There are so many cruise itinerary options for cruising to the Panama Canal. So, which of the many Panama Canal cruise itineraries is the best one for you? When deciding on a Panama Canal cruise itinerary, an important thing to consider is the type of Panama Canal cruise you want to go on. Do you want to transit through the whole Panama Canal? Do you only want to experience going through the Gatun or Agua Clara Locks into Gatun Lake? Or do you want to go on a cruise that stops in Colon, Panama, so you can go on an excursion to learn about the Panama Canal?
Well, we are here to help you explore all of your Panama Canal Cruise options. We will go over the differences between the three types of Panama Canal cruises. This way, you can choose the best cruise option for you. You will also learn about the options you have to experience many cruise ports on extended Panama Canal cruise itineraries.
The Three Different Types of Panama Canal Cruises
There are three types of Panama Canal Cruises: full transit cruises, partial transit cruises, and cruises with a cruise stop in Colon without entering the canal’s locks. If you are considering going on a cruise to the Panama Canal, you will want to consider the type of cruise you would like to do. If you want to have the whole experience of going through the Panama Canal, then do a full transit. If you want to experience a portion of the Panama Canal but not the entire canal, go on a partial transit. If you only want to tour the Panama Canal and not cruise through the canal, then a stop at the Colon Cruise Port is for you.
Overview of a Full Transit Panama Canal Cruise
A full transit Panama Canal Cruise starts in one port, like Port Tampa Bay, and ends in another, such as Los Angeles. On a full transit, you will traverse the entire canal. You will go from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific or the Pacific to the Caribbean Sea. Full transit cruises usually coincide with cruise lines moving their cruise ships for the Alaska cruise season in the summer. After summer, the cruise lines move their ships from Alaska back to ports like Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Tampa Bay for the height of the Caribbean cruise season.
During a full transit cruise, you will cruise through all of the locks in the Panama Canal. The size of your cruise ship will determine if you go through the original locks or the New Locks. Most people hope to cruise through the Gatun, Pedro Miguel, and Miraflores Locks, which are the original locks. If you are cruising on a ship considered a NeoPanamax ship, you will cruise through the Agua Clara and Cocoli Locks, which are the New Locks. NeoPanamax ships are larger cruise ships.
We choose to do a full transit cruise through the Panama Canal. We cruised on Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas. When we went on our cruise, we went through the original locks of the Panama Canal.
Overview of a Partial Transit Panama Canal Cruise
A partial transit Panama Canal cruise is considered a closed-loop cruise starting and ending at the same cruise port. Many partial transit cruises usually depart from ports like Miami, Port Tampa Bay, and Fort Lauderdale. Partial transits can be about 11 days long.
What makes a partial transit cruise through the Panama Canal a partial transit is that the cruise ship will go through a set of locks into Gatun Lake. The cruise ship will spend the day in Gatun Lake and exit through the same locks, usually on the same day. If you are interested in a partial transit cruise, know that not all cruise lines offer one.
Also, if you cruise during the dry season, which is December through April, you might not be able to go through the locks into Gatun Lake. Cancellations for entering Gatun Lake are likely to happen if there is a drought and concern about the water level in Gatun Lake and the canal.
Overview of a Panama Canal Cruise Stopping in Colon
A cruise with a stop at the Colon cruise port is an option if you do not want to go through the locks of the Panama Canal. Stopping at the Colon cruise port will allow you to go on excursions in Panama. A cruise with a cruise stop in Colon can be 8 to 12 days long. Cruise Passengers can choose from various excursions to experience Panama and the Panama Canal.
Cruise passengers can experience the wildlife on an eco-cruise in the Panama Canal and Gatun Lake. Cruisers can also experience Panamanian culture by visiting historical cities in Panama City or an indigenous village. And, of course, there are various excursions for cruise passengers to experience the Panama Canal. Cruise passengers can get a fantastic bird’s eye view of the canal at the Gamboa Rainforest or visit the Miraflores or Agua Clara Locks Visitor’s Centers.
Cruise Lines Offering Panama Canal Cruises
The majority of popular cruise lines offer Panama Canal cruises. Cruise lines offering Panama Canal cruise itineraries include Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Princess Cruises, Celebrity, and Norwegian Cruise Lines. These cruise lines offer a variety of cruise itineraries to and through the Panama Canal. Not all of these cruise lines offer partial transit Panama Canal cruises.
Ports Panama Canal Cruises Depart From
You can depart on a Panama Canal cruise from the majority of popular United States home ports. If you go on a Panama Canal cruise from the U.S. or Canada’s West Coast, you will likely leave from one of five cruise ports. You can depart from Vancouver, Canada; Seattle, Washington; or one of three California cities: San Francisco, Los Angeles, or San Diego. Norwegian Cruise Line is unique in offering Panama Canal cruises departing from Panama City, Panama. If you leave from a home port on the Pacific Ocean side, you will be going on a full transit Panama Canal Cruise.
If you plan to do a partial transit or cruise stop at the Colon cruise port, you will leave from a home port in the South or the East Coast of the U.S. The main home ports on the South and East Coast include New York, Galveston, New Orleans, Port Tampa Bay, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Port Canaveral. These home ports also have full transit Panama Canal cruises when cruise lines are preparing for Alaska cruise season in the spring.
When we went on our full transit Panama Canal cruise, we flew to Tampa from Los Angeles. We cruised from Port Tampa Bay back to Los Angeles on a 14-day cruise itinerary with Royal Caribbean.
Common Cruise Stops in the Caribbean on a Panama Canal Cruise
There are a few regular ports where cruises will stop in the Caribbean for the three types of Panama Canal Cruises. Of course, this varies by itinerary and cruise line, but you will likely have two of the three on your itinerary. These ports are Puerto Limon, Costa Rica; Port Oasis Cruise Port in Cartagena, Colombia; and Colon, Panama. Our cruise stopped at the Port Oasis Cruise Port in Cartagena and Colon Cruise Port.
Most Panama cruise itineraries will stop at the Colon cruise port. If you are on a partial or full transit (coming from the Caribbean), you will likely stop in Colon the day before going through the locks. If you are doing a full transit from the Pacific, you might stop at Fuerte Amador in Panama City before going through the canal. Or you could stop in Colon after going through the canal. You might also find cruises that stop at George Town, Grand Cayman, or Aruba before a cruise stop in Cartagena or Puerto Limon.
Common Cruise Stops in the Pacific on a Panama Canal Cruise
For full transit cruises, your port stops in the Pacific could include Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; and a handful of ports in the Mexican Riviera. The popular cruise ports for Mexico are Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas. You could stop at two cruise ports in Mexico, depending on the length of your Panama Canal cruise.
Every cruise line has its own itinerary variation. Some cruise lines do not stop at certain cruise ports. For example, Carnival does not usually have a stop in Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, on their Panama itineraries. Others, like Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean, will stop in Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala. Of course, things could change in the future.
Ports of Call on Longer Panama Canal Cruises
Panama Canal cruises that are around 16 days or longer will allow you to visit more places. Longer Panama cruises, mainly the full transit cruises, can have more stops in Latin America on the Pacific Ocean side and an additional stop in the Caribbean. Additional Caribbean cruise stops can be Grand Cayman, Aruba, or Curacao.
Stops in Latin America include San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, and a couple extra stops in Mexico. Extra stops in Mexico can be Ensenada, Huatulco, Puerto Chiapas, Zihuatanejo Ixtapa, Manzanillo, or Acapulco.
For Partial transit cruises and cruises stopping in Colon, you would have additional stops in the Caribbean. For example, the stops could be Grand Cayman, Aruba, Cozumel, or a stop in Jamaica.
Ports You Could Visit on an Extended Panama Canal Cruise Itinerary
A unique option for itineraries to the Panama Canal is extended cruise itineraries. Typically, the itineraries for Panama cruises average around 14 to 16 days in length. Some cruise lines offer longer, extended cruise options over 20 days up to around 31 days. The extended Panama Canal cruise itineraries are like going on back-to-back cruises.
Extended Panama Canal itineraries range from adding a Western or Eastern Caribbean cruise to cruising the California Coast or even cruising to the Hawaiian Islands. You can choose from several options from the different cruise lines. A couple of cruise lines with longer itineraries are Holland America and Norwegian Cruise Lines. Here are some of the extended itineraries you can find for Panama Canal cruises.
West Coast Cruise Extension on a Panama Canal Cruise Itinerary
A West Coast itinerary is common, especially when the cruise ships make their way west for the Alaska cruise season in the spring. Depending on the cruise you choose, you could stop at two or three additional ports on the West Coast. When we went on our Panama Canal cruise, we could have extended our cruise. Had we done so, we would have continued to Vancouver, Canada, with two stops along the way after getting to Los Angeles. If you choose a full transit cruise from Vancouver, Canada, to the Caribbean, you may have the opportunity to visit more West Coast cruise ports.
Common West Coast coastal cruise stops include Victoria, Canada; Astoria, Oregon; and several California cruise ports. The typical California ports you could stop include San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Catalina Island, Los Angeles, and San Diego. The cruise ports you stop at will depend on the cruise line.
Alaska Cruise Extended Itinerary
Most of the time, a cruise to Alaska is something you would book separately. However, every now and then, you can find a Panama Canal cruise itinerary that includes Alaska. Typically, an extended Alaska cruise itinerary will also include stops in the West Coast. You will likely see this itinerary offered in April when cruise lines move their ships to the West Coast for their Alaska cruise season.
Since we cruised in April, we could have also cruised to Alaska but chose not to. Had we decided to do so, our cruise would have gone from 14 to 26 days.
Choosing a Caribbean Extended Cruise
If you would rather explore more of the Caribbean, you can choose a partial transit or a cruise that stops in Panama and sails to the different regions of the Caribbean. When doing a Caribbean extended cruise, you will do the Panama portion of your cruise first, return to your home port, and then explore several Caribbean islands. You can explore the Western, Eastern, or Southern Caribbean if you choose this route.
If you do a full transit cruise coming from the Pacific, you will stop at ports close to Panama, head to your home port, such as Miami, and then sail to the Caribbean.
Western Caribbean Extended Cruise Itinerary
Western Caribbean cruises explore the Western portion of the Caribbean from Jamaica to Mexico. Some common Western Caribbean ports you could visit include Cozumel, Mexico; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Falmouth, Jamaica; Belize City, Belize; and Roatan or Mahogany Bay, Honduras.
Some of the cruise lines have their own designated cruise ports in this region. For example, Norwegian Cruise Line has Harvest Caye in Belize. Carnival Corporation has Mahogany Bay in Honduras, where Holland Amerca, Princess, and Carnival Cruise Lines can stop. If a cruise line has a private island in the Bahamas, you could also have a cruise stop at the private island.
Eastern Caribbean Extended Cruise Itinerary
Eastern Caribbean cruises explore the Greater and Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean. Some common Eastern Caribbean ports you could visit include St. Thomas, USVI; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Grand Turk; Nassau, Bahamas; and Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic.
If you have a cruise stop in Puerto Plata, you will either stop at Taino Bay cruise port or Amber Cove, depending on the cruise line. A cruise line within the Carnival Cruise Corporation, such as Holland America or Princess, will stop at Amber Cove. Norwegian Cruise Line or Royal Caribbean will stop at Taino Bay.
Since most of the major cruise lines have private islands in the Bahamas, you are likely to stop at the private island during an Eastern Caribbean cruise. For example, Great Stirrup Cay is for Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Half Moon Cay is for Carnival or Holland America Line. Having a cruise stop at the private island is great for a relaxing beach day. We have been to Half Moon Cay and loved our day there.
Southern Caribbean Extended Cruise Itinerary
If visiting the ABC islands is on your cruise bucket list, consider a Southern Caribbean Extension. You will visit Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao on a Southern Caribbean cruise. We highly recommend a cruise to the ABC islands. We thoroughly enjoyed our cruise to the ABC islands. All three islands are amazing and great places to go snorkeling. Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao are a few of our favorite islands to visit.
Go on a Hawaiian Islands Cruise Extension Itinerary
Yes, you read that right. There is a cruise line that offers a Panama Canal cruise with a cruise to the Hawaiian Islands. This option is considered a 31-day cruise. If you choose this option, you will cruise to the Hawaiian Islands before your full transit cruise through the Panama Canal.
You could stop at three or four of the Hawaiian Islands during a cruise to Hawaii. If you stop at four islands, you will stop in Maui, Kauai, Oahu, and the Big Island of Hawaii. If you only stop at three of the islands, you will stop in Maui, Oahu, and the Big Island of Hawaii.
In Maui, you will stop in Kahululi; in Oahu, you will stop in Honolulu; and on the Big Island, you could stop in two cities, Hilo and Kailua-Kona. You would likely stop in Hilo first and then in Kailua-Kona the next day. If you have a stop in Kauai, you will stop in Nawiliwili. If you ever get the chance, we recommend spending time in Hawaii. Hawaii is one of our favorite places to visit, and it is a place we visit yearly.
The Bottom Line
There are a variety of itineraries that you can choose from when cruising to Panama or through the Panama Canal. You will be able to pick an itinerary that works for you. You can choose sailing on a full transit cruise, a partial transit cruise, or a cruise that stops in Panama and returns to the originating port. Additionally, you can also choose to extend your cruise and see more places. You can create the perfect cruise for you!
Frequently Asked Questions About Panama Canal Cruise Itineraries
Here are answers to questions we have been asked about sailing the Panama Canal and the various Panama cruise itineraries. We hope these help you as you plan your cruise.
Yes, you must have a passport for all cruises that stop in Panama. If you are planning to do a cruise to Panama, whether a full transit, partial transit, or just a cruise stop in Colon, you must have a passport book, and it must be valid for six months after the cruise. This is a requirement of the country of Panama.
If you book a Panama Canal cruise and you do not have a passport, you will need to get one as soon as possible. The cruise lines will not let you complete online pre-boarding check-in for your cruise without entering information from your passport.
Colon is safest in the duty-free area by the cruise port. Colon, Panama, is not the safest city in Panama, but if you stay in the cruise port area at the Colon 2000 Duty-Free Mall, you will be fine. As with any destination, you should always be careful and stay aware of your surroundings.
On average, a partial transit or a cruise that stops in Colon can be around 11 days, depending on the type of cruise you choose. On average, a full transit Panama Canal cruise is about 15 days.
Yes, you can book excursions outside of the cruise line. You will find that third-party companies like Viator offer excursions similar to those offered by cruise lines. You could also purchase excursions through locals when you get to the different cruise ports.
However, you will need to be aware of the all-aboard time so that you can make it back to the cruise ship before or by the all-aboard time. Unlike excursions purchased through the cruise line, the cruise ship does not need to wait for you if you are running late. You want to avoid risking the ship leaving without you or being a pier runner.
Is it Worth Going on a Cruise to the Panama Canal?
Yes, going on a cruise to the Panama Canal is totally worth the experience! No matter the type of Panama Canal cruise you choose, seeing how the canal works is an amazing experience. I would definitely go on another Panama Canal cruise and hope to do so in the coming years. If you have been thinking about booking a cruise to the Panama Canal, book one; you will not regret it. There are many ways to experience this amazing engineering marvel. If you can, I recommend doing at least a partial transit if you cannot do a full transit. The experience of going through the locks while up close to another ship that is going in the opposite direction and seeing all the ships in Gatun Lake is amazing.
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