The Panama Canal is the “eighth wonder of the world,” the way that connects the Atlantic with the Pacific.
Wonder of the World
It’s the kind of wonder that inspires a person to get up at 4:20am on holidays and go without breakfast so you can be first in line for the experience. That was Jocelyn and I standing in line to secure a prized place at the prow of the Radiance of the Seas. 5 1/2 hours later we went through the first three locks.
Was it worth it?
The first of the locks on a 62km journey across Panama
Entering the first lock.
Exiting the final lock over 8 hours later.
When the locks opened in 1914, mules helped position the ships in the locks. Machines, nicknamed “mules,” position the ships in 2025.
The mules don’t pull the ships; they position them. Positioning is vital. Our ship had four feet to spare in length and six feet in width. We fitted so tight that there was a black scrape mark left along both sides of the entire ship.
The Panama Canal is noted for its monumental scale, engineering difficulty, and the global impact of connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The experience didn’t disappoint.
There is a lot of tradition in a Canal crossing. Workers like these in the rowboat have been used for 111 years to secure the guidelines from the sides of the canal to each ship.
Our cruising crew.
Memories
The trip was 18-months in the making and Jocelyn’s choice of a way to celebrate a milestone birthday. Our friends Marvin and Sharlaine Wojda organized the trip for our group of 24.
Prior to going through the Canal we were briefed in lecture with a SRO crowd of 1,000+. A couple who have traversed the Canal multiple times shared the lecture. They also gave a running commentary from the Captain’s Deck as we navigated the Canal.
The Canal was built at a high cost. 25-30,000 workers died working on the Canal. The majority of deaths were due to disease, particularly malaria and yellow fever, with additional fatalities from accidents like landslides, explosions, and industrial injuries.
We used the same locks built a century previous.
Central America
We visited five countries for the first time. Our ports included Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Columbia, and Georgetown on the Grand Cayman Islands.
The Canal is a wonder and so are so many other sights we saw.
Bob making a new feathered friend.
Guatemala is a country of volcanoes. Who knew? There are 7 active volcanoes with the last eruption in 2022.
The crew celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving with a Turkey dinner for all.
Motorcycles everywhere in Guatemala. It was cool to see dads driving their kids to school on the back of a motorcycle.
The old and the new in Cartegena, Columbia.
Many people count the length of a cruise by lbs gained not by nights. Jocelyn and I did our best to work off the calories putting in 10,000+ steps every day and never taking the elevator. And ringing the bell on the climbing wall. Pretty good for a 71-year old!
T-Shirt Wonder
My Blue Jays t-shirt drew some attention during the ALCS. However, the one that got the most was given to me by a student at the University of Chicago. The back bears the mathematical description of light. 
Man’s ingenuity and sacrifice built the Canal. God spoke the Universe into existence. “How magnificent are your works, Lord, how profound your thoughts!” Psalm 92:5 (CSB)
Order in the Universe is the greatest wonder of the world. We have confidence that the sun will always rise in the east, there are 24 hours in a day, and gravity will always be in effect.
The wonder of creation speaks of the glory of God. Jesus, the Creator, speaks of God’s love for the world. I reminded myself going through the Canal that Jesus sacrificed his life to become the means of our salvation from sin. He is the Way.
Have you been through the Panama Canal? Please join the conversation and post a comment below.
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