ukintheus
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2009
Welcome to anyone that follows along with another adventure for us on DCL. 
I have backed all my photographs up this time so hopefully this trip report will get finished!
Panama Canal had always been on my radar as a cruise I’d love to do, we even had it booked a couple of years ago, and then had to cancel as Scott and I couldn’t get the two weeks off work. My Mum, who turned the grand age of 90 years old last June (so fortunate that she is not only able, but completely willing to do these trips), mentioned in passing that she thought it would be interesting to do the Panama Canal, which in Mum "speak" means - we should do this.
She had been on a troop ship many moons ago (I think back in the 1940’s - correct me if I’m wrong Mum!) and had gone through the Suez Canal on her way to Egypt to join my Dad and thought it would be really nice for her to be able to say she had done both. So! Say no more! 
Here's a goofy embarkation photo for you, just so you know who we are. I know my family are groaning right now.
I started looking into the Westbound, which of course was close to being sold out, and I booked us two veranda guarantee rooms. About a month later, cabin 8528 opened up, so I booked that for Mum and Maureen.
About 2 days later 8526 showed up online, so I took it as an omen and booked it for Scott and I. 
To be honest, the rooms were larger (capacity of 5 = more $$) than we needed, but the fact that we could get two next to each other was worth it, plus we had an OBB to use so that helped. Annnndd these rooms will be converted to concierge after dry dock this year, so - technically we SAVED money....hahahah. The wait ensued and before we knew it February had rolled around and the four of us were off on a two week adventure from the Atlantic to the Pacific. 
Day 1 - Saturday February 23rd - Pre-cruise travel
Our journey would begin with Maureen flying from Knoxville, and Mum, Scott and I leaving from Houston. Maureen was going to arrive in Orlando about 2 hours ahead of us, but the weather in Tennessee in February can be tricky, so it was a strategic move for her to get an earlier start. For our part in Houston we were super organized, packed and ready to go and just waited on our taxi arriving at noon.
The taxi was right on time and we had a smooth ride to the airport – Scott somehow ended up in the back of the car. Ha ha
Check in at the airport was somewhat painless although there were long lines to drop your luggage, so that held us up a bit. The plan was to grab something to eat before heading to the gate but we didn’t find anything open that appealed to us and by the time we got to the gate there was no real time to eat. I ended up grabbing us some waters and we elected to purchase a snack on the plane instead. Boarding went quickly and we were soon in our seats and ready to go.
Good bye Houston!
After we took off the pilot announced that there might be some turbulence. It wasn’t really bad, but they decided not to start the beverage service until we had been airborne for over an hour. By now we were starving!
I think Scott and I ate almost every Altoid that I had in my purse. 
Eventually we got some hummus and pretzels and Scott and I got a wine each. The bonus was that it ended up being free as their machine to take credit cards wasn’t working. The stewardess also mumbled something about the fact it had taken them so long to get started on the service. They didn't seem particularly happy.
With some food in our tummy life seemed a little less frazzled and it wasn’t long before we were coming into Orlando. We were treated to a very pretty sunset on the way down.
Maureen had already made it with no delays, and was at the Hyatt waiting for us. We texted her as she was going to try and help us with luggage, but between dazed and confused we managed to completely mess it up.
Scott went and got the luggage and Maureen met Mum and I half way and helped Mum back to the hotel. I went straight to help Scott with the bags, only to miss him completely and in the end, I was the last one to the hotel where everyone was waiting. We got checked in and went up to our rooms. Side note: We elected to stay at the Hyatt again because it is really convenient when you basically just want a place to stay for the night. I ended up booking it through DCL and got the rooms about $100 cheaper than my original booking online through the Hyatt website.
The rooms were a hike around but we made it eventually.
Both rooms had a king bed but when I called down to the front desk to see if we could switch one to two queens they said they were fully booked and couldn’t move us. That was a downside to booking through DCL, as normally I can pick my room when I book. Anyway, the couch made out into a bed, and although it wasn’t as comfy as a real bed would have been, Maureen said she would be fine with it.
This was our room.
This was Mum and Maureen's with the couch pulled out into a bed.
We got ourselves situated and snapped some more photos.
By now time was ticking on and I had an order coming from Instacart from ABC Liquor.
I had asked at the check in desk what the best way would be to coordinate with them and she suggested meeting them at the valet forecourt. I got a message from Instacart that they were on their way and Scott and I met him at 7:30 pm and got all the booze up to the room. It was a great way to get wine pre-cruise without packing it and I'd definitely recommend it. Mum and Maureen had headed down to the lobby to see what the wait was for a table and by the time we got there, we didn’t have much of a wait.
We went to McCoys as we had a pretty decent meal there last time. Maureen and I both got their margarita which was really good. Scott got a manhattan, definitely not as good.
Scott and I look a little tired. Mum definitely looks more perky that us!
We ordered a couple of appetizers to share (mushrooms and meatballs), both of which hit the spot, although us girls avoided the raw jalepenos for sure.
Then Scott and I got a burger each and Mum and Maureen split fish and chips.
By the time we got back upstairs and got ourselves ready for bed it was about 10:45 pm. We got our luggage tags on our suitcases and got the wine packed into our carry on bags and then it was lights out.
Up next: Embarkation Day - exciting!!!!
I have backed all my photographs up this time so hopefully this trip report will get finished!
Panama Canal had always been on my radar as a cruise I’d love to do, we even had it booked a couple of years ago, and then had to cancel as Scott and I couldn’t get the two weeks off work. My Mum, who turned the grand age of 90 years old last June (so fortunate that she is not only able, but completely willing to do these trips), mentioned in passing that she thought it would be interesting to do the Panama Canal, which in Mum "speak" means - we should do this.
She had been on a troop ship many moons ago (I think back in the 1940’s - correct me if I’m wrong Mum!) and had gone through the Suez Canal on her way to Egypt to join my Dad and thought it would be really nice for her to be able to say she had done both. So! Say no more! Here's a goofy embarkation photo for you, just so you know who we are. I know my family are groaning right now.
I started looking into the Westbound, which of course was close to being sold out, and I booked us two veranda guarantee rooms. About a month later, cabin 8528 opened up, so I booked that for Mum and Maureen.
About 2 days later 8526 showed up online, so I took it as an omen and booked it for Scott and I. To be honest, the rooms were larger (capacity of 5 = more $$) than we needed, but the fact that we could get two next to each other was worth it, plus we had an OBB to use so that helped. Annnndd these rooms will be converted to concierge after dry dock this year, so - technically we SAVED money....hahahah. The wait ensued and before we knew it February had rolled around and the four of us were off on a two week adventure from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Day 1 - Saturday February 23rd - Pre-cruise travel
Our journey would begin with Maureen flying from Knoxville, and Mum, Scott and I leaving from Houston. Maureen was going to arrive in Orlando about 2 hours ahead of us, but the weather in Tennessee in February can be tricky, so it was a strategic move for her to get an earlier start. For our part in Houston we were super organized, packed and ready to go and just waited on our taxi arriving at noon.
The taxi was right on time and we had a smooth ride to the airport – Scott somehow ended up in the back of the car. Ha ha
Check in at the airport was somewhat painless although there were long lines to drop your luggage, so that held us up a bit. The plan was to grab something to eat before heading to the gate but we didn’t find anything open that appealed to us and by the time we got to the gate there was no real time to eat. I ended up grabbing us some waters and we elected to purchase a snack on the plane instead. Boarding went quickly and we were soon in our seats and ready to go.
Good bye Houston!
After we took off the pilot announced that there might be some turbulence. It wasn’t really bad, but they decided not to start the beverage service until we had been airborne for over an hour. By now we were starving!
I think Scott and I ate almost every Altoid that I had in my purse. Eventually we got some hummus and pretzels and Scott and I got a wine each. The bonus was that it ended up being free as their machine to take credit cards wasn’t working. The stewardess also mumbled something about the fact it had taken them so long to get started on the service. They didn't seem particularly happy. With some food in our tummy life seemed a little less frazzled and it wasn’t long before we were coming into Orlando. We were treated to a very pretty sunset on the way down.
Maureen had already made it with no delays, and was at the Hyatt waiting for us. We texted her as she was going to try and help us with luggage, but between dazed and confused we managed to completely mess it up.
Scott went and got the luggage and Maureen met Mum and I half way and helped Mum back to the hotel. I went straight to help Scott with the bags, only to miss him completely and in the end, I was the last one to the hotel where everyone was waiting. We got checked in and went up to our rooms. Side note: We elected to stay at the Hyatt again because it is really convenient when you basically just want a place to stay for the night. I ended up booking it through DCL and got the rooms about $100 cheaper than my original booking online through the Hyatt website. The rooms were a hike around but we made it eventually.
Both rooms had a king bed but when I called down to the front desk to see if we could switch one to two queens they said they were fully booked and couldn’t move us. That was a downside to booking through DCL, as normally I can pick my room when I book. Anyway, the couch made out into a bed, and although it wasn’t as comfy as a real bed would have been, Maureen said she would be fine with it.
This was our room.
This was Mum and Maureen's with the couch pulled out into a bed.
We got ourselves situated and snapped some more photos.
By now time was ticking on and I had an order coming from Instacart from ABC Liquor.
I had asked at the check in desk what the best way would be to coordinate with them and she suggested meeting them at the valet forecourt. I got a message from Instacart that they were on their way and Scott and I met him at 7:30 pm and got all the booze up to the room. It was a great way to get wine pre-cruise without packing it and I'd definitely recommend it. Mum and Maureen had headed down to the lobby to see what the wait was for a table and by the time we got there, we didn’t have much of a wait.
We went to McCoys as we had a pretty decent meal there last time. Maureen and I both got their margarita which was really good. Scott got a manhattan, definitely not as good.
Scott and I look a little tired. Mum definitely looks more perky that us!
We ordered a couple of appetizers to share (mushrooms and meatballs), both of which hit the spot, although us girls avoided the raw jalepenos for sure.
Then Scott and I got a burger each and Mum and Maureen split fish and chips.
By the time we got back upstairs and got ourselves ready for bed it was about 10:45 pm. We got our luggage tags on our suitcases and got the wine packed into our carry on bags and then it was lights out.
Up next: Embarkation Day - exciting!!!!
Last edited:
Scott would know, because he dumped the stuff we paid for and went and got one. 
Ugg…strike two for the Hyatt this time around. I know, I know...I should have complained. But I'm British and complaining is something we like to talk about but never actually do!! 
and it got really crowded. 
Menu studying began. 
Seriously, this man could pass for MacGyver any time. 
Anyway, on with the cruise and cheers to us - we made it!! 
I am glad you are enjoying it, it was such a wonderful cruise!
Having Mum along is just making such great memories and it works out great for Mum and Maureen to share a room, so there are lots of pros for all traveling together . Spoiler alert for the end of the trip! 14 nights was wonderful and you are never ready to leave that little cocoon of being so pampered and lazy. 
