Witnessing the Engineering Marvel of the Panama Canal
Bruce and I were ready to continue traveling the world, so we boarded the Viking Mars cruise ship at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on February 7th, 2025 and set sail on our Panama Canal adventure.
The trip began with two relaxing days at sea enjoying classical music programs, guitar entertainment and the “toe-tapping” numbers of the “Viking Band.” We learned about the Canal as we listened to two guest lectures by canal expert Corey Sandler. One was titled “The Dreams and Disasters of the Original Canal Plan” and the other “Our Passage Between the Seas.” Making our way toward this mechanical wonder, we needed to understand what we soon would experience.
Our first port of call was Cozumel, Mexico. This island off Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula holds keys to many intriguing secrets of Mexico’s ancient civilizations. At San Gervasio, we admired the ruins and learned of the history and customs of this sacred Mayan religious site.
The second port of call was Belize City, Belize and the ancient site of Altun Ha. Several Mesoamerican temple pyramids stand as testament to an advanced and mysterious Mayan civilization. Many who visited enjoyed snorkeling and other water sports, and we were not able to dock, to protect the beautiful coral reef, so we tendered to the port.
Roatan, Honduras, part of the Bay Islands, was our next stop. More than a tropical playground, it has rich history of Spanish, British, and French presence. Over the decades, settlers from around the world put down roots and established a successful fruit trade industry.
Our Viking excursion was to the Carambola Gardens. This is not an ordinary flower garden, but a botanical garden filled with jungle plants such as mahogany, mango, star fruit trees and a non-edible ginger with beautiful red buds.
Back on board the Mars, we enjoyed a pool deck BBQ and dancing under the stars.
Another day at sea, we relaxed on the Caribbean Sea’s turquoise waters where rich legends of marauding pirates, swashbucklers and cannon skirmishes were born. We also benefited from additional educational lectures, one concerning “The Natural History of Costa Rica” and another about the history, heritage, and culture of Puerto Limon, Costa Rica.
We enjoyed a delicious dinner that evening. I had a tender and flavorful steak and my adventurist husband had octopus. He said that it was very good!
The next day, we docked at Puerto Limon, Costa Rica, one of the world’s most biodiverse countries. Italian, Jamaican, and Chinese residents descended from immigrants who came to lay the railroad to San Jose, make up its rich Afro-Caribbean heritage. During our excursion “Rainforest by Train and Boat” we explored the tropical Tortuguero Canals, which support a diverse array of wildlife. We saw a three-toed sloth and an emerald lizard among other animals.
The next port of call was Colon, Panama that lies near the Panama Canal’s Atlantic entrance. In the areas outside the city, the Embera people, who descended from ancient tribes, live in thatched roof huts, travel by dugout canoe and weave traditional baskets. Indigenous tribes maintain a strong presence here.
Our excursion to explore nearby Panama City revealed an impressive skyline of this huge city. After passing the monument commemorating President Jimmy Carter’s gifting of the Canal to Panama, we explored a park and shopping area. The weather was beautiful!
February 16th was the “Grand Finale” and the highlight of our cruise as we transited through the Panama Canal. Opened in 1914, the Canal crosses the narrowest stretch of the Isthmus of Panama. It is 48 miles long. Witnessing this engineering marvel at work is truly amazing. At the Caribbean and Pacific ends, a vast series of locks lifts and lowers the ship 85 feet from sea level, guided by electric engines that do the job performed by mules on older canals. We were surprised to hear that the Viking Mars ship paid $200,000 to transit the canal one way and they would have to pay the same amount for the return trip.
On our last evening, we enjoyed a farewell performance by our favorite entertainers before an early bedtime. The next morning, we transferred to Panama City airport for our flight home. What a great trip!!
