Panama Canal

Seeing the Panama Canal for the first time was awesome, going through the locks and pulled by mechanical mules. We loved Cartagena with it's old Spanish fort high on a hill, the old Spanish arcitecture. Huatulco and Puntarenas were peaceful sleepy villages with nice parks and resturants with local beers. Most surprising was that there were no mosquitos. We sailed in our first submarine in Aruba. The entertainment on the Island Princess was the best of our 13 cruises. The Island Princess is smaller than other cruise ships we have sailed on but felt very cozy. The food was excellent and the wait staff service was great. There were foods on the menu I hadn't had before so I asked our waiter what she would recommend. She always picked the best appetizer, entrees and deserts. Bar wait staff remembered my cabin number making drink orders easy.

If you use the ship transfer to the airport in Fort Lauderdale, allow yourself about 6 hours from the ship to the airport or you will loose your flight. We were supposed to disembark at 8:30 AM, but were not allowed off the ship until 10:30 AM. We then waited on the bus for another hour and missed our 11:40 AM flight. Got home at 2:00 AM the next day.

I suggest get off the ship ASAP in the morning, get a taxi and wait in the airport instead of the Platinum Lounge.