Today we passed through the Panama Canal, one of the main highlights of our voyage. The experience was spectacular both from the engineering feat and the surrounding tropical scenery. Now we are leaving Panama City behind us and thinking of Melissa as we head towards Costa Rica.

As we crossed the Caribbean we had talks on the slave trade and it's abolition, and some history of Cartagena, the gateway to South America. We walked around the Old City of Cartagena, viewing the Spanish colonial architecture in the old buildings, squares and churches. It is easy to understand why the city was declared the 'Historical Patrimony of Humanity' by UNESCO in 1985.

Yesterday we could see the north coast of Cuba, on the horizon, as we continued our journey to Grand Cayman. Grand Cayman is a coral island and is only 60 feet above sea level at its highest. We went ashore by tender (lifeboats). It is Heroes Day, so banks etc are on holiday but all the tourist and jewellery shops are open. Thankfully Anna has all the jewellery she needs. The Governor inspected the parade, saluting with their Second World War Lee Enfield Rifles...

Now we are at Fort Lauderdale. The weather is sunny and warm and have put away our winter woollies. Port Everglades is the 2nd largest cruise terminal in the World. There are many cruise ships in port including Oasis of The Seas which is the largest cruise ship in the world. Late afternoon five cruise ships left Port Everglades. We were the last following the enormous 'Oasis of The Seas'. As we sailed down towards the Florida Keys we passed Miami, its skyscrape...

The next six days, sailing across The Atlantic, were spent attending lectures, seminars, and matinee movies. In the evening there were cocktail parties and receptions followed by fine dining and entertainment. It's a hard life on board ship. We heard Sir Alan Collins speak on 'The Anglo/American Special Relationship', 'The London 2012 Olympics', and 'New York, New York'; Jane Asher who spoke on her acting career and writing her cookbooks; and Glenmore Trenear-H...