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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. Learn about the latest ships and destinations by browsing hundreds of questions (and the answers to those questions) posted by real cruisers.
Cruise Ports
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. 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.
Things To Do in Panama Canal (Cruising)
THE 7 BEST Cruises from Vancouver to the Panama Canal & Central America (with Prices) on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
THE 7 BEST Cruises from Vancouver to the Panama Canal & Central America (with Prices) on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 09:18:21 GMT [source]
On a one-way voyage, combine the thrill of the canal with adrenaline-fueled adventure in Costa Rica and iced margaritas on Mexico’s golden beaches. Make the most of your time ashore with our range of imaginative excursions, from Destination Highlights to Small Group Discoveries and Private Journeys designed just for you. Pacific Coast (stopping in Victoria, Vancouver, San Francisco and Los Angeles) before heading to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and Puntarenas, Costa Rica. The ship makes one Atlantic stop in Aruba before passengers disembark in Fort Lauderdale. Calls on Golfito and Puntarenas in Costa Rica offer access to eco-adventure.
Panama Canal (Cruising) Shore Excursions
Discover for yourself why Norwegian is the Best Cruise Line in Panama Canal & Central America according to Cruise Critic. From ships custom built to sail the massive locks to immersive onboard programs and onshore adventures that inspire, Princess is the number one way to explore this epic phenomenon. We've sailed the Panama Canal since 1967 and we have more itinerary choices and departures of any cruise line in the region. Apart from length of sailing, the biggest decision you'll need to make on a Panama Canal cruise is whether to opt for a traditional trans-canal experience or take a partial crossing.
If you happen not to find what you’re looking for, you can even post a question of your own. Cruise by the famed Lovers Beach, past the sea lion colony and the towering rock formations of Land’s End, then set sail for Chileno Bay. Travel across the Panama Canal in style on our award winning ships. Voted Best Onboard Entertainment, Best Specialty Restaurants, and Best Casinos, you know you’re in for an exciting cruise experience. Sit back, relax, and let Norwegian take you through one of the most magnificent marvels in the world.
Related Ports
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. Have a volcanic adventure during San Juan del Sur excursions from Princess Cruises. Nicaragua excursions show you dynamic landscapes and exotic wildlife. Find fascinating articles with Panama Canal cruise tips for experiencing unforgettable attractions, regional cuisine, and more on both sides of this epic man-made wonder.
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. The Panama Canal is open to ships year-round, but the most pleasant time to cruise is in the winter season, from November to May. During these months, the climate is less humid and there is less rainfall. In the best places to visit in Central America, you’ll discover pristine beaches, dynamic cultures, and diverse scenery full of adventures.
It rides parallel to the Canal and offers a great view in luxuriously paneled railway cars. Another exciting alternative is to take a trek through the rain forest at Gamboa, or visit an authentic Embera Indian Village on the Chagres River (which often takes place by canoe). A full transit of the Panama Canal takes you from the Pacific to the Caribbean, or vice versa. A partial transit, on the other hand, gives you a taste of the Panama Canal on a shorter cruise from Colon, on the Caribbean side, to the Gatun Locks and back again.
Panama Canal Travel Articles
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.
Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S. 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.
We offer you a variety of excursions to choose from, in every port you'll visit. Even though the tropical destination's peak travel season is between October and April, the best time to cruise to Panama depends on how much you plan to be active outdoors. Keep in mind that Panama has a rainy season between May and December so if you're looking to spend time exploring, plan around these months. Enjoy a fascinating partial transit of the “Path Between the Seas,” an engineering marvel.
Gaze upon white-sand beaches and turquoise waters in Honduras and lush rainforests in Costa Rica. Marvel at the workings of the Panama Canal and admire a colorful blend of past and present in Jamaica. Other great shore excursion options include taking the refurbished Panama Railway from the Pacific to the Atlantic.
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. The thrill is not over after you go through the canal locks, there's more to see as you travel through the canal, with tropical flora and fauna adorning the way. You'll get to see other ships as they cross, too, giving you a different vantage point and a new way of learning how the canal works. Once you're crossing the canal, head to the front of the ship for the best view. Cruise from Los Angeles or Miami and pick the trips that make your favorite stops.
So stretch out on a Caribbean beach, admire the pristine rainforests, stroll the cobbled streets of colonial towns and journey through the fabled Panama Canal with Princess. Zoom your map way out and Panama looks like a small sliver of land, so a trip through its famous canal is a quickie, right? But not so fast — traversing the canal actually takes at least 20 hours! Cruise the Panama Canal and enjoy a zoomed-in real-life look at perhaps last century’s greatest engineering achievement… along with its surrounding lush, verdant lands.
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. A Panama Canal transit is a rite of passage for many cruise lovers. Experiencing this marvel of early 20th-century engineering appeals to those with a wide array of interests, from history and politics to colonial architecture and wildlife spotting. Built by the U.S. government between 1903 and 1914, this 50-mile waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans revolutionized shipping by creating an expedited route for the transit of cargo and, ultimately, cruise ship passengers.
There's a cruise with stops in Manzanillo, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas. Along with crossing the impressive Panama Canal during your vacation, you can also get in touch with the local cultures of different countries, where indigenous peoples still live and where heritage and history are treasured and preserved. Descend on some of the most exciting travel destinations in Central America during a Panama Canal cruise. Stops in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; and Colón, Panama, means appreciating countless natural landscapes on top of traversing through the famous shortcut itself. Let Princess pick you up from the airport and take you directly to your ship or hotel when you arrive, even if you didn't book your airfare through us. A uniformed Princess representative meets you at the airport after you've retrieved your luggage and transports you directly to your ship or hotel without you having to worry about the logistics of navigating a new city.
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