Panama Canal Cruises
Panama Canal Cruises
Our customers are all about Panama Canal cruises, and we think we know why. Cutting a course through its namesake nation, this 48-mile, man-made stretch of water truly is an amazing feat of engineering and a must-see on any voyage through the Americas.
Known as the world’s greatest shortcut, the Panama Canal took more than 400 years to finish. And believe us, it was well worth the effort: a long and laid-back journey awaits – all tropical views, incredible natural landscapes and plenty of famous cities for you to stop at and soak in the good vibes.
A cruise through the Panama Canal and surrounding regions is like crossing over into a completely different world. From lazing on beaches and hikes around Panamanian wonders to treetop traversals across suspended bridges, there’s a lot to take in, but we have a feeling you won’t have a problem with that.
Hear the Canal de Panama calling? We don’t blame you. Whether you’re getting your cultural hat on or dressing down to top up your tan, our Panama Canal cruises give you the best of both worlds. And at prices you won’t find anywhere else, you can see everything this unreal part of the world has to offer without having to fork out.
Sound good? Let’s go…
What’s the weather in the Panama Canal like?
With a tropical climate that runs the whole year round, Panama Canal weather isn’t going to be for everyone. Looking to beat the heat and avoid bringing a brolly? We’ve broken down the weather around the Panama Canal season by season below…
Weather in The Panama Canal
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The World’s Greatest Shortcut
As a modern wonder of the world, and one of Condé Nast Traveler’s “7 Cruise Wonders of the World” destinations, the Panama Canal’s trophy cabinet is pretty well-stocked with bucket-list-worthy booty. Designed to cut across the Isthmus of Panama, the canal lets cruise liners move easily between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in a long and languid fashion.
A real labour of love, it’s well and truly earned its “world’s greatest shortcut” nickname. Without it, you’d face an 8000-mile trip around the bottom tip of South America to get to the other side! Even so, it still takes a fair share of time to cross it – around 8-10 hours in fact – which is plenty of time to see the highlights of the Panama Canal in full. No half measures or compromises here!
Why Cruise Nation?
By working with the biggest and best cruise names going, we’ve made a name for ourselves bringing eager travellers like you a huge range of low-cost deals on our Panama Canal cruises.
Variety is the spice of life, no? So, pep up that getaway your way by choosing how to travel. Tick that Full Transit crossing – sailing ocean to ocean – off your list. Book yourself on a Partial Transit and take in the stunning lakes and locks of Gatun. Or go the whole hog and add the Panama Canal to a longer cruise alongside destinations like the Caribbean and North America. The choice is yours.
Thanks to our great-value Smart Packages, Fly and Cruise deals and Cruise and Stay Packages, customers who have more time to spare can enjoy exciting overnight city stays, included airfare, and amazing freebies on their Panama Canal cruise, too!
How to Choose a Panama Canal Cruise
Decisions, decisions. With so many great Panama Canal cruise deals to choose from, which one is the best for you? It all depends on a few factors, most importantly, whether you want to embark on a Trans-Canal Crossing or a Partial Crossing. We look at these in more detail below.
Trans-Canal Crossing
Built for the full Panama Canal experience, a Trans-Canal crossing covers Florida to the West Coast, taking in the entire canal along the way. A real customer fave, you’ll spend a full day crossing from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, stopping off in the likes of the Caribbean, Costa Rica and Colombia over the course of your adventure.
The most common departure ports for these full-transit cruises include Fort Lauderdale and Miami, with the most popular West Coast destinations including LA, San Francisco and even as far as Seattle.
Partial Crossing
For those who have already experienced the full Trans-Canal crossing, our partial Panama Canal cruises provide an excellent alternative, letting you explore some of the sights you might’ve missed during the Trans-Canal day crossing.
Partial-transit cruises usually sail through one lock on the Canal, before passengers disembark to explore Panama on a series of shore excursions – passing through the Gatun Locks and onto the beautiful Gatun Lakes along the way.
How Many Days?
Your next big decision. Seven days? Three weeks? A month? How much time you spend at sea makes all the difference. Most Panama Canal cruise itineraries tend to follow a similar route and timeframe, taking 14 days to travel from Florida to the Pacific, commonly including stops in the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico.
On the shorter side, you’ll find cruises which take seven to nine days, and for those with a free schedule to fill up, a voyage of three weeks to a month should keep the calendar busy. So, what’ll it be?
The Best Time of Year for a Panama Canal Cruise
Ok, so there’s another important decision to make: what time of the year do you want to go?
To get the most from your Panama Canal Cruise, timing is everything. Remember: the weather is best in the winter and the spring, with the official Panama Canal cruise season running from the end of September through until April.
If you want to play it safe, then cruising after November almost definitely guarantees good weather, especially in the peak months of December and January.
Which Cruise Lines Sail the Panama Canal?
A Panama Canal cruise is unlike anything else. So it’s unsurprising that many of the biggest lines in the industry offer the chance for customers to experience it for themselves. In fact, some, like Princess Cruises’ Island Princess and Coral Princess vessels, are designed specifically for the voyage. You know this part of the world is special for that very reason.
To bring you the best Panama Canal cruise deals, here’s who we work with…
Save with Panama Canal Smart Packages
If it’s great value for money, longer stays and more freedom to do things your way you’re after, our Smart Packages can see to all three.
Thanks to these low-cost cruise deals, we’ll throw in your accommodation – before or after you set sail – in some of the region’s most in-demand destinations, including the likes of Miami, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver and the Caribbean. Because why shouldn’t your holiday last a little longer?
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