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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. When your ship spends the day in Colon, you can see more of Panama on a range of shore excursions. Despite the monumental achievement of engineering that the Panama Canal represents, the drive from Colon to Panama City is just under an hour, so there are plenty of options.
San Juan del Sur Excursions: A Volcanic Adventure in Nicaragua
Despite the early start, you'll want to be prepared for the Panama sun, as it can get surprisingly hot while you're out there waiting. Some ships will do their best to make passengers comfortable, offering chilled towels and water, juice and Panama rolls (Danish-like pastries with sweet fruit filling in the center) for a small breakfast alfresco. 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.
Today’s Featured Panama Canal Cruises
Then, after you make the journey, a whole host of exciting experiences await in Central America itself. The final set of locks, the Gatun Locks, is a three-chambered system that lowers ships a staggering 85 feet to the level of the Atlantic Ocean. This descent is just as breathtaking as the ascent, providing a thrilling climax to your journey through the locks. The Gatun Locks are the original locks of the Panama Canal, and their impressive operation is a testament to the enduring quality of their early 20th-century construction. As your ship makes its descent, you’ll feel the sheer power and size of the locks, making the journey through the Gatun Locks a truly humbling experience.
Panama Canal & Central America
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. Passenger ships will usually invite a local guide on board to provide a running commentary of what's happening all day; usually, their narration is piped through the ship's intercom. Wear a hat and long-sleeved clothes if you can, apply sunscreen before heading out on deck — and reapply often — and drink plenty of water all day. While passing through Gatun Lake, you'll be amazed at how wide it is in spots.
Night South America CruiseDetails
From engineering marvels to exotic wildlife, there's so much to discover while on your Panama Canal cruise. Calls on Golfito and Puntarenas in Costa Rica offer access to eco-adventure. 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. 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.
Choose from immersive excursions such as exploring the engineering mastery of the Canal, trekking through surrounding rainforests, visiting local villages and relaxing on the pristine beaches of the Caribbean. And even though the crossing is fascinating, let's be honest — it can also be tedious. Ships and passengers spend much time waiting, and 40 ships pass through the canal each day. Since they all line up in Limon Bay to wait their turn, you may be docked there the entire night and start the crossing early morning; you might even be lined up ready to go and still need to wait part of the day.
Abundant adventures ashore
From the ship, you'll get great views of Soberania National Park, a 55,000-acre area of protected rainforest that's home countless species of birds, mammals and reptiles. See if you can catch a glimpse of an orange-chinned parakeet or a white-faced capuchin monkey. The narrow Culebra Cut, an artificial channel near Panama City, is lined with greenery, while the expanse of the Gatun Lake is dotted with rainforested islands and is a great place to look for wildlife. Entering Gatun Lake, it’s fun to be forward on deck as you can see the procession of ships coming towards you. You could also be aft, at the back of the ship, with a pair of binoculars to spot other ships. Visiting the Panama Canal for the first time is an extraordinary experience, made all the more special if you take some time to learn about this incredible feat of engineering.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises' 16-night Los Angeles to Miami cruise
THE 5 BEST Cruises from Port Canaveral to the Panama Canal & Central America (with Prices) on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
THE 5 BEST Cruises from Port Canaveral to the Panama Canal & Central America (with Prices) on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 13:21:26 GMT [source]
Discover the lush scenery around manmade Lake Gatun, listen to tales of pirates and conquistadors, and buy exquisite handicrafts made by Panama’s indigenous Emberá tribe. Other highlights include vibrant Cartagena, glamorous Puerto Vallarta, and thrilling Costa Rica. 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. 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.
We know the destinations you'll be visiting and what there is to see, do and experience. We offer you a variety of excursions to choose from, in every port you'll visit. On Edge-Series ships, the Magic Carpet, suspended over the side of the ship, gives you uninterrupted sea views and is the perfect place to sit with a coffee or cocktail, enjoying the sea air.
For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices. When it comes to packing for a Panama cruise, make sure you bring lightweight, breathable clothing to be comfortable in the country's hot and humid tropical climate. The guide will have downtime during certain parts of the day, so feel free to ask questions then.
You’ll also enjoy the services of our exclusive Oceania Cruises hospitality desk at each hotel. But not so fast — traversing the Panama Canal actually takes at least 20 hours! Cruise it and enjoy a zoomed-in real-life look at perhaps last century’s greatest engineering achievement… along with its surrounding lush, verdant lands. 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.
Panama Canal to Increase Daily Transits in January - Cruise Industry News
Panama Canal to Increase Daily Transits in January.
Posted: Tue, 19 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
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.
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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