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Partial Panama Canal cruises -- where ships only go halfway through the locks before turning around -- not only cut the number of days, but increase day-trip options in the Central American cities near the canal. While several ships bring lecturers onboard to talk about the canal's history, this is one trip where a little extra reading might add to your enjoyment. "The Path Between the Seas," by historian David McCullough, is highly recommended. If you choose a cruise that includes a partial transit of the canal, you can experience Panama’s beauty during a day in Colon. Excursions from here include eco-adventures on Gatun Lake, where you can see capuchin and howler monkeys, caimans, and three-toed sloths.
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Many Panama Canal and Central America ports are relatively industrial, and some -- particularly Colon and Puerto Limon -- have a reputation for petty crime within the main city. You will likely be safer on a shore excursion, booked through the ship or independently, than if you decide to head on your own into town. If you're not a fan of tours, know that in Colon, city officials have regulated taxis and provided good shopping and cafe facilities at the two main cruise ship docking areas, Colon 2000 and nearby Cristobal Pier. The Panama Canal is one of the most astonishing human-made wonders, a sliver of ingenuity that allows ships to move from one ocean to another. Cruise from the Pacific to the Atlantic, or vice versa, and take in the scenery as you move through this engineering marvel built in 1914. The array of options means that a Panama Canal cruise experience is possible even if you're short on time or have a limited budget — and chances are high that your favorite cruise line offers one or more itineraries.
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Regent Seven Seas Cruises' newest ship, Seven Seas Grandeur, debuts in November 2023 and its first two Panama Canal itineraries in early 2024 are already waitlisted. Partake in a Costa Rica excursion for a Caribbean adventure with Princess Cruises. This is one situation where a balcony cabin offers a unique perspective, but it isn't really a necessity (unlike on an Alaska or Hawaii itinerary, where you're guaranteed gorgeous scenery on either side of your ship). Bigger ships can only squeak through the canal, with two feet (or less) on either side. While the railing of the balcony can give you a better appreciation for just how tight that squeeze is, being up on the bow is the best way to appreciate the full scope of the process. There are so many fabulous encounters with nature available from this port, you'll have a hard time deciding on a shore excursion.
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Typically, the transit of the Panama Canal takes eight to ten hours, but this depends on how much traffic there is and whether there is any congestion at the massive locks. Start off a breathtaking vacation in the Caribbean and South America. Fall in love with the romantic streets and flower-strewn balconies of Cartagena. Sail down the engineering marvel of the Panama Canal and visit a sprawling rainforest preserve in Colon. Take a swim in the warm, turquoise waters of Aruba, go snorkeling at Bonaire’s vibrant Bari Reef, and view magnificent stalactites and stalagmites inside Curacao’s Hato Caves.
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Explore the engineering genius of the Panama Canal with Celebrity on a thrilling voyage that brings history and human achievement to life. On a Panama Canal cruise, experience the lush rainforests of Costa Rica, teeming with scarlet macaws and slow-moving sloths. Pay airfare for one guest, and you'll automatically lock-in roundtrip flights for two. Secure these savings online by choosing your nearest airport in step one of your cruise booking, and enjoy air-to-sea made easy. We'll coordinate your roundtrip flights, and transportation between the airport and cruise port.
As you cruise the canal, you will pass through the two-chambered Miraflores Locks, the one-chambered Pedro Miguel Lock, and three-chambered Gatun Locks. Along the way you’ll find Gatun Lake, once the largest manmade lake in the world, which has proved a boon for the species that thrive here, undisturbed by the passing ships. Many cruisers consider a cruise through the Panama Canal a must-do, and for a long time, the itineraries drew mostly seniors, due to the length of a full-transit trip (which usually runs 14 days).
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For the ultimate cruise indulgence, Viking's 180-day World Voyage I includes a Panama Canal transit (on Christmas Day, no less) as 930-passenger Viking Sky cruises from Fort Lauderdale to New York City (Dec. 19, 2024–June 17, 2025). This round-the-world cruise will visit 37 countries as guests enjoy Viking Sky's modern Scandinavian interior decor, soothing LivNordic Spa, two pools (including one with a retractable roof) and six onboard restaurants. Pricing includes airfare, gratuities and complimentary wine and beer with lunch and dinner. Calls on Golfito and Puntarenas in Costa Rica offer access to eco-adventure. Panama Canal itineraries are offered by almost every cruise line.
A stop in Colón, Panama, lets you lay on the sand at serene Maria Chiquita beach or hike your way through Portobelo National Park to reach the 17th-century San Lorenzo Fort. And if you're in the mood for the city life, head to Panama City, the Caribbean's most urban cluster that's only an hour away by car.
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Some ships sail a full transit of the canal, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, or vice versa. These one-way journeys between Miami or Fort Lauderdale and Los Angeles or San Diego, visits ports in Central America, South America, Mexico and California. Being in the locks is a thrilling experience and gives you an insight into how extraordinary the canal is, all the more so given that it’s more than 100 years old. You’ll see everything from giant cargo ships to small yachts making the transit. Visitors in the viewing galleries at the locks will wave as you pass through. During the 48-mile transit, you’ll see everything from intricate lock systems to the serene landscapes of the rainforest and Gatun Lake.
The port provides a jumping-off point for tours of working coffee plantations, the Pacaya Volcano (one of the country's many active mountains) and Lake Atitlan. Carnival Cruises has a range of Panama Canal cruises leaving from different ports in the US, including Tampa, New Orleans and Galveston. On a transit from Panama City to Colon, the futuristic skyline of Panama City will be on your starboard (right) side. When you pass through the skinny Culebra Cut between Panama City and Gamboa, you’ll have the greenery of a national park on both sides, so this is a good time to look for monkeys and toucans in the trees. On Celebrity Summit, guests of The Retreat can view the locks from the Retreat Sundeck on deck 12 forward. Other options include the Sky Lounge, which has panoramic forward views and is climate-controlled, or the Rooftop Terrace, aft.
All sailings are aboard the new 3,260-guest Celebrity Beyond and visit Cartagena, Colombia; Colon, Panama; Oranjestad, Aruba; Kralendjik, Bonaire; and George Town, Grand Cayman (Willemstad, Curacao replaces Grand Cayman on some 2025 sailings). On the day of the transit, prime viewing locations on the bow and near windows go quickly. Most cruise lines do their best to give everyone a decent seat -- sometimes opening up "crew only" areas -- but competition can still get fierce. So set your alarm; the sooner you can pull yourself out of bed, the better the spot you'll snag.
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Sit back, relax, and let Norwegian take you through one of the most magnificent marvels in the world. A cruise to the Panama Canal is a chance to land on amazing destinations during the same trip. Or go snorkeling along the coral reef off the coast of Grand Cayman.
When you’re in a lock, it’s fascinating to watch the mechanisms of these engineering masterpieces, so find the best position on deck to observe this. Register with Cruise.com to get access to exclusive rates, discounts and special offers. Learn about the latest ships and destinations by browsing hundreds of questions (and the answers to those questions) posted by real cruisers. If you happen not to find what you’re looking for, you can even post a question of your own. Stopping at different cruise ports during a Panama Canal crossing makes it easy to savor the varied flavors of these countries, each with its own signature spice and tang.
Most full Panama Canal cruises do call in the Western Caribbean, the Costa Rican ports of Limon (on the Atlantic side) and Puntarenas (on the Pacific), and Cartagena, Colombia. A Panama Canal Cruise is an amazing experience that should not be missed. The canal is a 48 mile long canal that links the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans. Twice a year in the fall and the spring as the ships reposition between the Caribbean and Alaska cruise lines offer full transit through the canal. These one way cruises sail through all of the canal's impressive locks.
