Panama Canal Cruise Deals

You are planning a North America Cruise, but you can not decide between the East Coast and the West Coast? You do not have to: Thanks to the technical mastery that engineers have already done in the 20th century, you can easily discover both coasts. For example, in the metropolis of the rich and famous, embark on a  cruise from Los Angeles, and discover the great Miami at the end of your journey - or just start the journey the way you want it.

The Panama Canal

The Panama Canal is 82 kilometres long and connects the Atlantic and the Pacific. This will shorten a distance of 12,000 kilometres, which would normally take several weeks around South America. In three locks, the ships overcome a difference in height of 26 metres and four different climatic zones. No wonder that traversing this incredible project is so fascinating. Even for seasoned captains, this is a real challenge, as it is such a tight squeeze through each of the locks.

The Panama Canal is a real highlight for ship lovers. With its recent expansion to three lanes, one always encounters new ships from all over the world, which can be viewed at close range during the approximately 12-hour transit. 5% of the world's ocean freight traffic passes through the canal, with 14,300 ships per year.

Best travel time for the Panama Canal

For the passage, you should definitely book a place on the sundeck in time! The channel is lined with magnificent vegetation in the form of rainforests and offers a magnificent view of the countless tropical islands. Sun worshipers will enjoy the warm temperatures between 22 and 32 degrees Celsius. It is best to set your trip is between September and April when the rainy season is over. Otherwise, the view can of course be enjoyed from the panoramic window.

Popular destinations for your Panama Canal cruise

With both East and West coasts available to you, the cruise lines have included many different destinations in their routes. Often, you will embark on or start your cruise from various cities in Florida, with cruises from Miami, Tampa, and Fort Lauderdale. On the West Coast, cruising from San Francisco, cruising from San Diego or cruising from Los Angeles, you'll experience the big cities that are often an integral part of the journey. Immediately before and after crossing the Panama Canal, Cartagena de Indias in Colombia is also a hugely popular port.

Of course, the Panama Canal can also be used to discover South America. Just pick a South America cruise that suits your needs.

Popular cruise lines for your cruise through the Panama Canal

The Panama Canal is a rather exotic destination that is not frequented often. However, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises offer more than 70 different trips on several ships.

Other popular cruise destinations

• Caribbean cruises
• Cuba Cruises
• Hawaii cruises
• Canada cruises
• Transatlantic cruises