Journey With Jeannie

January 13, 2026, Tuesday

The Panama Canal runs from the Caribbean Sea in the north to the Pacific Ocean in the South. The region was originally controlled by Columbia and France. The French undertook the project but halted the construction because so many workers were dying from disease and accidents. The USA took over the project on May 4, 1904, under President Theodore Roosevelt. It was completed and opened on August 15, 1914. The canal reduced ship travel time from the Atlantic to the Pacific by about 5 months. Ships could avoid the treacherous Southern Ocean at Cape Horn. From a navigational standpoint as well as from a commercial perspective, the Panama Canal’s impact continues to be immeasurable. Full ownership was turned over to Panama in 1999.

It took about 8 hours for us to get through the locks, cruise through the manmade Lake Gatun, and arrive at the Panama Bay.

Azamara has a featured “white night” on each segment. White tablecloths cover tables placed on the pool deck. There is a buffet of grilled meats, salads, appetizers, vegetables, and of course desserts! We had live music and a special presentation from a local cultural band and dance group.

I’m already having a hard time remembering everything we do; I’ll try to catch up, so my posts correspond to the most recent days!