12 best Panama Canal cruises for a bucket-list trip
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December is one of the peak tourism months in Panama, with Panamanians traveling for the holidays and visitors from North America and Europe escaping the cold weather at home. Silversea Cruises' indulgent 31-day New York to Lima sailing aboard its newest ship, 728-guest Silver Nova features a Panama Canal transit in the middle of the trip. Our unique Panama Canal cruises immerse you in tropical wonders lining both the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans by way of this famed engineering marvel. Enjoy a daylight journey through the Panama Canal and visit the Miraflores Locks while in Fuerte Amador for an intimate look at this intricate system of locks and chambers. The construction of the Panama Canal is one of those epic tales from the past, an old-school feat of engineering, ambition and courage. A cruise along it today is a journey through the centuries, from the Spanish fortifications near Limón Bay to the glittering skyline of Panama City, not to mention the canal itself.
Panama Canal & the Pacific Coast
Over the course of a decade a little more than a century ago, tens of thousands of workers drilled dynamite holes, drove belching steam shovels and labored with pickaxes, all the while fighting off malaria. While the French builders of the Suez Canal ultimately gave up in Panama, American crews persevered and created a route allowing ships to travel across a continent. As David McCullough recounts in his sweeping history The Path Between the Seas, it was a combination of sheer human might and engineering prowess.
Discover the Marvels of the Panama Canal
Sailing through the artificial lake formed by the dam lasts around four hours. This is a good time to grab lunch, take a dip in the pool or just relax for a bit. 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.
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November is the peak of the wet season when most days see a vast amount of rain. A cruise is an ideal way to see the Panama Canal because it gives you an opportunity to get close to the impressive mechanics, and really appreciate what this piece of engineering is. To experience for yourself, the very thing it was made for, is a truly special occasion. The notion of a canal to link the Pacific and Atlantic oceans had been in conception since 1534 after Spanish explorers arrived in Panama. After centuries of attempts, the project was finally completed and opened in 1914, enabling ships to make the journey without needing to face the difficult route around Cape Horn in Chile.
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Add in compelling ports like Cartagena, Huatulco and Puerto Vallarta on your Panama Canal cruise vacation, and you're in for a unique adventure. Depart from various cities, including Miami or Los Angeles, and cruise to some of the most exotic and beautiful destinations on Earth. Discover for yourself why Norwegian is the Best Cruise Line in Panama Canal & Central America according to Cruise Critic. Celebrity offers a variety of Panama Canal cruises, with several different ports of call.
Here, we look at Panama's peak cruise season month by month, so you can consider the weather, pricing and crowds to determine the best time to cruise through the Panama Canal. It used to be that only smaller Panamax ships could squeeze through the locks of the Panama Canal. However, with the opening of a new set of locks in 2016, larger New-Panamax-sized ships can transit, as well. That means you take a Panama Canal cruise on a small-masted Windstar ship or luxury Silversea cruise or can sail on a megaship as large as the 1,094-foot-long and 136-foot-wide Norwegian Bliss. Other great shore excursion options include taking the refurbished Panama Railway from the Pacific to the Atlantic. It rides parallel to the Canal and offers a great view in luxuriously paneled railway cars.
Carnival Cruise Line's 8-day Panama Canal cruise from Tampa
THE 11 BEST Cruises from San Diego to the Panama Canal & Central America (with Prices) on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
THE 11 BEST Cruises from San Diego to the Panama Canal & Central America (with Prices) on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 14:39:52 GMT [source]
Add peace of mind and a sense of security to your vacation with a Cruise Plus® Hotel Package. Give yourself a few days to relax either before or after your Panama Canal cruise and take in the sights of a sensational city. Princess handles all the details – including transfers and baggage handling – with accommodations selected for their incredible locations and excellent service.
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. 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. The canal never stops working and you will traverse along with other ships and boats and witness the swift movement of these vessels. Step into the past as you stroll down the Spanish Colonial lanes of Antigua in Guatemala, a picturesque town with pastel buildings and balconies filled with pink flowers.
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As you approach the Miraflores Locks, the last set of locks before reaching the Pacific Ocean, there is a live stream webcam by the Visitor Center. It's often slow, refreshing only every five or 10 seconds, but it can still be fun to text or call friends and family and have them look for you. The guide will have downtime during certain parts of the day, so feel free to ask questions then. While passing through Gatun Lake, you'll be amazed at how wide it is in spots. At 180 square miles, it was the world's largest artificial lake at the time it was constructed.
But since a Panama Canal cruise is unique, you'll encounter some logistical considerations that you won't on other itineraries — including the fact that your debarkation and embarkation ports might be different. Enjoy a fascinating partial transit of the “Path Between the Seas,” an engineering marvel. While the temperature in Panama is reliably warm, averaging between around 77°F and 87°F all year, rainfall can vary quite significantly.
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). 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.
Hit the gift shop on the way out for a hat, T-shirt or another souvenir to mark the day you traveled in 10 hours from one ocean to another. You'll undoubtedly learn many fascinating factoids about the construction of the Panama Canal and the steps needed to cross it. This starts with the fact that the captain of the ship has to relinquish control to a Panama Canal official who is in charge of navigating the vessel through the canal the entire day.
A short trip from the port at Puerto Quetzal, the city is home to museums like Casa de los Sueños, where the history of this town is depicted through art. 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. You'll first see the skyscrapers of Balboa on the port side, then eventually the Bridge of the Americas will come into view.
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