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Does sailing through the Panama Canal on a repositioning cruise interest you? If so you might want to consider cruising on the Norwegian Pearl from LA to Miami. The trip is 14 days in length and stops in six (6) ports. They are Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, and Huatalco, Mexico; Puerto Quetzal, Gutamala; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; and Cartagena, Colombia. There is also a West to East passage through the Canal and a number of sea days.
Due to the time of the year (early fall) and the length of the cruise there are relatively few school aged children. This is nice for those who have reached the point in their life when they enjoy a less boisterous atmosphere. We also enjoyed the variety of ports and activities at each, the relaxing days at sea, as well as the passage through the canal.
The biggest pluses for us were the Panama Canal, Cartagena, our cabin stewards, and the relaxing entertainment at the Magnum Champagne and Wine Bar on Deck 6. We particularly enjoyed the piano music of Richard Rogers. He is an entertainer of the first degree.
The biggest downside for us was the amount of noise. The area that was the noisiest for us was in the restaurants (especially that created by the wait staff -- it seemed that they did not know how to put a plate, bowl, piece of silverware, or glass down without clunking it). We also did not like the bar staff "hawking" their wares on the Pool Deck. Additionally it seemed that some of the entertainment attempted to make up for their lack of talent by raising the volume level.
While it did not bother us, others on the cruise commented on the weather. This is the rainy season for Central America and there were a number of days when it rained. We loved it. The temperature was still very pleasant and the rain did not disrupt any of our plans. Additionally, the waves never got very high, which made for smooth sailing.
All in all we enjoyed the cruise very much and would recommend it to anyone and everyone. You will have a great time.
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