Beer, Ceviche on Beach Highlight Manta Port of Call

Day 8, 2025 Grand World Voyage

Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025; Manta, Ecuador.

Given the choice between standing in a line and relaxing with a beer on the beach, it’s obvious which I will take. One of my favorite cruise memories was drinking pisco sours on an Easter Island terrace while watching long lines of passengers waiting for tenders back to the ship.

Today in Manta, Ecuador, while waiting in the cruise terminal to return to the ship, we got word there would be a delay of an hour or more. Normally a shuttle bus takes us through the industrial port to our pier. But this afternoon deep swells made staying moored at the pier unstable, so Capt. Friso moved the ship and anchored in the bay. The crew had to set up tender service from the pier to the ship and prepare the tenders.

All it took was a suggestion from a couple of friends farther back in line to retreat to a nearby beach restaurant for beer and wine, and I was all in. I enjoyed fresh ceviche with plantain chips and a frosty local beer. An hour or so later we headed back to the terminal and returned after just a short wait.

We had a rough tender ride to the ship, where it was difficult to navigate the step to the tender platform. The boat surged up and down a couple of feet as five crew members helped each of us time the step: wait, wait, wait, GO! Hotel Manager Henk was on the platform overseeing the transfer. In fact, it was “all hands on deck” for senior officers. I saw several, including Cruise Director Kimberly and Food and Beverage Director Ali, in the terminal organizing the process from that end.

Manta claims to be the tuna capital of the world, a benefit of being near the northern end of the Humbolt Current, the source of 20 percent of the worldwide marine fish catch. As we left the port area, we passed giant fish processing facilities and several tuna sculptures. I risked life and limb to cross a roundabout to the tile sculpture in the center. Actually, I waited patiently for the occasional break in traffic.

When I was in Manta 15 month ago, I joined a tour to see the making of jewelry from tagua nuts and Panama hats from toquilla palm fronds. Today I opted for a “coffee experience,” which was a bit disappointing, to be honest. We traveled about an hour out of town over rough roads on a bus that could have used newer springs to Jipijapa and a small pavilion in the hills.

Our guide explained that the coffee flavor is enhanced because the plants grow under a variety of fruit trees, such as mangos, Meyer lemons, limes and cacao. After taking a short walk through the area, we each had a small sample of coffee before returning to Manta.

Two days ago, we passed through the Panama Canal — always a thrill for me. The passage takes about eight hours, beginning as we go from the Caribbean through the three Gatún Locks up to Gatún Lake. We cruise through it for a couple of hours, go through the narrow Culebra Cut and then pass down through the Pedro Miguel Locks, the Miraflores Locks and finally to the Pacific Ocean.

Kimberly provided continuing commentary about the canal’s history and geology, the ships passing us by and the sights on shore, including a large crocodile. Sightseers waved from viewing platforms as we passed by.

Last night near midnight we crossed the equator, but King Neptune will wait to initiate the noobie pollywogs into shellbacks until near the end of the cruise when we cross back again.