Holly’s Port To Port Guide Panama Canal

If you are looking for a Panama Canal cruise and want to know top tips on the ports of call you are visiting , then look no further. Every few weeks I often  give  warts and all accounts of cruise ports around the world, including things they don’t tell you in the brochure. So be prepared ! I myself have visited many cruise ports over the years , some amazing and some not so great , so please feel free to comment on your experiences and I hope that this insight gives you the information you seek.

Whether you are new to cruise or a savvy cruiser , you can never have to much information on the ports of call you are visiting. This week I will be focusing on the Panama Canal , and being the Eighth Wonder of the World no wonder this is on the top of everyone’s bucket list  and if you have any questions or top tips  then please feel free to comment.

PANAMA CANAL – When is the best time to go to the Panama Canal?, a question I am asked weekly, well the answer is  to go between November and April as this is the driest season, although some cruise lines start as early as September . Cruises to the Panama Canal are normally around 14 nights and can start in Los Angeles or San Francisco and finish in Florida.

So what is so special about the Panama Canal and why do cruise customers queue up to book these itineraries year in year out. Well for most of us its the history of  this world famous waterway which was built to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean  in 9014 , ten years after in started at a cost of $387 million dollars.  Its interesting to know that the massive locks that you hear of, control the level of water in the Panama Canal enabling ships to pass through this 51-mile “water bridge” and believe me this is very much a tight squeeze as my pictures will show. This entire trip takes about nine hours. Ships are lifted and lowered a total of 170 feet as they pass from the Caribbean to the Pacific, crossing over the Isthmus of Panama and straight through the Continental Divide and if this isnt enough to entice you then the ports of call will.

It depends on which cruise line you sail with as to which itinerary you will do but I am going to focus on the Island Princess , operated by Princess cruises and with a tonnage of 91,000 and and holding 1900 passengers she is perfect in size in fitting through the locks of The Panama.

The Route she does is from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale and vice versa so she does the full transit through the Canal, her ports of call are Los Angeles, Cabo San Lucas, San Juan Del Sur, Puntarenas, Panama Canal, Cartagena Aruba and finally Fort Lauderdale.

Do you need visas and vaccinations for the Panama Canal? All UK citizens will need an ESTA Visa, (an electronic visa which can be done on line) for entering the USA together with a ten year passport with a 6 month validity on the date of your return to the UK. As for vaccinations, they are recommended but not compulsory, and although Aruba is not at any risk of Yellow fever , you will notice signs that they want passengers to hold a Yellow Fever Certificate when entering  after visits from countries in South America, don’t be alarmed because as you will only be stopping at the ports of call this will exempt you. As an agent I will always advise customers to seek advice from their GP when travelling on any cruise. TOP TIP – MOST PORTS OF CALL REQUIRE PHOTO ID, SO TAKE A PHOTOCOPY OF YOUR PASSPORT BEFORE YOU GO OR TAKE YOUR DRIVING LICENSE WITH YOU , LEAVE YOUR PASSPORT IN YOU CABIN SAFE!!

Cabo San Lucas , Mexico – Rated as one of Mexico’s top five tourist destinations and famous for its Beaches, Scuba Diving and of course ‘Lands End’ s a distinctive rock formation at the southern tip of Cabo. See picture below. You can pre book an excursion to Lands End  and in corporate it with a tour of the famous Marina and maybe a drink of Tequila or two :-). This is very much a tourist destination so is extremely busy in school holidays, so please bear this in mind, you may want to avoid at these times.

San Juan Del Sur – Nicaragua -Another popular tourist destination offering a lively mix of culture and stunning beaches and only 11 degress north of the Equator you certainly feel you are in the heart of the tropics. The country was colonised by the Spanish and they have left behind some magnificent Colonial buildings and other architecture. You can  experience this by visiting the city Granada or why not visit the little islets of volcanic origin which you will find on Lake Nicaragua.

Puntarenas-Costa Rica –  Covering over 264 miles of coastline, Puntarenas is one of most most prettiest tourist areas of Coast Rica. Dotted around are little islands, inlets and stunning beaches all located on a beautiful backdop of lush greenery. The primary attraction of course  is the Monteverde Biological Reserve, however there are many other nature sites, picturesque trails, hanging bridges, as well as butterfly and frog exhibits for you to visit . Why not experience a magical wildlife boat tour with a sky walk through the Tropical Forest. Whatever you do in Puntarenas you are sure to never forget this place.

Cartagena – Columbia –  Every port of call is memorable on this itinerary each giving you a different taste of local flavour, but if its culture your after in abundance then look no further, what better place to travel to than the historically rich Columbian city of Cartagena. It’s significant monuments, culture  make this city the perfect choice for a sense of history. TOP TIP – BE CAREFUL OF TOUTS THEY ARE A PLENTY , OFFERING TO BE YOUR GUIDE FLOUNCING YOU OFF YOUR CASH IF YOU AGREE, SO BOOK YOUR EXCURSION EITHER WITH MYSELF OR WITH YOUR CRUISE LINE. This apart as long as you are aware dont let it put you off taking in all the sights .  A visit to La Popa Monastery is a must,  located at the top of a hill which can be seen from any point in Cartagena  offers  privileged views of this incredible city. Believe it or not it is still inhabited by monks,  and was used several times as a military fortress due to its strategic location.

Aruba – whats not to like, Aruba is a favourite of mine, a destination on my bucket list for years and believe me it didn’t disappoint. I have never met people so happy and welcoming , after visiting Margarita Island I wondered if Aruba would be any different and it was for the better. If your a fan of Aloe Vera then you will love the Aloe Vera factory . At one point two thirds of Aruba was covered in Aloe Vera plants. Of course there is alot more to Aruba than Aloe Vera but you will see it as charming with pretty buildings and pristine white sands that will genuinly want you staying their forever, I really didn’t want to leave. TOP TIP, ARUBA IS ONE OF THE SAFEST PLACES ON EARTH SO FEEL FREE TO EXPLORE AS YOU WILL, LOCALS ARE FRIENDLY SO ASK AWAY TO GET A REAL FEEL FOR THE PLACE.

Finally and unfortunately we have to go home, now TOP TIP – BOOK THE TOUR WITH PRINCESS THAT WILL TAKE YOU FROM FORT LAUDERDALE PORT AND BACK TO MIAMI AIRPORT, STRESS FREE AND PAINLESS WITH A TOUR INCLUDED AND GOOD VALUE FOR MONEY TOO.

Please feel free to call me on 0800 408 6114 or email [email protected] for details on Panama Canal Cruises. I hope you can see why this cruise seems to be on everyone’s bucket list and believe me its not as expensive as you think. With Inside cabins starting at £1599 including a 2 night stay in  Los Angeles  and return flights, there has never been a better time to book