Panama Canal cruises

A Panama Canal cruise is built around one remarkable day: your ship is lifted through a series of locks, crosses Gatun Lake and descends to the other ocean, a transit of about 50 miles that typically takes 8 to 10 hours. Watching the lock gates close a few feet from the ship and the electric locomotives (called mules) guiding it is one of the most memorable experiences in cruising.

There are two styles. Full transits sail one-way between Florida and California (or sometimes start in Panama or Colombia) over about two weeks, visiting ports such as Cartagena, Costa Rica, Guatemala and the Mexican Riviera on the way. Partial transits are round trips from Florida that enter the canal through the Atlantic-side locks, spend time in Gatun Lake and return the same way, usually on 10 to 11 night trips.

The canal was expanded in 2016 with a new, larger set of locks, which means many big modern ships can now transit. Some itineraries use the original locks and some use the new ones; the original locks give the closest view of the walls and mules. Most Panama Canal cruises run from fall through spring, when ships reposition between the Caribbean and Alaska or the West Coast.

Most Panama Canal cruises run from about September to May, with full transits clustered in fall and spring as ships reposition. Panama's dry season runs roughly December to April, which is the most comfortable time. The canal itself sits south of the usual hurricane track, but Caribbean legs of the trip are exposed from June to November.

Ports you'll likely visit

• Panama Canal transit, Panama
  A day of locks, Gatun Lake and the Culebra Cut between the Atlantic and Pacific.
• Cartagena, Colombia
  A walled colonial city with fortresses and a UNESCO-listed old town.
• Colon, Panama
  Atlantic-side port for canal tours, Gatun Locks and the Agua Clara visitor center on partial transits.
• Puerto Limon, Costa Rica
  Rainforest tours, sloths, canals of Tortuguero and banana plantations.
• Puntarenas, Costa Rica
  Pacific-side port for cloud forests, river safaris and wildlife.
• Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala
  Gateway to colonial Antigua Guatemala and its volcano views.
• Oranjestad, Aruba
  A common Caribbean stop on full transits, with reliable sunshine.
• Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
  A frequent last port on westbound transits before California.

Highlights

Through the locks

Your ship rises and falls between the oceans with only feet to spare in the original locks.

Two oceans, one trip

Full transits sail from the Caribbean to the Pacific coast of Central America and Mexico.

Colonial Cartagena

One of the best-preserved walled cities in the Americas.

Costa Rica wildlife

Rainforests, sloths, monkeys and birds on both coasts.

How long, and what documents

14-16 nights for a full one-way transit between Florida and California; 10-11 nights for a partial transit round trip from Florida; some 7-10 night trips start or end in Panama or Colombia.

A partial-transit round trip from Florida is a closed-loop cruise: U.S. Customs and Border Protection says US citizens can re-enter with a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID, though countries along the way may ask for a passport. A full transit that starts in one US port and ends in another (for example Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles) is not closed-loop, so you need a valid passport book, as you do for any cruise that starts or ends in Panama, Colombia or another foreign port. Many countries expect your passport to be valid for at least six months. Check current requirements with your line and the State Department before you sail.

Specialist tips

• Be on the forward decks early on transit day; ships start the approach around dawn and the best spots fill quickly.
• An itinerary through the original locks gives a closer look at the lock walls and mules than one using the 2016 locks.
• Full transits are one-way, so price the open-jaw flights home before booking.
• Bring a hat, sunscreen and water for transit day; it is hot and humid on deck.