You could argue it’s just a huge ditch that connects the Caribbean with the Pacific. However, that ditch eliminates 8000 miles, and between 10 and 22 days off a ship’s journey. So it’s an important ditch. It also makes for an interesting vacation not far from home.
PANAMA CANAL: The Background
- The Panama Canal was opened in 1914, and took somewhere between 10 and 33 years to build, depending on how many of the false-starts you count.
- The new locks took about 9-years to build, and opened in 2016
- Somewhere close to 25,000 people died in the construction of the original canal.
- Lake Gatun is 85 feet above sea level, and 3 locks on each side of the lake raise and lower ships to salt water.
WHY Go To PANAMA?
- Panama is often overlooked as a vacation destination. It has similar rainforests and beaches as Costa Rica.
- LOCKS: People love traversing the locks on river cruises. These are just bigger.
- GATUN LAKE in the middle of your journey across Panama is surrounded by lush rainforest. On a full transit, you’re in Lake Gatun for about 2 hours.
Types of PANAMA CANAL Journeys
- Partial Transit – usually 10 or 11 days round-trip from Florida. They’re shorter, but you DON’T get to traverse all the locks. You’re normally in the Canal for 4 or 5 hours.
- Full Transit – ocean to ocean… this is the classic canal journey.
- Florida to California is the most common full-transit cruise.
- Florida to Panama City is increasingly common, and is great if you’re looking for a shorter cruise, or are less interested in the Pacific Coast of Central America.
WHO Goes on a PANAMA CANAL Cruise?
- People who like longer vacations and getting to less-frequented ports in the region.
- Those preferring destination-driven itineraries.
- Engineering geeks or nautical enthusiasts.
Insider Tips
- Like a river cruise, the best views will be on the top side of the vessel so you can see both sides as you traverse the locks. The smaller the ship, the better your chances of the premier view.
- Daylight transit is preferable if you really want to experience the landscape. The lights at night are pretty, but you do miss the surrounding environment.
The PODCAST: Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED
Check out our UNPACKED PODCAST where Kim & Bob talk about different cruise and land options for the Panama Canal and surrounding area
In Case You Missed It:
OCEANIA Small Ship Experiences. If you sail on Celebrity, Holland America or Princess, and take one of their larger staterooms, then you should look at OCEANIA for fewer people, larger rooms, and an elevated culinary experience:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/oceania-cruises-explained-the-unicorn-cruise-line-for-food-lovers/
TRAVEL ADVISORIES: If you believe the State Department warnings, or what you see on TV “News”, you’d never leave your basement. So what do you do?
https://pamperedcruiser.com/travel-safety-exposed-tv-news-vs-reality/
AN INSIDER’S LOOK at PAMPERED CRUISER: What we do, what we don’t do, and how our team works. You’ve asked… here are the answers.
https://pamperedcruiser.com/insiders-look-at-the-pampered-cruiser/
Featured YOUTUBE Video:
SEA CLOUD SPIRIT holds just 136 guests, making it much more like a SALT WATER RIVER CRUISE than an ocean voyage. Kevin Smith from Sea Cloud tours Bob around this ship. Imagine going through the Panama Canal, and sailing Lake Gatun in a sail boat!
Remember to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel while you’re there. It really helps us, and we can produce more content for you!
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Today’s Travel Opportunities
OCEANIA: Small Ships for FOODIES
We’re running a PRIVATE SALE this month with Oceania, so we have access to some extra goodies not available anywhere else. Here are some of their itineraries through the canal:
Miami to Panama City departing January 5 for 10-days
- Start in Miami and visit Cozumel, Costa Maya, Harvest Caye, Santo Tomas, Roatan, Puerto Limon, the Panama Canal, and finish in Panama City.
- Veranda Staterooms from $4,590
Miami to LA departing January 6 for 15-days
- Start in Miami and visit George Town, Cartagena, the Panama Canal, Puerto Quetzal, Acapulco, Manzanillo, San Diego, and finish in Los Angeles.
- Veranda staterooms from $7,699
Montreal to LA departing October 10, 2027 for 32-days
- Start in Montreal and visit Quebec City, Saguenay, Sept-Iles, Havre Saint Pierre, Corner Brook, Sydney, Halifax, the Royal Naval Dockyard, Nassau, Miami, George Town, Cartagena, the Panama Canal, Puntarenas, Puerto Quetzal, Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, Cabo San Lucas, and finish in Los Angeles.
- Veranda fares from $13,749
SEA CLOUD Sailing Yachts
If you prefer a river cruise sized vessel, but still want to traverse the Panama Canal, here are a couple of options from SEA CLOUD:
San Jose (Costa Rica) to Panama City departing March 1 for 12-nights
- Start in San José and visit Punta Leona, Marina Flamingo, Playa Panamá, Quepos, Puerto Jiménez, Pearl Islands, a full daylight 12-hour transit of the Panama Canal, San Blas Archipelago, and finish in Panama City.
- Fares from $9,560
ABC Islands & Panama departing Willemstad (Curacao) December 20, 2027 for 7-nights
- Start in Willemstad and visit Cartagena, a full daylight 12-hour transit of the Panama Canal, and finish in Panama City.
- Fares from $5,920
EXPLORA JOURNEYS – European Luxury
With just over 900 guests, an extraordinary culinary offering, and a unique entertainment program, Explora is a great way to experience Panama.
Miami to Panama City departing April 12, 2027 for 10 Nights
- Start in Miami and visit Ocho Rios, Willemstad, Oranjestad, Santa Marta, Cartagena, cross the Panama Canal, and finish in Panama City.
- Veranda fares from $7,860
Miami to LA departing April 12, 2027 for 21-nights
- Start in Miami and visit Ocho Rios, Willemstad, Oranjestad, Santa Marta, Cartagena, cross the Panama Canal, Panama City, Acajutla, Puerto Quetzal, Puerto Chiapas, Huatulco, Puerto Vallarta, and finish in Los Angeles.
- Fares from $14,240
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Remote Explorations
NatGeo takes people to remote corners of the world, but if you want to see the more remote areas around Panama (and spend some time in Lake Gatun (in the middle of the canal)), then here are some ideas:
COSTA RICA & PANAMA CANAL: San Jose to Panama City for 8-days
- Start in San José and visit the Osa Conservation Area, Golfo Dulce, Coiba National Park, Gulf of Panama Islets, Gatún Lake, and finish in Colón
- Departures November 2026 through April 2027 from $5772
PANAMA with 2-days in the Canal: round-trip Panama City for 8-days
- Start in Panama City, then spend 2 days in the canal, and visit Portobelo, Gatún Lake, the Pearl Islands, Darién National Park, Punta Patiño Nature Reserve, and finish in Panama City.
- Fares from $4650
TAUCK in PANAMA
Tauck creates raving fans for both its land tours, and cruise programs. Here are two in Panama:
Panama Canal Cruise & Costa Rica for 12-days
- Start in San José (Costa Rica) and visit Punta Leona, Quepos, Darien, transit the Panama Canal, the San Blas Islands, and finish in Panama City.
- Departures in January and February from $9,290
Tauck Bridges Costa Rica: Jungles & Rainforests for 8-days
- Tauck BRIDGES allows you to explore with your kids or grandkids, with specially designed itineraries for families and children.
- Start in San José and visit the Tortuguero National Park, the Toucan Rescue Center, Tortuguero, Sarapiqui River rafting, Arenal Zip Lining, Guanacaste.
- Depart June through August or in December $4,890
RIVER CRUISES with TAUCK
If you’d prefer Europe to Panama, then Tauck is the most inclusive and highest-end amongst the river cruise lines in Europe. Here are two examples:
PORTUGAL & SPAIN on the Douro River for one-week:
- Visit Porto, Douro valley, Peso da Regua, Pinhao, Vega de Terron, Mateus Palace, Guimaraes.
- See the vineyards and estate wineries, traverse the locks, take in spectacular scenery, visit castle ruins, see paleolithic art, and enjoy architectural treasures.
- Optional extensions to Madrid and/or Lisbon.
- 2026: Departures June through October from $5790
- 2027: Departures April through November from $5990
FRENCH RIVIERA to SWITZERLAND for 14-days
- Fly to Marseille, and visit Cannes, Nice, Monte Carlo, Aix-en-Provence, Arles, Avignon, Chateau Neuf du Pape, Tain L’hermitage, Macon, Cluny, Chalon sur Saone, Burgundy, Lyon, Geneva, Chamonix.
- 2026: Departures in July & August from $9190
- 2027: Departures April through October from $9790
Do You Have an Upcoming Viking Cruise?
Viking’s BON VOYAGE incentive allows you to book your next Viking cruise in the 35 days BEFORE you board, and get some extra goodies for doing so:
- $100 per person on board credit
- 6-month final payment date
- $100 per person OFF one-week cruises, and bigger discounts for longer itineraries.
We made a short video about the Bon Voyage Program if you’d like more details:
https://youtu.be/gBM8IvjIb3U?si=Vy9UDiSqZQYHWR32
Contact us to book your NEXT VIKING CRUISE
If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
