The Panama Canal has been the focal point of Panama cruises for years, and it continues to be just that today. The world cruise industry has been doing pretty good lately, and finding major companies offering Panama cruises is as easy as ever. Because of the Panama’s strategic Caribbean/Central American location, it is an easy addition to cruise itineraries in the area, and the chance to add this up and coming vacation destination to a list of other exciting ports is a real treat, even for the most seasoned cruisers. If you are looking for a new and fun way to spend your next vacation, why not consider Panama cruises? With today’s ships serving as floating cities, you’ll have all the creature comforts available onboard that you could want. In fact, you might just have so much fun on the cruise liner itself, that you might not want to ever disembark. But alas, this is perhaps the best part of a cruise. Having the opportunity to step into a foreign land for even just one day is an eye-opener for sure.
If you had to pick the best Panama cruise, you would
have to go with the Panama Canal. Panama
Canal cruises can be enjoyed as part of a small Panama
vacation package, or can be included in the extended
Panama cruises that feature destinations in other countries.
Some crises to Panama simply offer a Panama Canal transfer,
and then it’s on to the next destination. Others
also include a visit to the paradise-like San
Blas Islands. Here, you can do a little shopping
in a Kuna Indian village, hopefully bringing home a few
choice “molas”. Due to its relative proximity
to Panama, the United States serves as the prime place
to find extended Panama cruises, which generally are of
the 7-14 day variety. Los
Angeles and Miami
are two major ports in the United States that handle Panama
cruises, and this route has been a best Panama cruise
for years. But, now, there is more variety out there,
and cruise passengers can now find more and more Panama
cruises that better fit their agenda. Perhaps you want
to leave from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to tour about the
Caribbean, making
stops at ports in countries like Mexico
and Costa
Rica. A good amount of cruises to Panama hit the Costa
Rica port city of Limon,
which offers some interesting onshore excursions.
Getting the chance to experience a Panama Canal transit is what makes the Panama Canal cruises so popular. This impressive structural feat was surely not easy to build, but it has proven valuable ever since it was completed in 1914. On Panama cruises that hit the canal, you’ll get inside information from a knowledgeable narrator, and changing levels at the Gatun and Miraflores locks is not your average everyday experience. Should you be visiting Panama in February, you might get to combine your Panama Canal cruise with the Panamanian Carnival. It takes place roughly on the four days leading up to Ash Wednesday, and it is considered by most to be the best Panama festival. If your Panama Canal cruise is just a one day affair as part of a Panama sightseeing tour package, you’ll likely then have the chance to head on to enjoy some of the Panama beaches afterward. Featured destinations like the aforementioned San Blas Islands and the Bocas del Toro archipelago certainly seem like paradise alright. Some Panama cruises are known to dock near the city of Colon, which although might not be Panama’s best city, is where you will find the large Free Trade Zone. This shopping mega-plex features products from around the world, and the duty free prices are music to many shopper’s ears. Keep an open mind, and in no time at all, the right Panama cruise will find you.
If the budget is tight, you can always hope to find a discount Panama cruise. Though you might have better luck finding discounts when booking ahead of time, you might also come across a last minute Panama cruise discount that fits the bill. Cruise lines are known to offer an array of discounts, sometimes in an attempt to lure in new customers. Suppose a discount Panama cruise isn’t available during your allotted Panama vacation time period. You can always save by booking the cheapest onboard accommodations. Sure, a suite or outside cabin with a balcony is always nice. But if you are willing to trade them for a couple hundred dollars in your pocket, you’re already on your way to big savings. If your trip includes a land stay, the hotel is generally already selected, and the rates are included in your overall price, so there probably isn’t much you can do there. Be sure to keep an eye out for extra bonuses, like a $200 credit for accommodations, or a value booklet that you can use while shopping onboard.
