Ok so full disclosure, yes I can say I've been to Colombia but neither I or the other 3000 guests or 1200 crew set foot on the shores of Cartagena. Today was a technical stop which saw the Mary stop at an anchorage just off the coast at around 10am local time. Some three hours later, the anchor was stowed and we were back underway.
All crew were issued with a Panama hat this morning, one of which I am currently sporting. In for a penny etc!
QM2's original stop was Curacao in the Netherlands Antilles, for reasons unknown this port of call was dropped from the itinerary a while back when I was last on board. So today's technical stop provided an opportunity for some crew to debark and a few embark prior to resuming our voyage towards transiting the Panama Canal.
The most notable change is the weather. The swing from the New York snow and ice to the 30+ of the Carribbean Sea is stark!!
As you might imagine, the open decks are busy and the outdoor bars bustling. Unlike other ships, the QM2 has a generous amount of space per guest so whilst it is busy in places there's no shortage of areas to find a seat and enjoy the weather. Indoor areas remain largely quiet
Tomorrow is going to be an interesting day as we enter our first lock into the Panama Canal!
So not a huge amount to report from today's call, pretty much a sea day in truth. I type from the aft of the ship enjoying the warm shade with a ice cold pint of Brewdog Punk IPA having had a brief disco nap after lunch. It's a tough life!!!
The city of Cartagena taken from the forward observation deck
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