January 10, 2026

Today we went through the Miraflores Locks on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal enroute to Costa Rica, Mexico and Los Angeles, California before we sail to the Hawaiian Islands. This year’s passage through the canal was a little different than in past years.

In 2023, we sailed through with no problems. The Miraflores Visitor Center was busy with Panamanians, and we were welcomed by waving families.

Last year, as we approached the Miraflores Visitor Center our ship was stopped, and I could see that the visitor center’s gallery was closed. I could also see a very unusual site-a military sniper positioned by the roof of the center. The reason for all the security, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was meeting with Panama President Jose Raul Mulino to negotiate with Mulino over ownership of the canal and was scheduled to make a speech at the visitor center. Luckily for us, the Secretary was running late, the guards let the ship proceed, otherwise we may still have been stuck in the canal!

This year, the Visitor Center is being renovated, and a new area has been designed where the tradition of waving Panamanians welcoming ships continued. The tight security of the canal also continues.

Oh, and a very important News Flash: University of Miami 31-Ole’ Miss 27

Off to the National Championships on January 19. We are so happy that we will be watching the game under the stars on a BIG screen TV!

Thanks for traveling with us…