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Scrapbook for Panama Canal
& Caribbean
January 22 - February 1, 2007
Enjoy the picture journey and the WOW experience of tour members.
Click on any photo to enlarge.
Leaving from South Florida on the msVolendam . . . |
Got all your luggage? |
One last phone call - then, lifeboat drill. |
  
Next morning we waken to the warm Caribbean waters - our stop at Half Moon Cay.
 
The captain's party and our dinner together.
Arriving at beautiful Aruba . . .
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Oranjestad, the main city on the island.
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Lots to do at this port-of-call. A tour around the island.
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Activities on the ship never cease. Ice carvings and evening Philippine show.
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A day in Willemstad and around the island of Curacao. Some toured the town, some the countryside, cactus and aloe plants, national parks, quiet beaches - all beautiful.
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Back "home," on-board our ship an evening buffet of sweets.
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Finally the day has arrived for
our travel into the Panama Canal. |
. . . we are lifted to the next lock. |
Early A.M. we approach the first lock.
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At sunrise . . . |
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open . . . |
open . . .--- |
we move on to the next level. |
| The lock gates |
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Amazing to see how those railroad "mules" assist our ship through three locks, lifting the 86,000 ton msVolendam 85 feet to the level of Gatun Lake in the center of the Canal Zone.
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Gatun Lake surely a crossroad of the world.
Many cargo ship waiting their turn to transit the canal, busy tug boats at work.
Some passengers from our ship went on land excursions, some watched the excitement from the deck, some just rested.
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Then it was time to turn around and return to the Caribbean side of the wonderful Panama Canal, passing other ship as we made our exit - look at that monstrous car carrying ship - wow!
Always under surveillance.
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After a short stop at Colon, Panama, we were again on our way along the coast of Costa Rica.
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A full day land tour took us to Puerto Limon, to a banana plantation and processing plant
and train ride through the countryside.
The final days on the ship are restful - a good time for fun activities, among ourselves and with the ship's staff.
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An interesting visit to another part of our heavenly Father's world.
TOUR MEMBERS SAID...
"A good tour, enjoyed meeting new people, made new friends."
- Earl & Vera, Ontario
"To see the Panama Canal was a lifetime dream come true."
- Wally & Elsie, Alberta
"I participated in three shore excursions. Between that and the shipboard activities, there was plenty to do. Seeing the canal was a draw for me, and being able to transit the entire length of the canal was a very special side trip."
- Elizabeth, PA
"This is our first cruise so we can't compare it, but we are very happy with our experience. We tried to get acquainted with other tour group members when we saw them on the ship."
- Charles & Carolyn, VA
"Our focus on this trip was the Panama Canal, but the other Caribbean islands were a bonus."
- Ray & Anita, SD
"I found the excursions very informative and educational. It was great to travel with other folks of similar faith and values."
- Jan, PA
"It was hard to learn to know each other with so many land excursion options. Very educational, but I was not 100% comfortable with the luxurious lifestyle of cruising. Glad our group meetings helped to focus on our beliefs and values."
- Laura Ann, IN
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