Saturday, April 20, 2024

The best time to cruise the Panama Canal

princess cruise panama canal

Cartagena is a vibrant city that harbors a fascinating and colorful past, and a lively, welcoming present. Admire the architecture of Cartagena’s Old City, born at the height of the Spanish empire and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Political unrest prevented the United States from building a pathway until after Panama declared its independence in 1903.

Princess Cruises releases 2024-2025 Panama Canal Season

In Quepos, Costa Rica, Windstar Cruises offers rafting trips to the town of Santo Domingo, where you can take a float trip on the Savegre River. Experienced surfers can also check out the big swells on both coasts of the country. 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. For the ultimate cruise indulgence, Viking's 180-day World Voyage I includes a Panama Canal transit (on Christmas Day, no less) as 930-passenger Viking Sky cruises from Fort Lauderdale to New York City (Dec. 19, 2024–June 17, 2025). 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.

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Throughout the ship, there are also luxurious dining areas, bars and a casino for adults to enjoy, relax and unwind. 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. Partake in a Costa Rica excursion for a Caribbean adventure with Princess Cruises.

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The shortest round-trip Fort Lauderdale partial transits are 11 nights; full transits that start on the U.S. East Coast and end on the West Coast (or vice versa) will be at least 14 days long. There are several Panama Canal cruise ship options to choose from, and every Princess cruise ship to this region is well-suited for couples and families with children alike. Regardless of whether you choose a Panama Canal shore excursion or a luxurious cruise that stops at some of the liveliest ports, you're bound to make memories and friendships that last a lifetime. 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.

Sailing Map

princess cruise panama canal

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.

Photo Gallery for Princess Cruises Panama Canal Cruises

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. Extend your cruise vacation, and simplify your travel plans with a hotel stay at the beginning or end of your cruise. With a Cruise Plus Hotel Package, a Princess representative meets you at the airport and pier, transporting you to and from your hotel.

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Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. 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. A full transit of the Panama Canal involves passing through six sets of locks, crossing an entire lake and contending with other marine traffic waiting to go through the lock system one at a time. It can take a cruise ship 10 hours or so to cover the 48 miles from the Caribbean to the Pacific.

THE 25 BEST Cruises from Fort Lauderdale to the Panama Canal & Central America (with Prices) on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic

THE 25 BEST Cruises from Fort Lauderdale to the Panama Canal & Central America (with Prices) on Cruise Critic.

Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 18:20:05 GMT [source]

Partial transits often originate in Florida or the Caribbean, enter the canal at Limon Bay and travel 7 miles to the Gatun Locks. They then turn around at Gatun Lake, heading back to Colon and continuing on the itinerary. 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.

The latter will wave and cheer you on since the more infrequent sight of a passenger ship with lots of people onboard is infinitely more exciting than the many cargo ships that sail through each day. Sailing through the Panama Canal makes for a cruise itinerary like none other. For one thing, passengers on board get to witness the mechanics and science of an engineering marvel that's been deemed one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.

princess cruise panama canal

Since the crossing does take a while, especially sailing across Gatun Lake, you might find it fun to watch it from a different vantage point from time to time. You can enjoy views from a hot tub on one of the decks, from your table at lunch or even from a deck that's aft, so you can see the locks after you leave them instead of when you arrive. 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. There are so many fabulous encounters with nature available from this port, you'll have a hard time deciding on a shore excursion.

THE 25 BEST 2 Week Cruises to the Panama Canal & Central America (Prices & Itineraries) on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic

THE 25 BEST 2 Week Cruises to the Panama Canal & Central America (Prices & Itineraries) on Cruise Critic.

Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 22:14:44 GMT [source]

Find things to do in Limon, Costa Rica, on your Panama Canal cruise with Princess. Explore deep into the Costa Rican rain forest with Limon excursions from Princess Cruises. Cruise to the vibrant metropolis of Panama City, Panama, and immerse yourself in the local history and culture with Princess Cruises. With incredible weather, delicious fare and some stupendous attractions, you will find that Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades is one of the most attractive ports in the entire US.

There are also several lounges, a Lotus Spa and a casino for those who want to kick back and relax. Traveling on the Island Princess can make this one of the most memorable Panama Canal cruise vacations of your lifetime. Specifically designed to travel through the Panama Canal, the Island Princess is a great choice for those who want to experience a new culture in this region. This ship also has approximately 700 balconies and a majority of its staterooms give travelers a magnificent view of the ocean.

Whatever you do, with Princess Cruises, your every moment will be filled with excitement during your Panama Canal excursions. We also sail on the Caribbean Princess to the Panama Canal on From the East Coast and Ocean to Ocean itineraries. Refurbished in March 2017, with a guest capacity of over 3,000, the Caribbean Princess offers more luxurious amenities, staterooms, and delicious cuisine to bring you deep into the history and culture of the Panama Canal. If having the best weather is your top priority, January, February and early March offer the best weather during the dry season with low humidity — but it's also the most expensive time to travel to the region. Take advantage of the final weeks of the dry season to book active outdoor adventure excursions like hiking, kayaking and zip lining.

Walk among the ruins of Casco Viejo, the original site of Panama City, a UNESCO site. Part art, part science, this museum is acclaimed as Panama’s newest icon. When planning your trip to the Panama Canal, make it a point to book your cruise with Princess for a memorable, fun-filled experience. Once you arrive in the Panama Canal, there will be plenty to see and explore. Even if you've been to the canal before, there's always something new to see when you return.

Pricing includes airfare, gratuities and complimentary wine and beer with lunch and dinner. For a one-way Panama Canal transit that visits six countries (Aruba, Curacao, Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Mexico) and offers six relaxing and luxurious days at sea, consider Seabourn's 21-day Caribbean & Panama Canal Passage. The 450-guest Seabourn Sojourn will sail from Miami to Los Angeles in December. A full transit allows you to experience the entire canal and all the locks. Other great shore excursion options include taking the refurbished Panama Railway from the Pacific to the Atlantic.

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