Panama Canal Cruise

Day 1 - Flight to LA

We depart Tucson for our flight to Los Angeles and transfer to our home for the next 15 days, the beautiful Emerald Princess.

Day 2 - First Day Aboard

Our first relaxing day at sea, we can explore our ship, watch a movie, go for a swim, or just relax on our balcony with a good book. (B, L, D)

Day 3

We arrive in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Millennia ago, Cabo San Lucas was part of the Mexican mainland. Then a massive rupture of the San Andreas Fault sent the waters of the Pacific crashing into the newly formed depression, creating the Sea of Cortez and the Baja Peninsula. Lying at the very tip of Baja, where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez, Cabo San Lucas – or “Cabo” – is one of the premier resort destinations in the Western Hemisphere. Swim in the transparent waters, marvel at the wealth of marine life, relax on one of the white-sand beaches or try your hand at some of the finest sportfishing in the world. (B, L, D)

Day 4 - At Sea

At sea

(B, L, D)

Day 5 - At sea

At sea

(B, L, D)

Day 6 - Oaxaca and Pacific Riviera

Nine bays bordered by 36 golden-sand beaches form the beautiful Las Bahias de Huatulco in the state of Oaxaca. Welcome to Mexico’s newest resort on the Pacific Riviera. Huatulco is a tropical Eden with crystalline waters, coral reefs, and uncrowded beaches. Inland, the rugged coast range is thickly carpeted with rainforest and coffee plantations. While Huatulco is still in its early stages of development, travelers may note that the resort has a different feel from other destinations on the Mexican Riviera. That’s because large areas of Huatulco have been designated as an ecological reserve. Huatulco is located in the state of Oaxaca where the foothills of the Sierra Madre del Sur Mountains meet the Pacific Ocean.  (B, L, D)

Day 7 - At sea

Today we have a leisurely day of cruising! You can be as busy as you choose. Relax on deck with a good book, hit the gym, or maybe take a dance lesson. (B, L, D)

Day 8 - Nicaragua

Nicaragua is the largest Central American nation and has stunning landscapes, vast cultural treasures, and an intriguing history. Until recent times Nicaragua was unfortunately known for the civil war (Sandinistas and Contras) that raged from the late 70s through much of the 80s. Today, the soldiers and guerrillas have given way to sightseeing in a beautiful country. From strolling the cobblestone streets of colonial Granada on Lake Nicaragua, to exploring one of the many volcanoes, Nicaragua has something for even the most seasoned travelers. (B, L, D)

Day 9 - Puntarenas

Puntarenas is your gateway to Costa Rica’s wonders – and to its capital city of San Jose. To Spanish explorers, the rumors of gold and vast riches could only mean that this section of Central America was the costa rica – the “Rich Coast.” Hailed as the Switzerland of the Americas, Costa Rica occupies a unique position, lying between two oceans and two continents. On both coasts, tropical rainforests rise to the mountains of the interior, many of which soar over 13,000 feet above sea level. In the west, a seemingly endless succession of brown-sand beaches forms the nation’s Pacific coast. (B, L, D)

Day 10 - At sea

While we’re at sea, perhaps we’ll choose to curl up with a good book on deck or watch a show in the onboard theater. Maybe there will be a class we’ve always wanted to take. For those that like to try their luck, a visit to the casino is in order. There are so many options, and we can make it as leisurely or as exciting as we want! (B, L, D)

Day 11 - Fuerta Amador

Fuerte Amador, situated at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, is a man-made peninsula extending out into the Pacific Ocean. The one-mile causeway was created by connecting four small islands with rocks excavated from the Panama Canal. There are several shops, restaurants, and other specialty stores centered around a large marina that serves as a tender dock. The causeway also affords a panoramic view of Panama City’s impressive skyline and serves as the home for the Smithsonian Institute of Tropical Research. (B, L, D)

Day 12 - Cruise the Canal

Cruising through the Panama Canal will be one of the unforgettable experiences of your voyage. It takes approximately eight hours to navigate the 50-mile waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, allowing you to experience firsthand one of the engineering marvels of the 20th century. Completed in 1914, the canal marks the culmination of a dream born in 1513, when Balboa became the first European to cross the Isthmus of Panama and sight the Pacific. In 1880 Ferdinand de Lesseps and the French Canal company, builders of the Suez Canal, began construction in Panama, only to be defeated by disease, staggering cost overruns, and massive engineering problems. The French sold their claim and properties to the United States for $40 million, a staggering loss of $247 million on their investment. The United States began construction in 1904, completing the project in 10 years at a cost of $387 million. Building the canal meant solving three problems: engineering, sanitation, and organization. The project, for example, required carving a channel through the Continental Divide and creating the then-largest man-made lake ever built, as well as defeating yellow fever and other tropical maladies. The United States oversaw the operation of the Panama Canal until December 31, 1999, when the Republic of Panama assumed responsibility for the canal’s administration. The Panamanian government controls the canal through the Panama Canal Authority, an independent government agency created for the purpose of managing the canal. (B, L, D)

Day 13 - Cartagena

One of the more interesting cities on our voyage, Cartagena was the transit port for all the wealth Spain derived from South America. The famous “Old City” is comprised of 12 square blocks filled with attractions, boutiques and restaurants. Throughout Colombia, the Spanish Empire’s influence in the New World is self-evident. Its fortress walls, quaint narrow streets, and balconied houses are all vivid reminders of Spain’s hold on Cartagena and throughout the Caribbean and South America. This is the land of El Dorado and flamboyant adventurers in search of the ever-elusive gold. Cartagena’s well-constructed fortifications defended its borders against seafaring pirates whose attacks lasted for more than 200 years. Today this modern and bustling city, seaport, and commercial center still boasts much of its original colonial architecture. Our journey here will provide a significant link to the region’s grand past. (B, L, D)

Day 14 - At sea

At sea

(B, L, D)

Day 15 - At sea

At sea

(B, L, D)

Day 16 - Flight home

Disembark at Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

(B, L, D)

Itinerary is subject to change.