Sailing Through Three Oceans Aboard the “Island Princess” on a Delightful Cruise

Shaking off the boredom of the impending winter and everyday life, as well as seeking a respite from annoyances, it has become impellent for us to book a cruise somewhere, anywhere we hadn’t been, as long as it offered new vistas, warmer climate and interesting horizons. In fact, it has become the thing to do every November, when the dangers of hurricanes become fewer and fewer.

The choice fell on a 15-day cruise aboard the “Island Princess”, which offered, besides all the necessary accoutrements needed, also much of what we wanted, both geographically and degrees of indulgence. And so we boarded the “Island Princess”, class of 2003, manned by 890 men and women who do their very best for the 2,000 or so passengers aboard. Another fact we considered important for obvious reasons turned out to be that our cruise ship was captained by Genoese Andrea Cesare Poggi, and the Maitre d’Hotel was a red headed Venetian named Silvio Zampieri. To good Italians like us this was akin to a family-like atmosphere.

As we boarded what was to be our home for 15 days from Port Everglades, Florida, we found that the aforementioned were not the only countrymen of ours in commanding posts. There were Hotel General Manager Emilio Mazzi, Staff Captain Maurizio Di Prete, Chief Engineer Vito Allegretta, Staff Electric Engineer Vito Rosso, Staff Engineer Officer Antonio Distefano, and First Purser Administration Paolo Rollini. With a renewed sense of pride, we sailed the 1093 nautical miles to our first stop, the island of

ARUBA
The beautiful Caribbean island, founded in 1499 by Alonso de Ojeda for Spain, became a possession of the Dutch in 1634, near the end of their 80-year war with Spain. Its inhabitants, nearly 34,000, occupy approximately 74 square miles. Its capital is Oranjestad and its main economy is supplied by the aloe plant after the total disappearance of gold in 1913. Also, Aruba has the largest oil refinery in the world, owned since 2004 by the Valero Energy Co.

The population speaks a curious mixture of Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish, English, African and Indian called Papamiento, also spoken in Bonaire and Curacao. Places to visit include the Aloe Factory as well as the Botanical Gardens, the latter featuring beautiful species of fluttering butterflies, which, unfortunately, have a life span of only a couple of weeks.

Another pleasant surprise was in store for the four of us, while having a leisurely breakfast: the sudden and unexpected appearance of a friendly face, that of Assistant Maitre d’ George Coteanu, whom we had known since our first cruise together on the “Sun Princess”.
Our wishes reached complete totality with the Romanian George cracking jokes in Italian and English. He has a way of making any passenger feel welcomed and wanted. We were so glad to see him that we literally felt that we flew the 383 nautical miles to

CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA
Cartagena, often mentioned by the writers of marauding pirates, was founded in 1533 by Don Pedro de Heredia. Governed for many years by a succession of viceroys appointed by King Felipe II, Cartagena became the aim of corsairs hoping to lay their hands on large shipments of gold and emeralds sent to Spain. Today, Cartagena’s economy is centered on platinum and timber, coffee from the Sierra Nevada, and oil products.

We visited the newer Cartagena aboard a tour bus, with our imagination traveling to few centuries ago when the city felt the whip of piracy, as we had learned about by reading the books we devoured in our youthful years. Of extreme interest in Cartagena is the 17th century Fort San Felipe, a mastodontic fortress obviously built to ward off the enemies. Below it, colorful vendors hawk their cheap wares to eager tourists.
We resolved to be as observant as we could in the morrow as we traveled the 264 n. miles separating Cartagena from

THE PANAMA CANAL
The Canal, a prestigious engineering feat, was a case of reuniting the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans through the Isthmus of Panama in order to expedite and facilitate commercial shipping. The first to order the first survey of a canal route was Charles 1 of Spain in 1534. More than three centuries were to elapse before any construction began. The French worked for 20 years, their efforts foiled by diseases that decimated the work force, as well as engineering problems.

In 1903, Panama gained its independence from Columbia, and became free to sign a treaty with the United States that guaranteed its rights and properties for $40 millions, and began construction. The huge project was completed on August 15, 1914 at a cost of about 387 million dollars. Later on, during the Carter Administration, the Canal was returned to Panama to administer and operate.

It takes eleven hours for ships to sail through this engineering marvel. It begins by having the pilot on board, then by entering the Gatun Locks, passing Gamboa, entering and clearing Pedro Miguel, and entering and clearing Miraflores. It is estimated that more than 942,000 vessels have gone through the Canal at a cost too enormous to calculate, Captain Poggi was very kind in extending us an invitation to join him on the top deck at a particular hour as the ship was passing through Miraflores. As busy as he was, deeply absorbed in the navigation of the “Island Princess”, he still had a little time for us in answering a few questions not related to his task at hand. A true gentleman from Genoa!
We and the nearly three thousand on board proceeded to

PUERTO AMADOR
Puerto Amador, also known as Fuerte Amador, is on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal. It’s separated from Panama City by Ancon Hill. Explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa annexed the region to Spain in the early 1500. Thereafter, Panama became Spain’s center of government and the seat of the Church in the Americas. The need for a canal was manifested even then as Panama shipped gold and other valuables even across the isthmus. Many were the attacks on Panama City until a tall stone and brick wall was built after a major attack in 1671, deterring all efforts thereafter.

In visiting Panama City aboard a tour bus, we marveled at the modernization of the city with its high buildings hosting well known financial institutions and hotel chains like Hilton, Sheraton, Holiday Inns, etc. Soon to be erected will be a Donald Trump’s venture. A refreshing light rain accompanied us all the way to the ship sailing the 476 n. miles to

PUERTO CALDERA
Puerto Caldera is in Costa Rica, often referred to as the “Switzerland of Central America”. It features tall moun- tains, forested slopes, green pastures and lush vegetation . Also peaks 13,000 feet high and beautiful white sandy beaches along the Pacific Coast. Puerto Caldera is considered a gate- way to the country’s capital, San Jose. Costa Rica is also a leading exporter of bananas, but the rumors about rich gold veins remain just rumors.
It was the second time that we had visited the country.

The last time, a few years ago, we had approached the Gatun Locks from Fort Limon. We remembered that day: gray with a fine rain. We were standing on what appeared to be a small hill-like above the Gatun Locks as a ship approached and crossed . It was a marvel then and doubly so now because of what we had seen the week before. Only this time we were the protagonists, not the spectators.
We then proceeded relaxedly to Acapulco, Mexico, a long journey of 785 n. miles.

ACAPULCO
We have never seen a foreign city that so strongly resembled an American one. American capital – we surmise – must have played a large role in developing Acapulco. But one cannot deny its natural beauty: blue crystal-like waters, white sandy beaches, year-round balmy weather, and the added attraction of La Quebrada cliff divers, who climb up a 130 foot rock formation, only to dive in what it looks to be a small basin below.

This was our third visit to Acapulco, and the reason behind our previous statements lies in the obvious fact that we had never seen as many McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Burger Kings etc. adorning the city streets.
The latest screaming headlines of “Mexico Under Siege” for narcotics control by the undesirable elements of society must be inflicting a spear in the heart of this gorgeous city.
We left it at sunset for the 679 n. miles to the last stop of our journey, which was to be

CABO SAN LUCAS
Cabo’ s Pacific waters mix with those of the Sea of Cortez. Cabo was once the site of a cannery. But its crystalline blue waters, white sandy beaches, and dry climate eventually changed it into an international resort town, boasting of some of the world’ s best swimming beaches. We also learned that millions of years ago, the area was located between Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. But a huge crack in the San Andreas Fault created the Sea of Cortez, leading to the Pacific Ocean rushing in, severing the peninsula from mainland Mexico.

We spent a few hours in Cabo, window shopping and appraising, but above all soaking up the sun that warmed us throughout this particular venture that unfortunately was ending.
But we still had two more days to navigate the 811 n. miles separating Cabo from our home in Los Angeles and the dread of a long winter ahead.

Life on board
There are those who maintain that life aboard a cruiseship is centered on eating only. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Yet, it only seems that way. Self-serve breakfast on the Horizon Court or in the dining rooms, ordered in your cabin, or lunch or dinner may take a good share of your time satisfy- ing your palate as well as your body necessity to feed it. But you meet a lot of people from all walks of life, and, such as in our case, fellow Italians like Francesco and Renata Ciaramitaro, and Mrs. Ciaramitaro’s sister Rosa and her husband Charley Pensavalle, who readily joined in in spirited and fun filled conversations with fellow Sicilians Stan Chiarenza, and his Calabrian wife Jennie.

We do not claim to possess the memory of an elephant. Therefore, we must peruse only one issue of the daily “Princess Patter” (a daily ship’s publication) that is invaluable in planning out your day if you choose to remain on board while others are visiting exotic new places if anchored in a port, or while heading out to the next destination.

For instance: Brain Waves Quiz, Board Games Get Together, General Knowledge Trivia, Scattergories Team Fun, an afternoon movie, Train Enthusiasts Gathering, Music Trivia at the Pool, Swimming, Workouts in the Ship’s Well Equipped Gym, Scavenger Hunt, Princess Book Club, Taboo Challenge, Afternoon Trivia, Cocktail Melodies, Basketball 2 on 2, Ballroom Blitz, Art Gallery, Golf Simulator.

In addition, show times: Piano Man, Music and Martinis, Music with the Sunnyside Duo, Celebrity Liars Club Gameshow, DJ music, Movies on Deck 14, Comedy Showtime, Dance the Night Away.
All of this besides a cocktail party to meet the Captain, Passengers Talent Show, a Crew Talent Show in which we admired the vocal talent of Head Waiter Hector Catalan, and for those tempting luck those infernal slot machines, a poker game perhaps or dice.

For a delightful change of pace, we recommend at least one meal (for $20.00 extra a person) at the Sabatini Restaurant on board. What a meal! We got “prosciutto and cantaloupe melon”, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, Roasted Peppers, Marinated Porcini Mushrooms, Artichokes, Olives, White Anchovies, Tomatoes, Ricotta, Mozzarella, Fried Calamari and Shrimp, Focaccia, Salad, Mini Pizzas, Bresaola, Ravioli and Pappardelle, a Veal Chop or a luscious Lobster. Dessert offerings included Crostata and Zabaglione, etc, etc., accompanied by the inseparable Espresso or Cappuccino. We liked it so much we also had breakfast there twice, all three times served impeccably by a real good waiter, Gabriel, a Romanian who spoke English and Italian.

Because it is a foregone conclusion that it is infinitely more pleasurable when one gets attentive headwaiters like Fernando, a Portuguese, and waiters like Mickey (he serenaded us almost every evening with his mellifluous voice, accompanying himself on a guitar as big as he) and his assistant Clark, two Filipinos who left their families and home for a life that could be difficult were it not for their friendly attitudes.

This was a splendid cruise, and one we would not mind replicating. Because it is a definitive panacea for what ails a person, a perfect R and R to chase away life’s foibles. Like the “Princess’” motto, “Escape Completely”, we did, and we are not at all reticent (we recommend it in fact) in advising our readers to “escape” also.