Panama and more

Arcadia leaving the Pedro Miguel Locks.

Good Day Everyone,

Hope this finds you well and thank you for all your messages and thoughts on the Panama Canal. Thanks also for sending me photographs from the web cams etc - your thoughtfulness is appreciated.

We celebrated Burns Night in style with the traditional and time honoured piping of the Haggis. We raised a glass to all our Scottish friends! Hope you are reading this blog today Mary! Today was Australia Day so the Australians had all their celebrations - everyday is a celebration of some sort or other on Arcadia! I was wondering where the 'Grey nomads' had got to - so it was good to get your message the other day - today we will raise a glass to all our Australian friends - and to all the Cusicks in Perth WA.

The weather remains fabulous and tomorrow we are in Acapulco.

My thanks to David Shepherd, Executive Purser on board Oriana for sending me these photographs of Arcadia. I loved them so much I thought I would share them with you. I know this is the third blog on the Panama Canal however this is it! Enjoy.........

Taken from Oriana's Bridge.

Arcadia in the Pedro Miguel Locks.

Arcadia was excited to sailing towards the Pacific Ocean. The last time she was here was in early 2008 on her fly cruising season, with turnaround in Barbados, New Orleans and Acapulco. We did these for the first three winter years of Arcadia's life. I so enjoyed all that fly cruising.

Our sister ship Oceana is now on a similar itinerary if you fancy a fly cruise holiday to this area.

Commodore Burgoine keeping an ever watchful eye from the Bridge.

Soph keeps an eye from above........what a fine looking vessel in the background.

Simon - Senior First Office making sure all is well on the aft.

Pure JOY and EXCITEMENT was the order of the day - memories that will last a lifetime and be talked about over many a dinner table - 'do you remember when we were in the canal with both ships on the Arcadia Inaugural Round World Cruise 2010?' - ' I was there' - 'Yes so was I' and do you recall.....................and so the story goes...........getting enhanced more with every telling. Many people have been talking about the time in 2001 when AURORA and VICTORIA met up in the Canal - Commodore Burgoine was the Master of AURORA at that time.

Sending greetings to shipmates across the locks.

A friendly wave from a Panamanian.

This evening I went for a walk around the decks at 1800 hours - this was the view from the aft end by the Aquarius Pool. Sea days - good for relaxing.

One or two in the Sports Nets..........

A game of shuffleboard..........

A beautiful sky and the P&O Cruises 'buff' Funnel - known the WORLD over and for many the only way to travel. I met a lovely lady from Perth WA today who is aged 96 and has never travelled any other line - I don't expect she will change now - she has already booked for Aurora next year. I would have said she was in her 70's - the secret she said was not to do too much work and to enjoy life - every day!

Her course charted, Arcadia heading towards sun down.

On my way through The Spa I had a catch up with ladies on Reception.

L to R - Gina, Reeba, Nunto and Nicole.

Arcadia's Spa is one of the largest in the P&O Cruises Fleet and has a staff of 18.

And finally,

At noon on December 31,1999 Panama assumed full responsibility for the administration, operation, and maintenance of the Panama Canal. A government institution by the name of Panama Canal Authority (ACP). The ACP is in charge of the operation, administration, management, preservation, maintenance, improvement and modernisation of the Canal, as well as its activities and related services.

Until the next time,

Bye for now,

James.

The robe of excellence fits only those who are large enough to be humble and small enough to be exalted.