As soon as I stepped off the plane at midnight and walked into the airport in Peru, all my worries about Lima being dangerous just faded away. The airport’s pretty manageable and has clear signs everywhere. The authorities suggest using the official taxis from the airport, so I booked one to take me to the Holiday Inn Lima Airport hotel, which was about 5 minutes away. The next morning, I got another taxi to Callao port, where I boarded the Silver Ray, Silversea’s latest ship that launched in May 2024. I really like the modern and open vibe of the ship. It had touchless key entry for the suites, bathrooms and lounges, refillable water stations, and hand sanitizers all over. Even the elevators had that fresh new smell! The ship can hold 728 passengers, and it’s spacious enough that you’re not bumping into other cruisers all the time. This cruise took me from Lima, heading north along the western coast of South America, through the Panama Canal, and ending in Fort Lauderdale. All the ports we visited were on the same longitude, so I never had to reset my clock during the cruise.
I wish I had taken the 4-5 day pre-cruise trek to Machu Picchu before the government starts hitting people with fines to manage overcrowding. Instead, I spent a whole day exploring the beautiful city of Miraflores, which is a big, clean city by the coast. I started my stroll from the Inka Shopping Plaza, a touristy open-air mall, and made my way to Miraflores Central Park where I admired the cliffs that overlook the Pacific Ocean. Below surfers were chasing the perfect wave, while hang gliders floated above. I paused for a bit by the Paddington Bear statue, which represents the friendship between Peru and the UK. In the story, the beloved bear hails from Peru before making his way to London. A few steps later, I came upon Parque d’Amour, featuring this giant statue of a couple sharing a sweet embrace.
After two days at sea, pulling into the Ecuadorian port of Guayaquil felt great. Notable sites include the Neo-gothic Metropolitan Cathedral, and Seminario Park, also known as Iguana Park. Just a quick walk from the park, you’ll find La Pata Gorda, which is famous for its Latin-style seafood. I spotted a bunch of ship crew members digging into steamed crab, and if the crew’s eating there, you know it’s got to be good! The fried plantain chips were awesome, and I knew I was in for a treat when they gave me a bib and a small metal mallet. After three crabs, with shells scattered all over the table and floor, I was totally satisfied. Malecon 2000 is a clean promenade where you can stroll, grab some food, and see a mix of old and new buildings. Totally worth taking a city tour to soak in the culture. Once back on the ship, we set sail 120 miles north. As we got near to the equator, the captain counted down from 10, 9, 8… all the way to 1, and just like that, we crossed from the southern to northern hemisphere.
Going through the Panama Canal is a one-day adventure. This is my second time, and I got to capture the whole thing with my new iPhone in a time-lapse video. Honestly, it’s a bit like watching paint dry, but it’s still a fun experience! Would I do it again? Absolutely! Enjoy the following time-lapse video from my fellow passenger Robin from www.MyWanderings.com.
Ever since I watched the movie Romancing the Stone, I’ve always wanted to visit Cartagena even though most of it was filmed in Mexico. Cartagena is a UNESCO World Heritage city and it’s bursting with vibrant colors, charm, and that laid-back Caribbean feel. Stroll through the Old Town streets and watch locals expertly balancing fruit baskets on their heads, soak in the live music, tasty food stalls, and the whole tropical vibe. You can also hop on a boat tour and check out a demo on how they whip up Seviche in a fried plantain shell, taste some local coffees, and don’t miss trying Limonada de Coco—it’s a super refreshing drink made with lime and coconut. Colombia’s where 60% of the world’s emeralds come from, so naturally, I had to snag an emerald souvenir or two. Just a heads-up, the shops in Old Town are all about bartering, so take my advice and don’t settle for the first price they give you!
I had such an amazing time on this cruise—definitely one of my all-time favorites! Even though we had quite a few sea days (8 out of 16), we were always entertained with enrichment talks, delicious food demonstrations, art activities at sea, local entertainers and enjoyable board/table games. We even celebrated with a Crossing the Line ceremony featuring the Court of Neptune (I’ve learned all about being a pollywog and a shellback now!). Plus, the dance night with a live band was a blast! The solo travelers on this cruise were fun and engaging. I can’t forget to mention our wonderful Gentlemen Hosts, Lyle and Tom, who made sure there were exciting solo events every evening. They truly knew how to make every moment special, and I can’t wait to sail with them again someday!
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Wow, Val, another amazing blog post and you certainly make me want to cruise on Silverseas! I can’t wait to see your emerald souvenir as your collection expands! Ugh to those huge iguanas, I can’t think of anything more scary! They make the Mexican iguanas look like pups! Lol!
Wow, Val, another amazing blog post and you certainly make me want to cruise on Silverseas! I can’t wait to see your emerald souvenir as your collection expands! Ugh to those huge iguanas, I can’t think of anything more scary! They make the Mexican iguanas look like pups! Lol!