PANAMA CANAL CRUISES
It is not only the fastest way to get from the Atlantic Ocean through the Caribbean to the Pacific Ocean, it is also the most scenic and by far the most exciting.
The Panama Canal is one of the greatest achievements of engineering in the world through which millions of ships have passed. It took over 400 years to complete this amazing project and 100 years after its completion it is one of the most important trade routes in the world.
Amazing Rain Forests
On a cruise through the Panama Canal you can not only learn about what happened through the years of its construction but you will also have access to some of the best cruise ports of call anywhere. With its amazing rain forests, unique and abundant wildlife, and beautiful white-sand beaches, the Panama Canal and its destinations provide everything you need for a memorable cruise holiday.
Cruises through the Panama Canal take around nine hours with the help of locks that control the level of the water by forming a 51-mile bridge of water. You can marvel as your cruise ship is lifted up in the Caribbean Sea and then lowered again to pass into the Pacific. You cross the Isthmus of Panama and through the Continental Divide.
Ports of Call
· Cartagena, Colombia – This is one of Latin America’s prettiest cities with dozens of photo opportunities like the cobbled streets and balconies covered with bougainvillea. It also has one of the best beaches in the area, Playa Blanca.
· Colon, Panama – This is the capital of the province of Colon on the central coast of the Caribbean and the entire area is steeped in history and tradition. The one thing not to miss on a port of call here is the Gatun Locks. Here, you can be amazed as huge ships and tankers are raised 85 feet to the level of Lake Gatun.
· Puntarenas, Costa Rica – This port offers some of the highest mountain peaks in Costa Rica and beautiful tropical jungles. One of the most popular shore excursions here is a horseback ride the Valley of the Monkeys.
Other ports on Panama Canal cruises include Guatemala’s largest Pacific Ocean port; Acapulco, Mexico; and George Town in the Grand Caymans.
Some of the cruise lines that visit the Panama Canal include Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Princess, Celebrity, Norwegian, Seabourn, and Silversea. There are multiple possible ports from which these cruises depart and they typically end at a different port. An example is a Princess cruise that begins in Tampa, Florida and ends in San Diego, California.