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Panama Canal Cruises

The Panama Canal is man-made, measures 51 miles in length, and its construction was completed in 1914. It allows ships to travel from the Atlantic Ocean, via the Caribbean Sea, to the Pacific Ocean in less than a day. For any ship not using the Panama Canal, the journey would take several days going around Cape Horn, and through the Strait of Magellan.

The journey through the canal is a destination in itself, with amazing scenery and wildlife to be seen. Many people spend the whole day on deck and do nothing else but look at the wonderful sights, as the ship passes through three sets of locks and the artificial lakes.

Some cruise lines offer partial transits, where the ship will travel part of the canal but then turn around and exit at the same end it entered. The most popular option however is the full transit, which is featured in various itineraries, including the following: –

  • San Diego to Miami or Miami to San Diego
  • Los Angeles to Miami or Miami to Los Angeles
  • Miami to San Francisco or San Francisco to Miami
  • Los Angeles to New York or New York to Los Angeles

Full transit Panama Canal cruises are offered by a number of different cruise lines, including the following: –

  • Celebrity Cruises
  • Star Clippers
  • Holland America Line
  • Princess Cruises
  • Norwegian Cruise Line
  • Cunard
  • Regent Seven Seas
  • P&O Cruises
  • Oceania Cruises

(Page updated May 2014)