn't you know it, that will be when we earn our third block (280)🤣. I guess I'll be in the market to trade an Allure for symphony (or Odyssey?)😁

I will have one block for each current class of RCI ships, except Quantum Ultra and Icon.

 

Vision = Enchantment

Radiance = Radiance

Voyager = Adventure

Freedom = Liberty

Quantum = Anthem (x2)

Oasis = Oasis

 

I need to trade my extra Anthem for Odyssey or Icon.

 

[ONECRUISER]

Just now, njkruzer said:

Gosh didn't think the weather was that bad going around the hurricanes!

Yeah even that wasnt too bad, done about a dozen Cruises out of Boston, can get real Choppy and Ship going 22kts in that doesnt help. Use to Cruise Labor Day week every yr, had 4 named storms/Hurricanes on one Cruise alone. Churned up the waters as we came behind them. This on Sovereign a REAL rough ride. Saw lot people in Wheel Chairs, on Crutches, wrists bandaged up next few days. We had The Monkees performing that yr. Saw Peter Tork in WindJammer with Sea Sick patches behind his ears and wrist bands. He looked really green

[island lady]

Hope you enjoy good weather on the way to the canal Teeara and Pam!  🙂  

 

And congrats on your first block!  They are so different now with the color background (yet another supplier)...but I like them.  Bucky doesn't like them as well as the plain crystal blocks. 

 

We have had many duplicates, which we give to crew members who adore them!  My shelves are a tad full right now.  😉  And some of those pesky "pointy ones" have taken up room as well.  😄