SAILING ON THE WIND SONG

THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL

Costa Rica To Aruba
The Wind Song
The Wind Song is one of four motor sailing ships owned by Windstar Cruises.
Sailing on one of these five star ships gives you the feeling of being on your
own yacht with all the services of a small luxury cruise ship.
This is our third cruise on the Windstar Cruises and it won't be our last.
Windstar Cruises

April 5, 1998 The day was spent unpacking, going to the mandatory
At Sea life boat drill, and getting reacquainted with some passengers
from previous cruises. Each person on a cruise finds their
own way of spending time at sea. Joe, my husband , enjoys
watching videos (something he rarely has time to do at home)
while I enjoy sitting on "my Perch" on the top deck. Very few
people sit on this deck and it provides me the privacy I need to
read and relax.

My Perch

April 6,1998

Coiba Island

Angel Fish

April 7,1998 Contradora Island

Contradora Island is a potentially beautiful island that is suffering
the effects of El Nino. While we were there the island was
experiencing a drought and had no running water at the resort.
We spent very little time on the island but had a lovely swim
and relaxed on the beach.

April 8, 1998

With four tall masts, The Wind Song caused quite a stir among the
passengers as it passed (just barely) under the Bridge of the Americans, which
was the beginning of the 50 mile transit through the canal. Next came the
Miraflores Locks which are a mile in length and bring the ship up to the
level of Miraflores Lake. After passing through the Pedro Miquel Locks, we
entered the Gaillard Cut which is a very narrow eight mile channel through
the Continental Divide. Next we entered Gatun Lake, a 23 mile transit, which
brought us to the final series of locks which would lower us to the Atlantic
Ocean.

Most of the passengers were very upbeat after the day passing through the canal.
We had been lucky that the 110 degree weather that was predicted was tempered
by an overcast sky and brisk breezes. It would be these brisk breezes that we
would "curse" the following day.

April 9,1998

As I had previously experience on the Atlantic side of The Canal, the prevailing
winds can really kick up the seas. Many people were feeling the effects of the
excitement of the previous day (all of the toasts to the Canal) and the rolling seas.
Most spent the day relaxing and enjoying the wonderful cuisine and service on
the ship.

April 10, 1998

Cartagena, Colombia

Because of the State Department Warnings in Colombia, we took
an organized tour. Cartagena is a large port city with a quaint
"old town" and a few nice hotels such as the Hilton.
We walked to the top of Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas,
visited monastery, did the obligatory shopping and ended
up with a rest stop at the Hilton Hotel.

Hilton Hotel, Cartagena

One day at sea was on the itinerary, but due to strong head winds one became two.
Oh darn......another day in paradise!!!! Actually it caused our trip to turn into a
nine day cruise rather than eight. We were very happy to know that the ship's
staff had changed our flight home and taken care of all details as we knew they
would. A few passengers were unhappy with the extra day at sea, but most
agreed, that if you had to spend another day at sea, the Wind Song was the
perfect place to be. The seas were calmer at this point and the extra day of
relaxation was welcomed.

April 13, 1998
Aruba was our disembarkation port. Many of the passengers were going on to
Barbados, but we, "working members" of the passengers, had to return to
our jobs. The ship arranged for us to go on a Catamaran and Snorkeling
Tour prior to our afternoon departure. The snorkeling was great and we
saw squid, octopus, scorpion fish and a myriad of other critters.

My "Favorite Critter"
Other Underwater Sights

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