MSC Poesia was our first Italian flare ship we ever cruised on. Left Fort Lauderdale, FL (Port Everglades) at 7:30pm. Before us left a parade of ships, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbeans Navigator of Seas, Liberty of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas and a Holland America ship. A night with all of the ships aglow, made for a parade of all parades.

We were on a 10 night cruise to Cristobal, Panama Port. We traveled 2 1/2 days at sea, passing by Bahamas and Cuba. We were very close to Cuba and were able to see it and take pictures of its landscape. Zooming in with my camera, I was able to take very clear pictures of a light house on its shore line.

Our first stop was to the colorful Island of Curacao, N.A. Colorful it was with its pastel painted homes and its people who were very friendly and helpful. Free WIFI at a local coffee shop in town and also at the hotel near the port. Texaco has a major refinery here. There is a very tall span bridge that crosses a canal that cuts through the island and a pontoon bridge that operates with diesel fuel outboard propeller engines. Then we left for a night time journey to Aruba. Color to the max with beautiful beaches. We had a private taxi driver tour us the island with stops to California Lighthouse and a nearby beach. Snorkel diving and swimming a must here. After another night time excursion we arrived the next day in Cartagena, Columbia. Here we had hired a private taxi for the day. $130 U.S. From the time we left the ship, he brought us to the Monastery on the mount which gave us a view of the port and the 4 islands that make up the area. He brought us to an emerald mine, the fort, the 17km wall and the beach. We spent a few hours swimming. The waves were rough. The locals on the beach try to sell you everything from beach toys, sun glasses to very creative art. You may be talked into a massage while on the beach. Then our taxi ride back to the ship. Our driver's name was Hernando and he was awesome and spoke English very well. Again, we traveled towards Panama at night to arrive early the next morning. We toured on a bus to a port on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal. We then boarded a smaller ship that brought us through all of the locks of the canal from the Atlantic and we ended at Panama City on the Pacific coast. A bus ride back to the ship was entertaining by our guide that made us knowledgeable of the area, its history and the people. After another day at sea we came into Montego Bay, Jamaica. This island is big. A few hours is not enough time to experience the island. But colorful it is and the people are very friendly. We visited many areas but spent our time at Jimmy Buffett's Magaritaville with FREE WIFI. Back to the ship for another day at sea before arriving back to Port Everglades. Read more