Cruise on Sumi Bear

The Productivity Cruise

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Most people pick a cruise based on destinations. How many islands, how many beaches, how much snorkeling.

Nicholas and Pokin picked this one because it had the least amount of shore days relative to total trip length. Maximum time at sea. Minimum distractions. The Emerald Princess, Long Beach to Hawaii and back, over Christmas.

Cartagena, Macaws, and the New Year

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

After eleven hours of canal transit, Cartagena was our last real port day. Old stone fortresses, colonial courtyards, streets painted every color, and 32 degrees in the shade. We hired a private driver for the day.

First stop: Castillo San Felipe de Barajas. A 400-year-old Spanish fortress built on a hill to defend against pirates. Tunnels running through it in every direction, walls thick enough to stop cannonballs.

The Crossing

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

I woke up in the dark.

Not because anyone asked me to. Not because there was an emergency. Because today was the day. The Panama Canal. The full crossing. Pacific to Atlantic. And I was not about to let some family of early risers steal my viewing spot on deck.

Crocodiles, Lumpia, and the Road to Panama

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Costa Rica wasn’t on the original itinerary as anything special. Just another port day. But it turned out Nicholas’s family has old friends originally from here, and they offered to pick us up and show us around.

Arriving with gifts. Making a good impression. I approve.

Cristina and her family met us at the port and drove us around for the day. It’s a different pace down here. Green everywhere, tropical rivers, actual wildlife just… sitting there.

Setting Sail for Panama

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Christmas at sea. Two weeks of me claiming the best spot on the balcony. I’m in.

The Coral Princess, departing Fort Lauderdale, heading south through Mexico, Central America, and then the main event: the full Panama Canal crossing.

Nicholas picked this one specifically for the canal. He’s convinced it might close someday, or at least become inaccessible to cruise ships, and he wanted to do the full transit while he still could. Pokin was on board (literally) because the engineering of the thing fascinates her. Naturally, I was coming too.