Panama
Canal Cruise
D, J & the gang aboard the
Legend of the Seas October 2004
J had "visited" Panama briefly during his military years but never really got to properly see the canal, and D had not been there at all. So when the idea of a cruise was lofted by our friends Albert & Luanne we signed on immediately. By the time we actually launched, the two-couple trip had grown to five couples but, hey, the more the merrier.
Our itinerary involved a red-eye flight from LA to Fort Lauderdale to join the Royal Caribbean Lines' Legend of the Seas for a Sunday afternoon departure, then it was on to our first stop at Oranjestad, Aruba. After that we did the Canal transit, made one stop in Costa Rica (Puntarenas) and three in Mexico (Huatulco, Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas). The trip ended on the 15th day in San Diego, only a couple of hundred miles' drive from home.
While the Legend of the Seas is one generation behind the "superships" now coming on line, having a mere 2100 passenger capacity, it is still a pretty significant piece of machinery. About 870 feet long and 105 feet wide, it boasts two swimming pools, four hot tubs, a spectacular 9-story 'centrium', plus all the usual dining and entertainment facilities. We found it a very enjoyable place to spend a leisurely 15 days.
Here are a few photos from the trip (click on thumbnail for full size):
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