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Do you need a passport to take a cruise to the Panama Canal & Central America?
If you are bit wary to cruising, you are going to absolutely fall in love with what the Panama Canal has to offer! I had the chance to experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity on my Panama Canal cruise back in December 2019, and to this date, it is my favorite cruise that I have been on. With over 2,000 occupants on the Norwegian Jewel, various shows, excursions and activities can easily become packed or sold out aboard this ship. Hence, the Norwegian Panama Cruise might feel slightly overcrowded for individuals who would prefer to sail with a smaller crowd. The UnCruise Adventure is an exciting trip that offers a lot of activities.
Panama Canal and Central America Cruise Highlights
Here are some of the best Panama Canal excursions to book during your journey. Whether it’s your cruise destination or a launching point, Vancouver is a beautiful destination in itself with a sophisticated downtown and lots of natural elements to explore. Colon, this historically important city is a gateway to the Panama Canal and full of Latin charm and New World history. Explore Baltimore’s rich history and culture as you visit the local neighborhoods which are home to important world changing events. Amazing food and superb service make Holland America one of the longest running cruise lines.
Costa Rica Excursions: Something for Everyone
Every transit will have expert commentary that’s broadcast on the decks and in the lounges, so you’ll be able to gain a deeper insight into the workings of the canal and its history. On Celebrity’s ships, you can enjoy a different restaurant at every meal, with menus designed by a Michelin-starred chef. Try anything from mouth-watering seafood to steak, flavor-packed Italian, and gourmet French cuisine. Experience The Magic Carpet, high above the ocean, with uninterrupted views.
See one of Costa Rica's renowned rain forests at Pura Vida Gardens, or climb a set of wooden steps up to the La Paz Waterfall Gardens. Carnival Cruises has a range of Panama Canal cruises leaving from different ports in the US, including Tampa, New Orleans and Galveston. The weather in this region tends to be hot and humid, so pack plenty of shorts and t-shirts.
In fact, hiking to the Jesus statue sitting atop a hill overlooking San Juan del Sur is the top thing to do when in this fabulous city. If you are looking for the best beaches during your Panama Canal cruise, you may want to venture a little out of town to the beautiful beaches Playa Maderas and Playa Hermosa. One of the most special things to do in this city is horseback riding on the beach, so make sure to ask your cruise line if there are any shore excursions like this on your Panama Canal cruise. Many cruises through the Panama Canal offer trips to these popular ports of call that are consistent with most itineraries. Like mainstream Caribbean cruise ports, these ports cater to the tropical cruise market.
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. Elevate your experience to The Retreat and you can enjoy fine dining in Luminae, as well as suite accommodation and access to an exclusive lounge. On the Panama City side of the canal, you’ll sail under the graceful arch of the Bridge of the Americas, which forms part of the Pan-American Highway from Alaska to Patagonia. On a transit from Panama City to Colon, the futuristic skyline of Panama City will be on your starboard (right) side.
Celebrity Cruises
On a cruise from San Francisco you can experience all that the ‘City by the Bay’ has to offer, from its artistic, forward-looking culture to the beautiful coastline. The seafood is fresh, the sun is shining and there’s a whole lot to do, so get out there and explore the city before, during and after your cruise from Port Canaveral, Florida. From ice skating rinks to zip lines, if you can think of it, you can find it on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Offering a completely all-inclusive cruise, Regent Seven Seas is known for exquisite service on beautifully designed intimate ships, classic cruising at its best.
Seabourn Cruise Line
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. 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. A full transit allows you to experience the entire canal and all the locks.
Most partial crossing itineraries will stop in Colon and Gamboa, perfect towns to get a taste of Panamanian culture. Some passengers tend to experience sea sickness aboard sailing cruises, so you might need to take extra precautions to keep motion sickness at bay during this two-week voyage. The cost per person for Royal Clipper Barbados to Panama Cruise starts from $3,990.
Top Panama Canal cruise tips and tricks to get the most out of this unique crossing - The Points Guy
Top Panama Canal cruise tips and tricks to get the most out of this unique crossing.
Posted: Sat, 02 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
The itinerary includes nice ports spread across seven countries with a variety of excursions. It includes a trip to a local coffee plantation in Puerto Caldera, along with a camel ride on the beach in Cabo San Lucas. The partial Panama Canal experience isn't much shorter than a full crossing, but you'll experience the Caribbean-side locks twice and miss out on the Pacific side. On the flip side, the ship will often sail round-trip from Florida, allowing passengers to enjoy various Caribbean ports before and after the transit. Passengers can purchase round-trip airfare or even drive to their departure port, which can be cheaper and logically easier than ending up on the opposite coast than you set out from. Many Panama Canal and Central America ports are relatively industrial, and some -- particularly Colon and Puerto Limon -- have a reputation for petty crime within the main city.
Another nice Gamboa shore excursion is a boat trip on the Chagres River to Gatun Lake. The best way to find this type of Panama Canal cruise is through searching for Caribbean and Central American itineraries that stop in Colon. From there, look into the shore excursions carefully to fully plan your Panama Canal adventure.
To get the most out of your trip, it's wise to avoid cruising during Panama's rainy season between May and December. The busiest travel months for Panama are from October through April, with temperatures starting off cool in October and getting warmer as the weeks pass. 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. Keep in mind that Panama has a rainy season between May and December so if you're looking to spend time exploring, plan around these months. Listen as a historian shares tales of this incredible engineering feat that divided two continents. Explore the intriguing landscapes, culture and people of this amazing region.
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