PANAMA CANAL CRUISE-2003

This was our third cruise. We left the Miami dock at 4:00 pm on Sunday, September 9th, 2003 and ultimately arrived at Long Beach, California on Sunday, September 21st. During those 15 days, we saw South America, Panama Canal, Costa Rico, Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, and LA. For specifics, see our itinerary below.


Upon arriving in Long Beach and docking by the Queen Mary on a very foggy Sunday morning, we picked up our rental car and for the next couple of days spent time in New Port Beach, Hollywood, Griffith Park, Observatory, and several places in the LA area. We flew home from LAX on Tuesday September 23rd arriving in Atlanta at 9:30 pm. What a trip!!


The highlight for me of course was the 8 hours it took the Carnival Cruise Ship-Pride- to navigate the Panama Canal at a cost of over $385,000. Just watching the "mules" help navigate us thru the tight fitting canals with just a couple feet of clearance on each side of the ship was in and of itself, an education. Additionally, I watched with amazement while very small horse power engines were able to quickly and methodically open and close the canal door locks and heavy duty pumps began to raise or lower the water in the canal.


Just for the benefit of the reader, here are the bodies of water and locks when traveling from Atlantic to Pacific Oceans. Starting from the Atlantic: Gatun Locks, Gatun Lake (largest), Pedro Miquel Locks, Miraflores Lake (smallest), Miraflores Locks, and on to the Pacific Ocean. I hope this somewhat helps with understanding the sequence of travel. Also, following includes topographic maps.

Please enjoy the photo journey below. I would really appreciate any and all comments.



Here is our 14 day cruise itinerary. Add a couple more days of sightseeing in the LA area before returning home on September 23rd. PLEASE CLICK ON ITINERARY TO ENLARGE FOR BETTER VIEWING.






Here I am on a hotel balcony in Miami the day of departure.

My sweet wife and I taking our first professional ship photo as we board the cruise ship-Pride.

After leaving Miami and two days at sea, we arrive in the harbor of Cartagena, Columbia. Before we could dock, our captain was notified that due to a high terrorists threat level, we were prohibited from docking. This was as close as we got before the ship turned and headed back to sea.

Here's an aerial map showing the Panama Canal and the travel of our ship.

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Above and below are good comparisons of the height differences in the lake, canal, and oceans.

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Carol and I at the bow of the Pride as we travel the Panama Canal. Are we having fun or what?? This was truly an experience of a lifetime.

One of the busy locks in the canal.

One of many cargo ships we saw during the 8 hour journey through the canal.

One of several "mules" when are on both port and starboard sides of each ship to maintain constant tension as they keep the large ships perfectly aligned in the locks--otherwise--the ships could strike the sides and damage ship and lock.

As I mentioned earlier, the lock doors--such as shown here--are operated by small horse power engines. They are under constant control and monitoring by staff members in the control house.

Here's the cargo ship.

A better view of the lock our cruise ship is in and the cargo ship next door on our starboard side.

The lock doors are closing for the cargo ship.

A small canal tug boat used to keep our ship safely away from land as we exit one of the locks for the open lake.

Another cargo ship.

Another "mule"--this one much larger.

Here is one of the control houses.

Oil tanker.

Notice the large guy wires on this mule attached to our cruise ship.

Looking over the side of our ship as the mules finish their job and we are safely through another lock.

Here is another photo as we approached a lock with same cargo ship on starboard side.

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Our ship passes thru lock.

Here is a mule hard at work.

Notice the double doors our cruise ship is passing thru.

Single set of doors.

Another ship.

From the top of our cruise ship.

Traveling through the lock just before we head toward the open lake.

The open canal.

Passing under a large bridge.

Passed by a cargo ship.

Passed by another cargo ship.

Approaching a canal lock.

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On the lake.

The open canal with a dredging ship that works around the clock.

Notice the markers in canal for ship to navigate through.

Looking to the rear of the Pride as we leave the Panama Canal and head on the open sea toward Costa Rico.

Every night found Carol at our assigned private table in the formal dinning room. Here is a photo with our great staff that waited on us for each dinner.

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Here I am ready for one of a couple formal dinner nights. Since the sun is still up (and in my eyes)--it's obvious we went to the early seating.

9-20-2003. Our 12th anniversary.

One of several Pride bands.

Our staff member.

We had the pleasure of taking "Mr H" of Hard Rock Cafe fame with us on this trip before he had to return home to Cinncinnati, Ohio.

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This is somewhat difficult to see, but the ship has an automated system that periodically cleans all the exterior window class.

Here we are on the gang way as we get ready to visit the small town and beach of Puntarena, Costa Rica.

The great crise ship Pride docked in Costa Rica.

Beach at Puntarena.

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Here is Carol at a beach gift shop near where we docked at Puntarena, Costa Rica.

Our ship departed Costa Rica on Saturday, September 13th. After two days at sea, we arrived at Acapulco, Mexico--here is a night photo.

Welcome to Acapulco! At the dock and taken from top of ship.

Here the passengers are getting off in Acapulco.

Here I am with a local policemen charged with protecting the ship while docked in Acapulco.

Looking from the stearn of the ship toward the mainland of Mexico just outside of Acapulco.

The main street of Acapulco. I hailed a taxi who took me to the Hard Rock Cafe and back to the ship. I did this for "visit credit" for my membership in the HRC Pin Collectors Club.

Carol and I on the gangway as we head into the city of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The day before (9-17), our ship docked at Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa--we chose to stay on board.

Here the Pride is docked at Puerto Vallarto.

From the dock, looking toward downtown Puerto Vallarto.

Here I am at the Puerto Vallarta Hard Rock Cafe.

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After leaving Puerto Vallarta, we traveled two days on the open sea and made our final docking in Long Beach, California. As we arrived late at night, the fog was so thick the captain had to blow the fog horn every couple of minutes as required by meritime rules. Here I am on our balcony with Mr H and the Queen Mary docked in the back ground.

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The historic Queen Mary.

This is the Hard Rock Cafe guitar in Newport Beach California.

Hollywood!

Hollywood and Vine!

DDowntown Hollywood.

Here is the guitar at the Hollywood Hard Rock Cafe.