Panama Canal Cruise

Day 1 - Fly UK to San Diego

Arrive in San Diego and transfer to your hotel spend the rest of the day at leisure. 

Day 2 - Board your Panama Canal Cruise

Today transfer to the cruise port to board your spectacular Panama Canal cruise with Holland America onboard Eurodam. 

Day 3 - At Sea

A full day at sea to enjoy the facilities onboard Holland America's Eurodam. 

Day 4 - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Los Cabos or the Capes sits at the southernmost tip of the Baja California Peninsula, a narrow strip of land whose varied geography makes for plenty of interesting and unusual activities. You can ride a camel, or enjoy more predictable pursuits including fishing, golfing and whale-watching. On your Cabo cruise you can visit picture-perfect El Arco, an arch that may look familiar thanks to its cameo on postcards and advertisements. North of the capes, you can drop by the famed Hotel California. And if you've worked up an appetite on your Cabo cruise, you won't be disappointed: Los Cabos offers plenty to enjoy at the table as well, with farm-fresh fruits and vegetables and, of course, seafood being the mainstays here. Regardless, Holland America Line makes sure that Cabo cruises have plenty of new and traditional things for guests to experience.

Day 5 - Day at Sea

A day at sea to relax onboard.

Day 6 - Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico

Acapulco, Mexico, is a famed Pacific resort town known for its golden beaches, lush rainforests, and historic sites. The La Quebrada cliff divers are a draw for travelers who watch with bated breath as they plunge from towering heights into the roiling sea. Other things to do in Acapulco include exploring the 17th-century Fort of San Diego or strolling along the seafront Malecón, admiring street art. With world-class seafood and authentic Mexican flavors, Acapulco is a must-visit.

Day 7 - Huatulco, Mexico

Huatulco, situated on Mexico's Pacific Coast in the state of Oaxaca, has nine bays and 36 beaches, offering more than enough opportunities for fun in the sun. The most popular beach is La Entrega, with clean white sand and calm waters, perfect for snorkeling and swimming . . . or just relaxing.

But Huatulco's attractions aren't limited to sand and surf; there are also archaeological sites to explore, rivers to raft, and waterfalls whose pools invite childlike splashing.

Bird lovers, in particular, will find Huatulco to be especially captivating. The region is home to more than 225 bird species, including many rare ones and a number that are endemic to Mexico, like the Colima pygmy owl and the wildly colourful orange-breasted bunting and citreoline trogon.

Bring your bird list, because you're sure to add new species to your "sighted" column. And the food in Huatulco! The food will give you plenty to write home about. The state of Oaxaca has some of the most iconic dishes in Mexico's culinary repertoire. You won't go home hungry. 

Day 8 - Puerto Chiapas, Mexico

The southernmost port on Mexico’s Pacific coast, Puerto Chiapas is named for the state in which it is located. It is relatively new, built in 1975, and is the primary hub from which the region’s agricultural goods, including coffee, are sent abroad.

For travellers arriving by cruise ship, the town of Puerto Chiapas is a jumping-off point to explore surrounding areas, including Tapachula, the second-largest city in the state of Chiapas. In addition to visiting the coffee estates and banana and cacao plantations of the area, day trips include excursions to Maya sites such as Izapa.

Although not as well known as some of the Maya sites of southern and eastern Mexico, such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site Chichén Itzá, Izapa is impressive nonetheless. In addition to its interesting location—it sits along a river and is aligned with a volcano (the sixth-tallest mountain in Mexico)—archaeologists have found numerous stelae and evidence that it was the largest Maya site in Chiapas.

While in the area, don’t miss the opportunity to sample the cuisine of Chiapas, which is influenced heavily by the Maya. One typical dish is tasajo, a thinly sliced beef steak marinated in a sauce made with achiote (also known as annatto) and chili. 

Day 9 - Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala

Puerto Quetzal is Guatemala's largest port on the Pacific Ocean side of this Central American country, important for both cargo and cruise ships. There's not a great deal to see and do in Puerto Quetzal itself, and visitors should adjust their expectations accordingly.

Yet you shouldn't despair, either; Puerto Quetzal is an ideal point of departure for exploring several corners of the country. Choose your mode of transportation—plane, bus, car or boat—and decide whether you want to take in Guatemala's stunning, volcano-studded landscape, one (or more!) of the country's Maya sites, the UNESCO–recognized colonial city of Antigua (the former capital), a coffee plantation or one of the many beguiling bodies of water.

In addition to the gleaming Pacific, there's Lake Atitlán, which 19th-century German explorer Alexander von Humboldt described as the most beautiful lake in the world. All of these attractions are accessible as day trips, and getting to them is all part of your Guatemalan adventure. 

Day 10 - At Sea

Relax onboard your Holland America Cruise

Day 11 - Puntarenas (Puerto Caldera), Costa Rica

One of the stops along the Panama Canal Zone route, Puntarenas on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast is nicely positioned within easy day-trip distance of a number of that country's national parks. The town, a busy working port on the surface, makes an ideal base from which travelers can venture out to explore the variety of this Central American country's outdoor attractions, from lush jungle destinations to pristine beaches along the Pacific.

Activities include snapping photos of gushing waterfalls (and swimming at the base of one, if you bring your swimsuit!), sightseeing near active volcanoes, bird-watching in nature reserves and sanctuaries and horseback riding on Pacific beaches . . . and that's just for starters.

Visitors to this extraordinary region also enjoy shopping for the handicrafts that local artists sell at their cooperatives, as well as sampling traditional Tico cuisine, especially gallo pinto—a combination of rice and beans eaten at any time of the day or night. A trip here serves as the perfect reminder that adventure often awaits just around the bend.

Day 12 - At Sea

Relax onboard your Holland America Crusie

Day 13 - Cruising Panama Canal

The construction of the Panama Canal is one of those epic tales from the past, an old-school feat of engineering, ambition and courage. A cruise along it today is a journey through the centuries, from the Spanish fortifications near Limón Bay to the glittering skyline of Panama City, not to mention the canal itself.

Over the course of a decade a little more than a century ago, tens of thousands of workers drilled dynamite holes, drove belching steam shovels and labored with pickaxes, all the while fighting off malaria. While the French builders of the Suez Canal ultimately gave up in Panama, American crews persevered and created a route allowing ships to travel across a continent.

As David McCullough recounts in his sweeping history The Path Between the Seas, it was a combination of sheer human might and engineering prowess. In 2016 an expansion more than doubled the canal's capacity, ensuring it will continue to be central to the world's maritime traffic.While many think of the Panama Canal only as a remarkable manmade achievement, the area is also of interest to naturalists.

Panama’s rain forest suffered great biodiversity loss during the canal's construction, but today more than 100 species each of mammals and reptiles, as well as some 500 different birds, thrive in the nature reserves along the length of the canal.

Day 14 - At Sea

Relax onboard your Holland America Cruise. 

Day 15 - Oranjestad, Aruba

Located off the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia, the windswept Dutch island of Aruba feels like another world. When you take a cruise to Aruba, you can relax in the shade of a swaying Divi Divi tree on a pristine beach or explore untamed coastal cliffs in an exotic landscape filled with cacti. Just one day on an Aruba cruise can lead to a lifetime full of stories.

Day 16 - At Sea

Relax onboard your Holland America Cruise.

Day 17 - At Sea

Relax onbaord your Holland America cruise.

Day 18 - Fort Lauderdale - Miami

Depart your cruise in Fort Lauderdale and transfer to Miami to spend the rest of your day at leisure. 

Day 19 - Return Flight

Today check out yout Miami hotel and transfer to the airport for your onward flight home. 

Alternatively speak to our USA Experts  if you wish to extend your stay in USA.