Coast to Coast by sea-Panama Canal cruise Feb 2013- TR Complete 3/14/13 - Page 8 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Last day
First to my surprise we awakened to a second E-ticket ride (though not as severe as the first one). Seas were 5-8 feet and smaller winds, but since this one was in daylight we could see the effects on the ship. The covered pool was drained because it was flowing all over that area, and the outdoor pool had become a wavepool.
A chart of the weather we were ‘enjoying’
Did the culinary demonstration and galley tour. In the galley, my assistant waiter was manning one of the tour stations and waved at me.
Lincoln returned to the TV screen all day for those that did not get enough of it.
Lunch was corned beef and salad
IN the afternoon took a backstage tour, observed the final bingo game (Someone won the $2,000 big jackpot as it had to be given away-and for their safety it was one of the regular players. They asked how money had bought in just for that day and they were booed.)
Dinner was grilled eggplant and zucchini on hearts of romaine; NY steak with tomatoes and potatoes, and baked Alaska.
The evening’s entertainment was the Farewell variety show, or the movie The Words in the Universe Lounge. Went to the show. Then finished packing and placed my luggage outside the door for pickup.
On MUTS today were: Afternoon-Robert and Frank; Coldplay Live 2012; The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
TV Movies were The Amazing Spiderman; The Girl; One Fine Day; This Means War; Ice Age-Continental Drift; Wreck-it Ralph
My Waiters Rey and Key
Disembarkation day
Leisurely mocha in the morning as I said goodbye to the staff there. Bars, including coffee, were on a cash basis, but I had a coffee card and it was still good. Up to the buffet for a light breakfast of omelet and fresh fruit.
We had to be out of our rooms by 9, which was fine as my disembarkation group was to meet at 8:50 in the wheelhouse bar.
Since I had a late flight…
I had originally scheduled a noon flight..with time to get off the ship and transport to LAX ( a ½ hour away in good traffic). United decided to cancel that flight and put me on an 8am flight. Sorry United, but we won’t be getting off the ship unit then. The they moved me to a 4pm flight, which they then cancelled …so only flights from LAX to Sacramento were now 8 am, 6:30 pm or 10 PM.
Being a Californian, and having to book two one-way flights because of the nature of the cruise, I should have known better. Southwest Southwest Southwest.. Flights every 2 hours from LAX to Sacramento and no luggage charge
With the late flight, I took advantage of a post cruise excursion. For $59 minus $24 for my pre-booked transfer (net $35 ) they had a bus that would take you to the Pike in Long Beach, your luggage would be kept locked up under the bus (they used one compartment for each of the 3 trips to LAX they would take) and then you could dine, go aboard the Queen Mary or shop.)
Getting off the ship was quick. Straight to where our luggage was. Spotted mine quickly. Then to immigration and customs. There was a super long line as all from the US and Canada were in one line. It was about 100 yards long. When we got to the officer, he looked at our passports after just discarding our customs declarations into a pile. I could have brought in triple my allowance, and he would not have cared, he did not even look at it.
Leaving the terminal we were directed by Princess staff to the bus. We waited for about 20 minutes, and when the expected # were there we took off. It was only about 15 minutes away (and that long only due to traffic). The driver explained what time to be back and where to meet the bus.
I immediately spotted the Aquarium of the Pacific www.aquariumofpacific.org (I love zoos and aquariums) and made a bee line for the ticket booth. Senior admission was 22.95. I spent several hours there and then left in time to go to one of the restaurants for lunch before being at the bus stop by 2 PM.
Otters
Shorebirds
Penquins
Reef fish
Jellyfish
Conch
Sharks
Great Nape Lorikeet
Swainson’s Lorikeet
Then on my way to lunch. First stopped in front of Bubba Gumps
But I decided to end my trip in style. Me and My waitress in Hooters
The bus picked us up and we departed at 2:20(the bus was airconditioned as we awaited for two lost passengers. It took about ½ hour to get to LAX and then we stopped at 5 terminals (of course mine was last). The check in/checking luggage was fast, THEN we walked several blocks, and up stairs to security. Our terminal was an extension of the last one. One TSA agent for about 20 gates. It took 30 minutes ‘outside’ on a walkway from the parking lot before we cleared security. (I almost burst as by this time the diet cokes I had with lunch wanted out!! ). I then found the nearest rest room (whew! ) and then meandered through the shops and stores as I still had about 3 hours to waste. About 1 hr before the flight I got a hamburger and coke , took my afternoon insulin shop and as I started to my gate, I noticed it had been changed to the opposite end of this terminal extension. Thank goodness I had time as our plane had not yet arrived.
On arrival, we were informed that the small aircraft’s overhead luggage bins could not accomate ANY regular sized carryon, so we all received gate check tags and as we boarded, we turned the luggage over to a handler and watched it slide down to the ground level. Thank goodness I packed the only breakable souvenir (a small clay bird/whistle from Nicaragua) inside of a sock and put the sock inside of a shoe.
We departed about 10 minutes late due to the late arrival of our aircraft, and arrived in Sacramento at 8:10. We were informed our gate checked luggage would come out the conveyer.
The luggage arrived promptly, but I had to wait about 40 minutes in the exit area (no food or drink available) for my brother to pick me up. Due to a mis-communication he had written down my return as Saturday and had to celebrate his wife’s birthday that day….so I waited until they had dinner and could head to Sacramento to pick me up. He dropped me off in my driveway at 11:15 Pm. I dumped my cats 5 litter boxes and filled a fresh one, gave him a fresh can of food, and headed to bed. (I did not get a lot of sleep as he spent the next two hours telling me how glad he was to see me and what a $%&%*% I was for leaving him for 18 days.
Thus endeth the trip report. Thanks for coming along with me.
Great report Don - I've loved reading about your cruise and I can't believe it's over already. It seems so quick. What a great disembarkation day you had.
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What a great trip! I can't believe it's over already. Thanks so much for sharing it with us! (Multiple litter boxes for leaving a cat for a long period... great idea!! I might have to try that one.)
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). I then found the nearest rest room (whew! ) and then meandered through the shops and stores as I still had about 3 hours to waste. About 1 hr before the flight I got a hamburger and coke , took my afternoon insulin shop and as I started to my gate, I noticed it had been changed to the opposite end of this terminal extension
. Thank goodness I had time as our plane had not yet arrived.
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