Panama Canal Cruise Guide
Thinking of cruising the Panama Canal. Let our guide give you some food for thought as well as some ideas for the best recommended cruises.

Popular Panama Canal Cruises
Panama’s position as a narrow land bridge between two huge continents has given it an incredible diversity of plant and animal life. A Panama cruise is an ideal cruise for all nature lovers, especially bird watchers, as well as thrill seekers or anyone with an interest in this remarkable engineering and historical feat.

P&O Panama Canal Cruises
The UK’s P&O run a popular canal cruise down the Panama Canal generally for 14 nights including a perfect sounding winter cruise which hops around the Caribbean islands through crystal clear waters before you transit the Panama Canal and visit the delights of Mexico. It’s the perfect winter break. One of the last stops is Acapulco so make sure you bring your party outfit.

Virgin Holiday Cruises Panama Cruises
Virgin Holiday Cruises in conjunction with the Cunard Line offer a competitively priced Panama Canal cruise with a choice of 14, 15, 16 or 18 night cruises. A typical Virgin Panama Canal Cruise includes an itinerary involving some of the following: New York, Fort Lauderdale, Aruba, Panama Canal, Puntarenas, Huatulco, Acapulco, Manzanillo, Los Angeles

The Virgin Panama Canal cruise season runs from September to April with a choice of itineraries and luxury cruise liners, including private balconies, on board live music, celebrity speakers, dance and entertainments galore and fine restaurant dining.

Holland America Line Panama Canal Cruises
The Holland America Line offers an impressive range of Panama Canal cruises for all budgets. Home ports include Fort Lauderdale, San Diego, Los Angeles, Seattle and Vancouver, ensuring this cruise can form part of a spectacular holiday to North America for UK holiday makers. For instance, departing Vancouver Canada this impressive Panama Canal cruise involves a stop off on Holland America’s own private island Half Moon Cay and includes stop offs in Mexico: Acapulco as well as Guatemala and Costa Rica. With a wide variety of 10 to 28 day itineraries, Holland America Line has a great choice of Panama Canal cruise holidays.

Panama Canal History
When cruising the Panama Canal consider the incredible history of what is without a doubt one of the greatest engineering achievements of the 20th century.

The idea of a canal was first muted by King Charles of V of Spain in 1524 who ordered a feasibility study.

In 1878 the Columbian Government awarded a contract to build the canal to French diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps, who had overseen the Suez Canal. The task was more difficult than could be imagined with incredible construction problems and the deaths of more than 20,000 workers. The company founded for the purpose went bankrupt in 1889.

The French sold the contract to the USA and construction began again on the canal in 1904. 75,000 workers were employed. Construction took ten years. The Panama Canal was finished and the first boat sailed down it on August 15 1914.

Many cruises offer commentary and stories illustrating the incredible human achievement of the building of the Panama Canal and the mass of intrigues and politics which surround it.

Cruise The Panama Canal

A cruise on the Panama Canal is a truly astounding experience past tropical rainforest and lush vegetation and a man-made technical miracle. As your cruise ship is guided through six large locks you will hear tropical birds and see the lush landscape up close.

Why not experience a trip of a lifetime with a cruise down the Panama Canal?