Jan 18th - Panama Canal Transit

Walnut whip. That got that out the way. See yesterday's post if confused.

Early start today as we rose at 6am for the Panama Canal transit which took us from the Atlantic Ocean into the Pacific Ocean via 6 locks and under 3 bridges and over 10 hours. P&O provided us with a 4 page A4 souvenir booklet. We viewed this from many parts of the ship and hopefully these pictures, and descriptions, will capture the day.

Here we are about to go under the Atlantic Bridge. Goodbye Atlantic Ocean.

We are in Gatun Locks - 3 lock system - with a lovely view of the Atlantic Bridge we passed

Entering the 1st lock. It’s a dual 3 lock system and we will be boat 5 - can you see the other 4?

Ships are kept in place in the lock by mules. They used to be animals but are now motorised trucks. Can you see the cable attached to Arcadia?

Look how close we are to the mules.

Here is a ship in the adjacent lock. We could have swapped goods!!!

We believe this is an old lock keeper hut

In last lock before we enter Gatun Lake.

An NCL cruise ship in Gatun lake doing a partial transit - in thru Gatun locks,spend time on the lake and maybe dock then back the way they came into the Atlantic again.

Lots twists and turns thru islands and jungles as we go from Gatun lake past Gamboa to Gaillard Cut

Warm out here at 33c and 85ft above sea (ocean) level.

Even the shops came outside

View of Gaillard Cut and Centennial Bridge

Mark attempting a selfie as he passes Centennial Bridge

Now we head towards the Pacific. The single Pedro Miguel lock is first.

Leaving Miraflores lake heading into the Miraflores double lock.

And the crowd went wild! Visitor centre at the last lock with cruise ship spotters

Going under the Bridge of the Americas into the Pacific Ocean

Going under the last bridge.

In the Pacific with a view of the Panama City Skyline

After the transit we had another shared table with new companions. They were new but Mark insisted we must have dined with a couple before but he couldn’t remember when until Pam pointed out that we had not and they were in fact the dance instructors that took the classes we attended, and abandoned, at the start of the cruise - their classes are still packed!

Finished the long day with singer and musician Tony Baylis (who should have been on at Fort Lauderdale but needed orchestra rehearsal time so was swapped out with comedian). It was his first ever P&O performance. Pam liked him but Mark found him too shouty and fidgety so not that impressed.  We fell into bed extremely tired and aching from the walking and standing in 33c humid sunshine.