Cross from the Atlantic to the Pacific through a century-old shortcut
Opened in 1914, the Panama Canal lets ships cross the Americas without sailing around South America. Going through it is a slow, fascinating day: lock gates swing shut, water lifts the ship, and you glide across a jungle lake before descending to the other ocean. Long full transits suit travelers with time to spare; partial transits fit into a shorter vacation.
Three sets of locks lift ships about 85 feet above sea level and back down again — all without pumps, using gravity-fed lake water.
Gatun Lake is ringed by rainforest; watch for monkeys, herons and toucans as you cross.
Full transits combine Caribbean ports with Central America's Pacific coast — Costa Rica, Guatemala and Mexico.
Expect lectures and live commentary on the canal's construction and history during the transit.
Two-week voyages with several sea days suit retirees and experienced cruisers who enjoy life at sea.
Shown as a guide only — every cruise line and sail date has its own route. Call us and we'll match real sailings to the dates you have in mind.
A full crossing usually takes 8 to 10 hours, mostly in daylight. Partial transits enter Gatun Lake and return the same way.
Yes. Full transits start and end in different ports and call at several countries, so a valid passport is required.
The canal experience is the same either way. Choose based on where you'd rather fly — and look for the direction that's on sale.
Share a few details and one of our cruise specialists will shortlist the best-value sailings for your dates, then call you to talk them through — typically within 15 minutes in business hours.
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