Panama Canal Cruises
Cruising through the Panama Canal, which links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, provides one of the most scenic cruises in the world. This cruise also has intriguing ports of call making it an interesting and entertaining venture.
It takes roughly nine hours for a ship to pass through the 51-mile long engineering and navigation marvel that is the Panama Canal. Its huge locks raise the vessel from its entry point on the Atlantic/ Caribbean side, then lower it as it approaches the Pacific. While that itself is an incredible feat, there are also a number of ports of call that make this cruise a very special experience.
Cruise participants will find navigating through the canal’s locks an enthralling experience. There are six of these locks and they raise the ship a remarkable 85 ft above sea level.
The Panama Canal provides a direct link between the Atlantic and Pacific and saves ships having to sail thousands of miles around Cape Horn at the foot of the South American continent. The Canal was completed in 1914 after more than 30 years of construction.
Travellers taking a Panama Canal cruise will learn about the amazing tale of its construction, with triumphs and tragedies. They will also visit and experience interesting places that extend beyond the canal itself, perhaps a castle in Cartagena, ancient Mexican ruins or Costa Rican rainforests.
There are plenty of alternative options for this type of cruise. This can include starting in Florida, sailing through the Gulf of Mexico before entering the canal, and finishing on the United States’ west coast in California. The reverse version is also available, starting in California and ending in Florida. Itineraries of this type, depending on inclusions, can range between two to four weeks.
The above itinerary would require travellers to fly into and out of the start/end ports, however, there are more extensive packages available which commence the journey from the UK. One example sees passengers sailing from Harwich, then calling at La Rochelle in France, Gijon and Vigo in Spain and the Portuguese capital Lisbon. The vessel then heads across the Atlantic before visiting Nassau in the Bahamas, Miami in Florida, down to Cartagena and Colon in Columbia, before traversing the Panama Canal itself. Once through the canal, the voyage continues to Costa Rica, Guatemala and the Mexican ports of Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas. The cruise ends in San Diego in the United States, from where passengers fly back to the UK.
There is also a reverse version of this cruise, starting with a flight out to San Diego and an overnight hotel stay before embarking on the sea voyage. The return sailing includes a stop in the Azores, and passengers eventually disembark at Harwich.
The variety of Panama Cruise packages available works, very much, to the customer’s advantage. It enables people to choose a cruise that suits their budget and interests and fits in with their time commitments.

Panama Canal Taster and Caribbean Ascent
Celebrity Cruises
Nov 2025 - Apr 2027
From £1939

New Orleans and the Caribbean
Carnival Cruises
Nov 2025 - Nov 2026
From £2049

Full Panama Canal transit westbound on Nieuw Amsterdam
Holland America Line
Apr 2025
From £3139

Panama Canal, Fort Lauderdale to Vancouver
Holland America Line
Apr 2026
From £3559

Spirit of Panama Canal
Carnival Cruises
Oct 2025
From £1829

Panama Canal Joy Collection 15nts from Miami
Norwegian Cruise Lines
Mar 2025
From £2419

Panama Canal Joy 15 night Full Transit from L.A.
Norwegian Cruise Lines
Oct 2025
From £2869

Panama Canal Encore Collection from Seattle
Norwegian Cruise Lines
Oct 2025
From £3039

Panama Canal Bliss Collection from L.A.
Norwegian Cruise Lines
Oct 2026
From £3049

Panama Canal Encore Collection From Miami
Norwegian Cruise Lines
Mar 2025
From £3249

Coral Princess Panama Canal - Full Transit from L.A.
Princess Cruises
Mar 2025 - Oct 2025
From £2049

Island Princess Panama Canal - Full Transit from L.A.
Princess Cruises
Oct 2025 - Feb 2026
From £2119

Island Princess Panama Canal - Full Transit from Fort Lauderdale
Princess Cruises
Dec 2025 - Feb 2026
From £2179

Coral Princess Panama Canal - Full Transit from Fort Lauderdale
Princess Cruises
Apr 2025 - Apr 2026
From £2189

Oceania's Panama Canal Collection
Oceania Cruises
Jul 2025 - Dec 2025
From £5229