Panama Canal
Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century. As you transit this engineering marvel, listen to its stories of extraordinary human vision, sacrifice and triumph as part of our Explorations Speaker Series. Beyond the canal, find Caribbean island nations and our award winning private island, Half Moon Cay. Walk in the footsteps of ancient Incans and Mayans as you explore the ruins of bygone empires. Discover Costa Rica’s rainforests, Guatemala’s colonial history, and Ecuador’s volcanoes. All this while enjoying our 5-star service, spacious accommodations and first class amenities and activities.
With our wide variety of 10- to 28-day itineraries, Holland America Line has the perfect Panama Canal cruise vacation for your interests, schedule and budget. Convenient home ports include Fort Lauderdale, San Diego, Los Angeles, Seattle and Vancouver.
Featured Ports & Excursions
Cartagena, Colombia
Once a bastion of the Spanish Main, this fortified city boasts colonial architecture, pristine offshore islands and the finest emeralds in the world. Sample shore excursions: Cartagena City Tour; Old Walled City Historical Walking Tour; Rosario Islands Cruise.
Fuerte Amador, Panama City
Energetic crossroads of commerce, purveyor of the tropical essential, the famed Panama hat. Don yours and sip a cold cerveza at a waterfront café as you watch ships of all origins slip under the Bridge of the Americas. Don't miss the fascinating Interoceanic Canal Museum. Sample shore excursions: Discover the Embera Indian Culture; Panama Railway; The Canal Experience.
Half Moon Cay, Bahamas
Holland America Line's pristine private island offers everything you need for a day of play in paradise: a two-mile crescent of perfect beach; an interior lagoon; private beachside cabanas with butler service, showers and misters; and all manner of watersports and activities, including a children's aqua park and a buoyed personal watercraft course. Sample shore excursions: Horseback Riding by Land and Sea; Deep-sea or Flats Fishing; Stingray Adventure; AquaTrax Watercraft Adventure.
Explore unique shopping opportunities available
in this port.
Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica
It's wild, it's beautiful and Costa Rica's eco-factor is off the charts. Here find steaming volcanoes, lush rain forests and nearly half of all the animal species on earth. Plus a modern capital high in the mountains. Sample shore excursions: Tropical Forest Aerial Tram; Arenal Volcano & Thermal Waters; San José All-day Tour; Orchid Farm Tour.
Puerto Chiapas, Mexico
Gateway to the Mayan world in the Pacific, shrouded in mystery. Among the most well-preserved archeological sites is the sprawling complex at Palenque, dating to 100BC. Here, vividly colored murals offer glimpses into Mayan life while great stone temples guard inscriptions that have yet to be deciphered.
Nearby, explore San Cristobal de Las Casas cathedral, which combines baroque and colonial styles of architecture. Journey to a rainforest and marvel at the lush mangroves and abundant wildlife. Try a fresh tamale, a delicious part of celebrations here, or shop for local handicrafts like tin toys, wood and stone carvings or colorful textiles. Or, simply wander the beaches and take in the untamed and exotic surroundings. Sample shore excursions: The Mayan Ruins of Palenque; Mangrove Exploration & Bird Watching.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
No longer the well-kept secret of the artists, writers and Hollywood stars who first "discovered" it in the 1960s, "PV" (as it is affectionately known) still retains the essence of the quaint fishing village it once was. Here is Viejo Vallarta, the quaint Old Town, An enticing mix of red-tiled buildings, cobbled streets, chic shops and bustling open markets. Here are Mismaloya Beach, Gringo Gulch and Conchas Chinas, the Beverly Hills of Vallarta. Nearby: the rugged canyons and luxuriant jungles of the Sierra Madre. Sample shore excursions: Countryside on horseback, Dolphin encounter; Town, Country & Tequila; Sea Lion Encounter; Eco-safari Off-road Adventure; Canopy Adventure.
San Blas Islands, Panama
Home of the Cuna Indians, a warmly hospitable people famous for their finely sewn, tropically colored molas. The day is yours to explore the thatched-hut villages and lounge on silken beaches.
