Panama Canal CruisingTravel Information for the Smart Traveler™
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Panama Canal Cruise Itineraries

The canal is the star, but the ports around it make the cruise. Here’s what a Panama Canal itinerary brings together.

Ships crossing Gatún Lake on the Panama Canal

The locks & Gatún Lake

The heart of the cruise — a full day rising and falling through the Gatún, Pedro Miguel and Miraflores locks and gliding across Gatún Lake, narrated from the deck.

The new (Neopanamax) locks

Opened in 2016, the larger locks let modern, bigger ships transit — some full-transit cruises use them, others the historic locks; we’ll tell you which your ship uses.

Cartagena & Colón

Colombia’s beautifully preserved walled city of Cartagena, and Colón at the canal’s Caribbean entrance — history, forts and vibrant markets.

Costa Rica & the San Blas

Rainforest, wildlife and zip-lines at Puerto Limón or Puntarenas, and the pristine islands of the Guna Yala (San Blas) archipelago.

The Mexican Riviera (full transits)

Westbound full transits often continue up the Pacific coast — Huatulco, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas — on the way to California.

See the ships & what life aboard is like »

Find the right Panama Canal itinerary

Tell us whether you want a full or partial transit, your dates and preferred departure port, and we’ll match the ship and itinerary — with up to five free, no-obligation quotes.

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