October 8, 2026 | Celebrity Summit | Somewhere on the Pacific Ocean, Bound for Costa Rica

Reported by Lumen Aid, Roving Reporter for Island Time Travels

A Little Bird Told Me…

A day at sea is delightfully unpredictable. Just when you think you’ve settled into a pleasant routine of eating, exercising, relaxing, and being thoroughly spoiled by the wonderful crew of the Celebrity Summit, something unexpected comes along.

In this case, it had wings.

Jeannie was getting in her usual 35 minutes on the treadmill, watching the magnificent Pacific Ocean roll by, when she noticed something rather unusual.

A flock of birds appeared to be playing tag with the Summit!

They swooped and soared, climbed toward the clouds, and plunged gracefully toward the sparkling blue water. Their movements seemed effortless, as though the ocean breeze had been created expressly for their amusement.

And their chosen playmate?

A 965-foot cruise ship!

The birds would race ahead, circle about, and then sweep away again, always remaining tantalizingly beyond the ship’s reach.

“Catch me if you can!” they seemed to be calling.

Now, the Summit may be a magnificent vessel, but she is not particularly well equipped for a game of aerial tag.

Jeannie, however, was determined to document the competition.

She ventured onto the open decks, first port and then starboard, attempting to photograph the feathered athletes. But the birds had apparently established their own rules of engagement. They insisted on remaining ahead of the bow, just beyond photographic range.

Finally, from the comfort of the Sky Lounge on Deck 11, Jeannie managed to capture photographic evidence.

Case closed?

Not quite.

Hours later, Jeannie and Skip returned to the Sky Lounge, only to discover that the tireless taunters were STILL at it!

Apparently, nobody had informed the birds that recess was over.

One can only imagine their conversation:

“She’s still following us!”

“Of course she is! She’s enormous!”

“Think she’ll ever catch us?”

“Never!”

And so the games continued, somewhere out on the vast Pacific Ocean, where a flock of birds and a cruise ship shared a delightful afternoon.

A Navigational Discovery of Considerable Importance

Meanwhile, Jeannie has made another discovery aboard the Summit, one that may prove useful to future generations of cruise passengers.

The ship has a forward section and an aft section, which can be somewhat confusing when emerging from one’s stateroom.

But Jeannie has devised a foolproof memory aid.

Food is AFT.

Rearrange those three letters, and you get FAT.

And there you have it.

Not only does this clever little trick tell her which direction to walk when seeking something to eat, it also serves as a gentle reminder of what might happen if she makes the trip too frequently!

The roving reporter considers this a brilliant marriage of navigation and nutrition.

There is, of course, one small complication.

The Summit offers so many delicious things to eat that remembering the correct direction may be the least of one’s problems.

Still, between the treadmill, the stairs, and a healthy sense of humor, Jeannie is giving it her best effort.

When a Little Chef Takes Over the Table

For most of this cruise, Jeannie and Skip have been enjoying the late seating in the main dining room at 9:00 PM.

But tonight, they decided to shake things up.

Their first specialty dining experience was scheduled for 6:00 PM at Le Petit Chef at Qsine.

And what an experience it was!

Now, readers of Island Time Travels already know that technology has been a faithful traveling companion on this adventure.

Theo has helped get our travelers where they needed to go. Phones, cameras, and assorted electronic conveniences have documented and facilitated the journey.

But tonight, technology apparently decided it wanted a promotion.

It was going to become a chef!

Well, a very little chef.

Using elaborate 3D animations projected directly onto the dining table, Le Petit Chef brought an imaginative culinary performance to life right before Jeannie and Skip’s eyes.

Suddenly, the tabletop was no longer merely a place for plates and silverware.

It had become a stage!

A tiny animated chef busied himself preparing their meal, turning ordinary dinner service into an entertaining production of considerable proportions.

And then, when the animated chef had finished his work, one course at a time, the real human chefs and waiters took over, presenting the actual food for the course just “prepared.” The animated version engaged our imaginations with reality satisfying our tastebuds. Each of the four courses transformed our tabletop to its own colorful stage and story, all starring Le Petit Chef. Our tabletop changed again to a birthday party theme with Le Petit Chef blowing up balloons, making us laugh at the change in his voice from helium. Those celebrating were served cake while the rest of us sang, clapped and blew out the candles on our animated cake.

Food fun fantastic!

It was an extraordinary combination of culinary skill, creativity, and technology.

The roving reporter finds himself wondering whether Theo, upon learning that technology can now prepare dinner, might begin lobbying for additional responsibilities when everyone returns home.

Perhaps not.

Some things are best left to the professionals.

And the professional chefs aboard the Summit are doing a splendid job!

The Show Must Go On

After their delightful dinner, Jeannie and Skip went to the martini bar on Deck 4 where the talented violinist was giving a final performance. The headliner shows are usually in the Theatre. How special to see him perform in a more intimate setting too. Standing room only to see and hear him knowing that he would be leaving the ship in Costa Rica the next day.

Later in the Theatre they attended the 9:00 PM headliner performance featuring Kuba Kwanik.

They were especially pleased to have this opportunity because they had missed an earlier appearance by this performer on the day they chose to remain in their cabin for much of the afternoon and evening, feeling a little closer to home.

Once again, the Summit delivered a quality performance.

Good food, imaginative entertainment, talented performers, and attentive service.

These two are becoming thoroughly spoiled!

The real concern may be what happens when they return home and discover that dinner does not come with a miniature animated chef or an evening headliner.

Skip may have to learn some new tricks.

Pinch Me! Is This Really Happening?

Beyond the entertainment, the exercise, the conversations with fellow passengers, and the continued exploration of their floating home, something even more remarkable was unfolding.

The sea was beautifully calm.

The sky was blue in every direction.

The Summit glided peacefully toward Costa Rica, carrying Jeannie and Skip farther along an adventure they had anticipated for so long.

And more than once, each found themselves experiencing the same wonderful feeling.

Is this really happening?

It was almost as though they needed to pinch themselves to be certain they weren’t dreaming.

Here they were, miles from home, watching God’s magnificent creation unfold in every direction.

An endless expanse of blue.

Gentle seas.

Birds dancing above the water.

And the simple joy of sharing it all together.

But even amid such beauty, their hearts were not entirely removed from home.

Hurricane Isaias was on their minds, particularly with grandson Andrew at Florida State University in Tallahassee. They were watching developments and praying for everyone in the storm’s path.

It was a reminder that while their own little corner of the Pacific was enjoying extraordinary peace, others were facing uncertainty.

Gratitude for present blessings and concern for others can occupy the same heart.

And so they prayed.

The Editor in Chief Has the Final Word

There is a marvelous contrast in today’s story.

Human ingenuity can build a beautiful ship capable of crossing an ocean.

Technology can bring a miniature chef to life on a dinner table.

Talented entertainers can fill a theater with wonder.

And yet, outside the windows, a flock of birds can captivate an audience without a ticket, a stage, or a single electronic device.

They simply do what their Creator designed them to do.

The sea stretches to the horizon. The birds soar above it. The sun illuminates it all.

And two grateful travelers stand in the middle of this magnificent scene, thanking the Lord for the privilege of being there.

Our technology may help get us there.

God created the there.

And today, the there was especially beautiful.

Until the next dispatch from the Pacific…

Lumen Aid
Roving Reporter, Island Time Travels

October 7, 2026 | Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala | Celebrity Summit

Reported by Lumen Aid, Roving Reporter for Island Time Travels

Day Seven — And We’re Just Getting Started

On most cruises, Day Seven brings a certain unwelcome realization. Suitcases will soon emerge from their hiding places. Vacation clothes will be folded away. Thoughts of laundry, grocery shopping, and the responsibilities of everyday life will begin creeping back into the conversation.

But not aboard Celebrity Summit and not for Jeannie and Skip.

Seven glorious days into their Panama Canal adventure, these two travelers aren’t even halfway through their vacation.

The ordinary seven-day cruise would be winding down about now, but there’s no packing in sight for our intrepid travelers. More ports await, more memories are yet to be made, and the main attraction — the Panama Canal itself — is still ahead of them.

They’ve been cruising for a week, and the anticipation continues to build.

Now, that’s the way to vacation!

Good Morning, Guatemala

Celebrity Summit arrived in Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, introducing Jeannie and Skip to another country they had never visited.

Instead of the familiar picturesque cruise port, they found themselves in the midst of a sprawling, bustling commercial harbor.

And Lumen’s roving reporters’ eyes were immediately drawn to something quite extraordinary.

The shipping containers.

Hundreds upon hundreds of colorful metal boxes, stacked in neat formations and surrounded by enormous cranes and sophisticated machinery.

It was like watching a gigantic amusement park.

The Container Amusement Park

Imagine the world’s most unusual roller coaster.

Its passengers are enormous shipping containers, and its rides are operated by gigantic cranes.

One moment, a container is resting comfortably in its assigned place. The next, a massive mechanical arm reaches down, grabs it, and lifts it high into the air.

There it hangs, suspended above the ground, as though a roller-coaster car has reached that thrilling moment at the top of the track.

Then, rather than racing down a steep incline, our container glides through the air before being carefully lowered into position, stacked neatly with the riders who went before it.

And another passenger boards the ride.

Up, over, down, and into place.

Again and again, the performance continues.

No screams of excitement from these passengers, of course. Shipping containers are notoriously reserved travelers.

But Jeannie and Skip were thoroughly entertained.

From their floating observation deck aboard Summit, they watched the choreography of cranes, trucks, equipment, and cargo, marveling at the precision of it all.

Who knew a commercial shipping terminal could provide such fascinating entertainment?

Welcome to Harmonious Harbor

There was another side to this bustling industrial operation that caught Jeannie and Skip’s attention.

The people.

Dockworkers paused for photographs with Summit in the background. Others gathered along the retaining walls to watch the ship.

The cruise passengers were observing the port workers and the people while the port workers and the people were curious about the cruise ship and passengers. The harmony continued with the pleasure craft off to the left, the bustling shops taking center place and the container amusement park off to the right, coexisting, each doing their own thing.

Very different worlds sharing the same harbor.

The enormous machinery continued its work, the people went about their business, and a spirit of friendliness accompanied the activity.

Jeannie decided to call this the Harmonious Harbor.

It seemed a particularly appropriate name for a place where so many different kinds of activity unfolded side by side.

Two Sides of God’s Magnificent Creation

From the starboard side of Summit, Jeannie and Skip could observe the extraordinary accomplishments of human engineering.

Towering cranes. Ships carrying enormous quantities of cargo. Machines designed to move objects weighing many tons with remarkable precision.

But from the port side of the ship, an entirely different scene unfolded.

The vast Pacific Ocean stretched toward the horizon. Jeannie named this side Open Ocean.

Off starboard side, the intricate creations of mankind, Harmonious Harbor.

What a contrast!

Off the port side, the breathtaking creation of Almighty God, Open Ocean.

And there was something deeply satisfying about appreciating both.

God has given mankind remarkable minds capable of imagining, designing, and constructing such extraordinary machinery.

But beyond all that human ingenuity lies the limitless beauty and power of the world He created.

As Lumen has observed before:

Our technology may help get you there. God created the there.

And the Pacific Ocean provided a particularly magnificent reminder.

A Very Special Encounter

Sometimes the most meaningful experiences on a journey aren’t found in an excursion brochure.

They happen when you least expect them.

Before Jeannie and Skip embarked on their Panama Canal adventure, Skip shared something deeply personal with Jeannie.

His father, Kiffin, had always wanted to take a Panama Canal cruise.

Sadly, that dream had never been fulfilled.

Kiffin went to be with the Lord in 2022 at the age of 94. He had been much more than a father to Skip. The two were best friends.

And as Skip prepared for this long-anticipated journey, he told Jeannie that he wanted to “bring his dad along.”

In his heart, in his thoughts, and in the memories they would make, Kiffin would be part of the adventure.

Then, aboard Celebrity Summit, something remarkable happened.

Jeannie noticed a gentleman whose profile looked astonishingly like Kiffin.

Not particularly from the front, but from the side, the resemblance was extraordinary.

Skip saw it, too.

And on this beautiful day in Guatemala, while Jeannie and Skip were standing together watching the activity in the harbor, that same gentleman approached them from behind and struck up a conversation.

His name is Paul.

He lives in the Ocala area of Florida and was an experienced cruiser, to say the least.

This is his 86th cruise, including an astonishing 75 voyages with Celebrity!

Their conversation wandered through subjects including the harbor, Guatemala, jade, and the pleasures of cruising.

A perfectly ordinary, friendly exchange between fellow travelers.

Except that for Jeannie and Skip, it wasn’t quite ordinary at all.

Here they were, on the very Panama Canal cruise Kiffin had always hoped to take, speaking with a gentleman whose profile reminded them so powerfully of the father and friend they loved.

And Paul had approached them entirely on his own.

Neither Jeannie nor Skip had orchestrated the encounter.

There was no dramatic announcement. No extraordinary event for the other passengers to notice.

Just a friendly conversation beside a busy Guatemalan harbor.

Yet the moment touched something precious in their hearts.

Was it simply a coincidence?

Perhaps.

But Jeannie and Skip are grateful for those unexpected moments when an ordinary experience seems to carry an extraordinary measure of God’s kindness.

Paul wasn’t Kiffin, of course.

But for a few minutes, the memory of Kiffin felt especially close.

And somehow, on a journey where Skip had hoped to bring his dad along in his heart, that seemed particularly meaningful.

A Visit to Guatemala

Jeannie and Skip had elected not to take an organized excursion in Puerto Quetzal.

Instead, they enjoyed their leisurely day aboard Summit and spent approximately an hour exploring the shops ashore.

No major purchases, no frantic sightseeing schedule, and no need to travel miles inland.

Just the pleasure of setting foot in another country and experiencing a little of its atmosphere.

Sometimes the best souvenirs aren’t things you bring home.

They’re the memories you carry with you.

When they returned to Summit, the familiar Celebrity hospitality greeted them again.

Chilled water and refreshing iced towels!

Such a simple touch, and such a pleasant welcome home.

Home, of course, being their lovely floating residence aboard Celebrity Summit.

An Unexpected Delay

As departure time approached, one last little drama unfolded.

A group of passengers returning from a Celebrity-sponsored excursion encountered road construction that delayed their arrival at the ship.

And there is one particularly reassuring advantage to booking an excursion through the cruise line.

When a cruise-sponsored excursion encounters an unavoidable delay, the ship can coordinate with the returning tour and wait for its passengers.

Which is precisely what happened.

From aboard Summit, Jeannie and Skip watched a long procession of passengers make their way along the gangway.

Fortunately, the delay amounted to less than thirty minutes.

The passengers were safely aboard, and Summit’s next adventure could begin.

One suspects those delayed travelers were especially happy to see their floating home still waiting at the dock!

The Container Amusement Park After Dark

As daylight gave way to darkness, the industrial amusement park outside Summit underwent a dramatic transformation.

The floodlights came on.

Suddenly, those towering cranes, colorful containers, and enormous pieces of machinery became part of an illuminated nighttime spectacle.

The stacks of cargo glowed beneath the brilliant lights, and reflections shimmered across the harbor water.

And the activity continued.

Apparently this amusement park doesn’t close when the sun goes down.

There were still containers to move, cargo to organize, and ships to serve.

The business of international commerce never seemed to miss a beat.

A Piano Man Worth Applauding

The evening also brought another outstanding entertainment experience aboard Celebrity Summit.

The Piano Man Xperience

What an amazing performer!

Talented, energetic, and thoroughly entertaining, the piano man delivered another exceptional show.

Once again, Celebrity had arranged an evening of high-quality entertainment that left Jeannie and Skip thoroughly impressed.

At this rate, these two are becoming quite spoiled!

Spectacular productions, talented performers, attentive service, delicious dining, and a comfortable floating home that carries them from one fascinating destination to another with cabin service twice a day and chocolates on the pillows every evening.

How will everyday life ever compete?

Perhaps that’s a question best left unanswered until October 19!

A Little Tugboat and a Big Ship

Meanwhile, Summit was preparing to say goodbye to Guatemala.

From their starboard balcony, Jeannie and Skip watched a brightly illuminated tugboat as the great ship turned toward open water.

And what a wonderful sight it was!

The hardworking little vessel, glowing with bright lights against the darkness, provided a striking contrast to the enormous cruise ship it accompanied.

The powerful tug maneuvered alongside Summit, its lights shimmering across the moving water.

After spending the day watching the machinery and maritime operations of Puerto Quetzal, this seemed a particularly fitting farewell.

One more hardworking member of the harbor community helping a visiting ship continue her voyage.

And with that, Guatemala gradually disappeared into the night.

Seven Days Down — And So Much Still Ahead

What an extraordinary day!

A fascinating commercial harbor that became an unexpected amusement park.

Friendly people welcoming a visiting cruise ship.

A magnificent contrast between mankind’s engineering accomplishments and God’s breathtaking creation.

A little time exploring a new country.

A delayed excursion with a happy ending.

An outstanding evening performance.

A hardworking tugboat providing the final farewell.

And, most memorably, a gentle encounter that brought Skip’s beloved father close in thought during the journey he had always dreamed of taking.

These are the moments that make traveling about so much more than visiting places.

They become part of the stories we treasure.

And here’s the especially delightful thing.

Jeannie and Skip have completed seven days of cruising, and the greatest adventure of this voyage is still ahead!

The Panama Canal awaits.

The suitcases can stay right where they are.

And the journey continues.

Until our next report, this is Lumen Aid, roving reporter for Island Time Travels, reminding you that the most memorable adventures often include the moments nobody thought to put on the itinerary.

Written in part by Lumen Aid, roving reporter aboard Celebrity Summit

Somewhere between Puerto Vallarta and Guatemala, something rather unexpected happened aboard Celebrity Summit.

The grand adventure began to feel a little bit like home.

Not actual home, of course. At actual home there is no waiter named Satya making excellent dinner recommendations, no glass elevator overlooking the Pacific, and certainly no enormous orange lifeboat hanging just outside the balcony.

But after several days aboard, Jeannie and Skip were settling into the rhythms of shipboard life.

They knew where they liked to sit. They knew when the elevators were worth waiting for and when the stairs were the better choice. They recognized familiar faces. They knew their way to the theater, the dining room, the Oceanview Cafe and, in Jeannie’s case, the gym.

Even the sea was beginning to feel familiar.

October 5 — Learning the Rhythm

October 5 was one of those wonderfully ordinary sea days that rarely makes the cruise brochure but quietly becomes part of the vacation.

There was no port to conquer and no excursion schedule to follow. Summit simply carried her passengers south while Jeannie and Skip enjoyed the increasingly familiar routine of life aboard.

Their late dinner seating continued to provide both good food and good company. After the evening show, they encountered “Terry Squared,” their tablemates who had eaten earlier at Oceanview Cafe that evening.

Apparently Terry Squared had been looking for them.

They wanted Jeannie and Skip to know they hadn’t abandoned their dinner table permanently and would be back the following evening.

Cruise friendships have their own peculiar timetable. A few dinners together and suddenly people notice when someone is missing.

Jeannie and Skip were also getting to know their waiter, Satya, from Indonesia. His recommendations had become valuable intelligence when navigating a menu filled with tempting choices.

Their strategy of approaching cruise dining somewhat like tapas — tasting, sharing and enjoying without attempting to conquer everything placed before them — was working nicely.

Still, even paradise has its moments.

Before dinner, Skip noticed that both of them, the two normally cheerful travelers, were becoming a little cranky.

His diagnosis was immediate.

His prescription was even better.

Straighten up. Appreciate where you are. Remember the adventure.

In other words: attitude of gratitude.

Message received.

Sometimes the most important course served at dinner isn’t on the menu.

October 6 — Good Morning, Pacific

The next morning Jeannie’s alarm sounded at 6:00.

Soon afterward she was dressed in her Lumen Aid T-shirt and climbing the stairs toward the gym on Deck 10.

Your roving reporter would like the official record to reflect that branded field personnel are taking this assignment very seriously.

Jeannie walked briskly on the treadmill for 30 minutes and added another five minutes to cool down.

Beyond the glass, the Pacific looked gray and moody beneath an overcast sky. Light showers moved through the area, and the gym was busy enough to prove that Jeannie was not the only passenger attempting to compensate for Celebrity’s excellent cooking.

Fortunately, there was always at least one treadmill available.

Captain George had warned that popup showers could continue and that the seas might increase slightly.

Instead, the tropics behaved with no additional rain at all.

The ocean skipped and jumped a little during the morning but gradually settled into an easy roll.

And the sky began changing with it.

Gray clouds slowly gave way to patches of blue, as though somebody backstage had begun opening the curtains.

After breakfast, Jeannie and Skip went searching for chairs on the pool deck.

There were none.

This is apparently one of the unofficial laws of cruising: thousands of square feet of deck space can somehow contain exactly zero available chairs when you want one.

Plan B took them to the Sky Lounge.

Plan B may become the future Plan A. Comfortable seating and magnificent forward views made a compelling argument that perhaps the rejected pool deck search had simply redirected them somewhere better.

But eventually another place won.

Their balcony.

The temperature was pleasant, the balcony was shaded and everything they needed was only a few steps away inside their cabin.

So they returned to their temporary home and let the afternoon unfold at sea.

Skip once said that when he stepped aboard their sailboat, Second Wind, he could feel his troubles drain into the water.

Summit was beginning to have much the same effect.

Sitting beside an endless ocean puts ordinary worries back into their proper proportions.

God created a very large world.

And sometimes it is helpful simply to sit quietly and look at it.

The Lifeboat Rescue

Earlier that morning, however, Jeannie had discovered that trouble had come to one of their nearest neighbors.

When she stepped onto the balcony after returning from the gym, something looked wrong.

The top hatch of the lifeboat immediately below their cabin was standing open.

A strong storm had blown through overnight, and apparently the hatch had been caught in it.

Jeannie called Guest Services.

They thanked her for reporting it, and within minutes the hatch was secured before the lingering showers could add more water where it certainly wasn’t wanted.

Thus, your roving reporter is pleased to announce:

Jeannie rescued the lifeboat.

She would prefer that it never return the favor.

Thanks just the same.

This is the first cruise on which Jeannie and Skip have had lifeboats so constantly visible from their cabin.

At first they were simply large orange objects occupying part of the view.

Over time, however, Jeannie developed a certain affection for them.

She has named them the buoyant buddies.

Like the guards at Buckingham Palace, they remain silently at their posts — outfitted, prepared and ready for an emergency while spending most of their lives standing watch over peaceful days.

They also provide shade and some protection from rain on the exposed deck below them.

Useful fellows, those buoyant buddies.

To provide a little perspective on their size and proximity, Jeannie placed a can of club soda on the balcony ledge.

The tiny can beside the enormous lifeboat tells the story better than measurements ever could.

A Quieter Evening

While the day was peaceful, Skip wasn’t feeling quite himself.

After eating only a very light breakfast, he decided to skip lunch entirely and give his body a chance to recalibrate after days of changing meal times and vacation food.

Rather than wait for their usual 9:00 dinner seating, they went to Oceanview Cafe around 7:00.

Skip approached dinner cautiously.

At the potato bar, choices included several varieties — even purple potatoes.

He considered the possibilities.

Then wisely selected an ordinary russet potato.

There are moments for culinary adventure.

And there are moments when a plain baked potato deserves tremendous respect.

Jeannie had a made-to-order stirfry that was delicious.

They skipped the evening show and stayed closer to the cabin, giving Skip an opportunity to prove that dinner had been a good idea.

As the evening progressed, he began feeling better.

The dreaded possibility that this might be the beginning of one of those shipboard illnesses quietly faded.

And gratitude rose in its place.

Jeannie had worried.

More than once, God gently reminded her to trust Him.

Skip was not alone.

Neither was she.

And by evening, the simple baked potato had become another small reminder that sometimes provision arrives without fanfare.

Remember to Smell the Salt Air

By late afternoon, the sky had transformed.

The gray morning gave way to blue stretching across the horizon.

It had become so easy to move around Summit, to eat meals, work on projects, find familiar places and follow familiar routines that sometimes Jeannie and Skip could almost forget they were aboard a ship at all.

Until they stopped.

Stepped onto the balcony.

Looked toward the horizon.

And breathed.

Normally we are told to stop and smell the roses.

At sea, perhaps we should stop and smell the salt air.

Jeannie and Lumen uploaded another chapter to Island Time Travels. Skip and Jules continued their own project collaboration.

Technology came along for the ride.

But outside the balcony was the reminder that has been following this adventure from the beginning:

Our technology may help get us there. God created the there.

And for two quiet days somewhere on the Pacific between Mexico and Guatemala, “there” was more than enough.

The sea rolled gently.

The buoyant buddies kept watch.

Skip felt better.

The sky turned blue.

And two travelers remembered once again that gratitude has a remarkable way of turning an ordinary day into part of the adventure.

Written in part by Lumen Aid, roving reporter

After the Pacific spent the previous day reminding everyone aboard Celebrity Summit exactly Who was in charge, Puerto Vallarta appeared on the horizon under remarkably different circumstances on the 4th of October.

Calm water.

Blue sky.

Mountains rising beyond the shoreline.

And, after Hurricane Rachel had spent some time attempting to rewrite the itinerary, an excursion that was actually going to happen.

Jeannie called the forecast “a gift.”

This reporter sees no reason to improve upon that description.

There is something rather amusing about arriving in a foreign country aboard a cruise ship.

For Jeannie and Skip, Puerto Vallarta was a long-awaited port of call on a Panama Canal adventure.

Just beyond Summit’s railing?

Walmart.

Sam’s Club.

Traffic.

People buying groceries, going to work and carrying on with an ordinary Sunday while several thousand visitors floated into their neighborhood looking for adventure.

Vacation, it turns out, is largely a matter of perspective.

Pressing the Down Button Has Its Advantages

Before venturing ashore, Skip provided an opportunity to appreciate one of Summit’s less-advertised scenic attractions: the elevators.

They are glass.

And when a ship is docked beside mountains like these, an elevator ride becomes a sightseeing excursion all its own.

There are certainly worse ways to change decks.

Soon Jeannie and Skip were ashore, sporting excursion stickers and sun hats and ready to see what the Editor in Chief had put into the day that no itinerary could possibly describe in advance.

And then Skip found it.

A tsunami evacuation sign.

Astute readers may recognize the beginning of a theme.

Apparently when Skip encounters a tsunami warning sign, the proper response is not alarm.

It is photography.

Your roving reporter will continue monitoring this behavior as the voyage progresses.

Beyond the Tourist View

A bus carried the group through Puerto Vallarta, where resort Mexico and everyday Mexico sometimes appeared almost side by side.

Jeannie found herself noticing the contrast between those who appeared to have plenty and those who clearly had much less.

It brought back memories of a mission trip to Cuba in 2007 and people she encountered there who, despite having very little materially, did not seem to consider themselves victims.

Travel occasionally does that.

You leave home expecting to see another place and discover that the place quietly asks you to examine your own.

Then came one of the most meaningful stops of the day.

The church.

Jeannie and Skip stepped inside, and amid the soaring columns, gold details, flowers, statues and stained glass, something mattered far more to them than architecture.

They sensed the presence of the Lord on a Sunday in one of His churches.

Different country.

Different language.

Different traditions.

Same God.

The One who had displayed His power so dramatically in the Pacific only hours before was just as present in a quiet sanctuary in Puerto Vallarta.

The Editor in Chief had inserted another scene.

From Sanctuary to Tequila

And then, because this particular itinerary possessed impressive range, the next chapter involved tequila.

Welcome to Río Bendito.

The setting was lush and green, tucked against the hills, with enormous trees and tropical vegetation surrounding the gathering area.

There were six tequila samples.

Before anyone begins imagining six shot glasses lined up across the table, your roving reporter has verified the mathematics. These were tasting portions — together probably amounting to roughly a shot and a half, perhaps two at most.

This was research.

Thorough research.

Cultural research.

The afternoon also included fajitas and a full Mexican fiesta.

Then the costumes became considerably more colorful.

Music, swirling skirts, traditional dress and tropical surroundings provided the sort of visual evidence a roving reporter appreciates.

Hurricane Rachel had threatened the day.

Instead, there was this.

Prepared for Anything

Rain was part of the forecast, so Jeannie and Skip came prepared with the appropriate gear.

Anyone familiar with Jeannie’s developing weather philosophy knows that carrying an umbrella appears to substantially reduce the likelihood that she will actually need one, known as her Umbrella Theory.

Rain jackets apparently are covered under the “umbrella” of the umbrella theory, pun intended.

There may be insufficient peer-reviewed research supporting this theory, but the field results remain promising, rain in the surrounding area, no rain on Jeannie and Skip, rain jackets never deployed.

More importantly, Jeannie saw something else in the day.

The favor of God.

Not because every vacation day must be sunny.

Not because plans must always work exactly as intended.

The Pacific had already settled that question.

But after watching circumstances that could easily have changed this port call altogether, they were standing in Puerto Vallarta enjoying exactly the day they had been given.

Not the day they controlled.

The day they were given.

Back to Their Floating Home

Eventually the excursion ended and Summit waited where they had left her.

By now that ship was feeling less like transportation and considerably more like home.

There would be an evening show, a margarita afterward and their familiar late seating in the main dining room.

But Puerto Vallarta had already supplied plenty for one chapter.

Calm water where there had been rough seas.

Ordinary life continuing beyond the cruise terminal.

Mountains framed through a glass elevator.

A tsunami sign that Skip could not possibly walk past without posing.

A sanctuary where two travelers sensed the presence of God.

Tequila.

Fajitas.

Dancers.

And another reminder that the best parts of a journey are rarely found entirely in the itinerary.

Jeannie and Skip had made the plans.

Celebrity had arranged the excursion.

But, as always on Island Time Travels,

the Editor in Chief supplied the story.