Table Of Content
A 2016 expansion now allows for larger ships (as wide as 160 feet as opposed to the original limitation of 106 feet). Ships like the Norwegian Pearl, Island Princess, Queen Elizabeth, and Disney Wonder fit into these restrictions.
Grand Cayman
Our Panama cruise itineraries depart from both east and west coasts for loads of convenient options. A cruise to the Panama Canal is an incredible experience, worthy of any bucket list as you travel between oceans. The shipping channel—which took 33 years to complete and cost more than 25,000 workers their lives—is arguably the greatest engineering achievement of all time.
The best time to cruise the Panama Canal
There is something for every type of explorer in this culturally diverse region. 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. The Panama Canal cruise season peaks between October and April, outside of the rainy season that can start as early as mid-March and extend into the fall. With a tropical climate, this region is home to rainforests, incredible biodiversity, lush landscapes, abundant wildlife and beautiful beaches, but the weather can be wet at certain times of the year. 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.
Viking River Cruises
The best historical structures are the churches, including the Catedral de Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion, dating from 1619, and the Iglesia de San Jose, noted for its vaulted side chapels and golden altar. On your Panama Canal cruise, venture deep into the Panamanian rain forest, meet the locals, and learn the inner workings of the fascinating Panama Canal’s locks. Take an Eco Cruise on Lake Gatun and explore island habitats created during the Canal’s building.
Princess Cruises' 10-day Panama Canal with Costa Rica & Caribbean cruise
It takes passengers through the remaining two Canal locks, all the way to the Pacific Ocean. A motorcoach ride delivers passengers back to their waiting ships at Colon. Although these cruises don't actually cross the entire Panama Canal, they do provide a taste of its spectacular rainforest scenery and offer a glimpse into Panama, itself, via a stopover at Colon as well.
See A Modern Marvel On Panama Canal Cruises
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. It takes between eight and ten hours to do a full transit of the Panama Canal. Panama is one of the most diverse and multi-cultural countries in Central America. Tucked between Colombia and Costa Rica, it’s known for its indigenous arts, woodworking, mola embroidery, and pottery.
Experience a Panama Canal cruise
If you've booked a pre- or post-cruise hotel in town, be sure to catch a sunset from one of the city's many rooftop bars. You can celebrate Panama's Separation Day on Nov. 3 or Flag Day on Nov. 4. These holidays, along with a few others in November, feature parades, parties and other displays of national pride, so you can expect it to be busy in towns across the country. Learn about the latest ships and destinations by browsing hundreds of questions (and the answers to those questions) posted by real cruisers.
Extraordinary Panama Canal Cruise Tours
Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. When packing for a Panama Canal cruise, it’s a good idea to be prepared with light layers. You can depend on it being warm, so a few thin tops, shorts, skirts, or dresses are suitable, but you may want to bring a shirt, thin scarf, or cardigan to cover up in the evenings. To find the correct things to pack during specific months, follow our cruise guide here. 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.
THE 25 BEST Cruises from Miami to the Panama Canal & Central America (with Prices) on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
THE 25 BEST Cruises from Miami to the Panama Canal & Central America (with Prices) on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 14:04:23 GMT [source]
Bottom line: The best time to cruise the Panama Canal
Many venues and attractions may be closed on some days during the festivities. For a rainy-day excursion, ride the Panama Canal Railway, one of the world's great train rides. If you're in Panama City, plan an indoor excursion with a visit to the world's first museum dedicated to biodiversity, the Frank Gehry-designed Biomuseo. 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.
For a Panama Canal experience that begins and ends in Fort Lauderdale, Celebrity Cruises' 11-night Panama Canal & Southern Caribbean itinerary is a great option. There's plenty of time to plan ahead for the Dec. 2, 2024 cruise or the half-dozen almost identical sailings that follow through March 2025. 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).
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. Fort Lauderdale has white sandy beaches, endless shopping on Las Olas Boulevard, and the Atlantic Ocean that welcomes you to swim year-round.
Most of the full-transit cruises through the Panama Canal take 11 days or more, but not all travelers have the time to take such a lengthy vacation. For that reason, some cruise ships offer partial transits of the Panama Canal, usually as part of a larger cruise of the western or southern Caribbean. These ships pass through the Gatun Locks, enter Gatun Lake, and then exit the same way. Holland America offers a variety of Panama Canal cruises, but the most popular itineraries span 14 to 16 days. They offer a full transit between Fort Lauderdale and San Diego, or vice versa, and are offered on multiple ships, including Zaandam, Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam and Volendam.
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. Dazzling biodiversity in its treasure trove of animals, birds, fish, and plant species, for one; this is where you’ll see glossy toucans perched in the trees and graceful macaws, scarlet against the bottle green of the rainforest.
March is also the last month for surfing enthusiasts to hit the big waves on the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. With the warmer temperatures, March is an ideal month to head to the beaches on one of the San Blas Islands, an archipelago of about 365 islands and cays off the Caribbean coast of Eastern Panama. Some cruise lines that visit the archipelago are Windstar, Star Clippers, Hapag-Lloyd and Ponant. 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment