DAY 11---AT SEA ENROUTE TO THE PANAMAL CANAL

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LAST NIGHT:

        The Grand Deck BBQ was from 7pm to 9pm on the pool deck under the stars.  Regent tries to do one of these every cruise weather permitting.  It has to be done when they ship is in port and we did not leave Puntarenas until 10pm last night.  I took some photos to show how they get the deck prepared for the event.

                                This one was taken at 2:30 not long after the started the setup.

This one was taken at 5pm.  You can see the tables are now set with china and glasses.  Flags are hung and they are getting the buffet equipment set (center left of photo).

                                                            Sunset in Puntarenas

                                                     The deck BBQ has begun.

                                                                      OINK!  OINK!

                                                                         Desserts

                                                  Our salmon in pastry in Compass Rose

                                                               This lovely lady is Jelyn.

        We enjoyed watching the Raiders/Bengals game in our suite before going down for cocktails in Mariner Lounge and dinner in Compass Rose.  It was a great, nail biting game.  Happy for the Cincinnati fans.  Sorry Craig Pavlus!  Also congratulations to Buffalo fans.  I was based in Buffalo back in 1978 at the beginning of my American Airlines 30 year career.

TODAY:

        I finally caught my mother in her assisted living room so had a nice chat.  The phone connection when calling from the ship is just like at home.  We get 9 hours of free phone time now every cruise segment.  I could never use that much.

        It's Sunday so we went down for champagne and caviar in Compass Rose for breakfast.

                                                            I had a double order of caviar.

                                            Followed by eggs Florentine with crispy bacon.

                 At 9am we attended an interdenominational worship service in the theater.

  Our cruise director, Andy, lead the service.  Short (less than 20 minutes) but very good service.

                                               We are getting 3 NFL playoff games today.

At 10am I decided go to the theater for Terry Bishop's presentation on the Panama Canal.  Usually we listen to the taped show in afternoons so as not to have to wear masks in the theater for an hour.  But we will be watching football all afternoon today.  Rebecca went to the gym instead of the theater.

In case you want to see us going through the locks early tomorrow, here is the website of the cameras at the locks of the canal.  We should be at the first lock on the Pacific side round about 7:30 Eastern time.

        Our noon position (yellow arrow in red circle).  It is 83 degrees with sunny skies and glass-like, smooth ocean.  We can see the west coast of Panama now.  We are now planned to cross under the Bridge of the Americas at 5:30am tomorrow and begin our canal transit.  It spans the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal near Balboa leading to Panama City nearby.  The bridge was build by the US and completed in 1962 at the cost of $20 million.

        At approximately 7:30 Eastern we will be entering the first lock of the canal, Miraflores lock.  There is a visitors center there with cameras.  I believe there are actually cameras at all the locks now.  Here is the website if you want to perhaps view our ship going through the locks.

                                                                  Some pasta for lunch.

        We are back in the suite watching the Bucs/Eagles game.  Important game Cowboys/49ers is coming on next however.  At 2pm the ship's time will go forward another hour to Eastern time so we will be on Panama's time tomorrow for our transit of the canal.  That means the Cowboys game will not be over until around 7:30pm our new time.  We will have our pre-dinner cocktails in the suite during the game.  We have a bottle of Woodford Reserve bourbon here plus chardonnay for Rebecca.  So our dinner in Compass Rose will be a little later than normal.  Looking forward to roast turkey with stuffing for dinner.  We should be able to then see the last half of the Chiefs/Steelers game after dinner.

        Big day tomorrow with the Panama Canal transit.  We have been through the canal many times but it is always special.  Two cruises we always recommend are the canal transit and Alaska.

        I'll publish this post early today as I need to start working on tomorrow's canal post while watching football.