All Ears® Guest Blog

Another day at sea! Yeah! First thing: sleep in. Check. I decided I’ve spent enough time in seminars and tastings and lectures, etc., etc. So, I cancelled our wine tasting reservation in exchange for time on deck in the sun and in the pool.

Well, first I did promise Michael I would tag along with him to the cigar seminar in Sessions. We got there a little early. He got acquainted with several folks and started chatting up the crew.

I excused myself and headed to the Walt Disney Theater for a presentation by Captain Ken Puckett, Snior pilot and Port Captain. It was the family presentation on what we can expect tomorrow as we head through the Panama Canal. Very interesting! I’m soooo glad we have a stateroom with a verandah.

According to the various announcements, they expect us to get to the Canal and have the pilot board about 6:30am and enter the first lock about 840am. I’ll correct this as soon as we get tomorrow’s navigator. (See below.)

Back to today. After lunch, Michael and I finally headed out to deck 10 just above the Quiet Cove pool. Lovely. It was windy, but the ocean is much calmer than it has been the last few days. We swam, soaked up the sun, enjoyed a cocktail, and watched pool games. Very relaxing afternoon.

Bingo this afternoon was in the Walt Disney Theater because they expected a large crowd. The last jackpot was a free 7-day cruise! A gal from Washington state won it! Before that giveaway, they had 3 cash jackpots. Michael hit bingo on one of them – along with 5 other people. They each won a little over $200! Yeah!

Next we cleaned up quickly and headed to tonight’s show: Twice Charmed. This is another one we had not yet seen. Very sweet. The music was terrific and the performance was outstanding….as always. When we left the theater, our signals were mixed up and Michael got separated from Aaron and me. Minnie was in the atrium lobby and I got a picture with her! Michael rode the elevator with the parents of the actor who played the Grand Duke – they were very happy!

Dinner was semi-formal this evening and we were in Lumiere’s for the “princess” menu. Aaron snapped a picture of his dessert and then he got one of me with my dessert, a weird look on my face, and someone sneaking bunny-ears! Good grief. Can you believe the stuff I put up with? Hehehehe I love my family! (And, we continue to be only 3 at a table for 8…..)

When we got back to our room, we found a special surprise. A limited edition lithograph designed by Ducky Williams entitled “Smooth Sailing with Peter Pan”. Ducky will be available for autographs later in the week.

Well, tomorrow will be an early and long day with the crossing of the Canal. We’ll be on our verandah and on decks 9 and 10 moving around all day. I’ll take as many photos as I can and I will share! The camera battery is charging now!

Sweet dreams!

Here is the tentative schedule from the Navigator:

7am Passing under Bridge of the Americas

8:40am Arriving at Miraflores Locks

10:20am Departing Miraflores Locks

10:50am Arriving Pedro Miguel Locks

11:50am Departing Pedro Miguel Locks

1:00pm Passing Gamboa

3:00pm Arriving Gatun Locks

5:20pm Departing Gatun Locks

Wow! I’m excited!!!

No Internet tomorrow…. *sigh*

Lori.