ON BOARD THE CELEBRITY MILLENNIUM — The longest stretch of the Panama Canal, a stretch that cruise ship employees have been known to call affectionately “a day in the ditch,” was also the most difficult terrain to cross when it was built a century ago. Think turn a mountainside into a man-made lake, with what… Continue reading The Ongoing Ride to the Pacific
Category: Ports
A Celebrity Sibling Moment
On Board the Celebrity Millennium — At 10:52 this morning, thousands of people on two boats, people who had never met and who likely never would meet, spent a few minutes waving at each other across the water that felt about the width of a football field, from one Celebrity cruise ship to another. For… Continue reading A Celebrity Sibling Moment
Cruising Above Sea Level
On board the Celebrity Millennium — Estimates are it will take an hour and 15 minutes to navigate the Gatun Locks, and we will anchor for close to two hours in the lake. However, by being mere minutes ahead of schedule, we are able to follow the ship in front without anchoring, and go right… Continue reading Cruising Above Sea Level
Entering the Panama Canal
The early-morning fog hovers over the Atlantic waters of the Panama Canal as The Millennium arrives at the mouth. It’s 5:45 a.m. Three Panamanian pilots — three are required because of the size of the ship — are on board at the breakwaters. The humidity of the Panamanian jungle is oppressive, even at this early… Continue reading Entering the Panama Canal
The Panama Canal
It was to be, and ultimately became, the engineering marvel of its time. The Panama Canal was started by the French in the late 19th century, and abandoned in shame after millions of dollars, 22,000 deaths (mostly from malaria and yellow fever) and 200 uncoordinated engineering companies. The Canal was about one-third complete when the… Continue reading The Panama Canal