Experience one of the world's greatest engineering marvels as your ship physically climbs from one ocean to another. Choose a 14- to 17-night full transit to journey completely between the Atlantic and Pacific, or a shorter 10-night partial transit that enters Gatun Lake and returns to the Caribbean. These sailings are most popular in the spring and fall when cruise lines reposition their fleets.
The highlight of this cruise happens right on deck. As your ship navigates the massive locks of Gatun, Miraflores, or Agua Clara, enjoy a front-row seat to the transit process—no shore excursions required. While most ships pass through the canal without docking in Panama City, you will often stop in vibrant cities like Cartagena, Colombia, where you can spend a warm afternoon walking the historic stone streets of the walled city.
Most full transits run fourteen to seventeen nights, one way. The usual departure port on the Caribbean side is Fort Lauderdale, Miami, or New Orleans. Los Angeles or San Diego is the usual Pacific end, and some sailings continue to Seattle or Vancouver. Princess, Holland America, Celebrity, Norwegian, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Cunard schedule them, mainly in spring and fall, when ships move between a Caribbean cruise and Los Angeles, San Diego, or an Alaska cruise. Regent, Silversea, Oceania, and Viking ocean do as well. An agent requests many of those fares.
A full transit and a partial transit are both called a Panama Canal cruise, and the highlight happens on deck. As the ship moves through Gatun or Agua Clara, and later Miraflores or Cocoli, you watch the locks lift it from one level to the next. Many ships pass Panama City without docking. Cartagena is the city these cruises usually do stop in, and an afternoon there is the old stone streets inside the walls.
Full transit or partial transit
While the ship is in the canal, you are on deck. You are not ashore unless the itinerary lists a dock, and many ships only pass through. These cruises usually stop in Cartagena. Extra nights belong at the start or the end, in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Los Angeles, or San Diego. You have the evening there because the cruise has not started, or it has ended.
Most canal sailings run in spring and fall, when the fleets move between regions. In winter there are fewer full transits. The air is hot while the ship is in the canal, and rain is normal. The rain does not stop the transit. A passport is required. Panama uses the US dollar.
In port
While the ship is in the canal, you are on deck. You are not ashore unless the itinerary lists a dock. These cruises usually stop in Cartagena.
In port
While the ship is in the canal, you are on deck. These cruises usually stop in Cartagena.
See the portsThese are typical routings and ports. Ships, dates, and fares change.
14–17 nights
Spring and fall
Fort Lauderdale or Miami to San Diego or Los Angeles
Princess, Holland America, Celebrity, or a luxury ship whose fare an agent requests
10–11 nights
Fall through spring
Fort Lauderdale or Miami, back to the same port
A Florida round trip, compared across the lines that publish one
15–20 nights
Spring and fall
Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle, or Vancouver to Florida
Often a repositioning, including some from Vancouver or Seattle
Tell us whether you fly home from Fort Lauderdale or Miami, or from Los Angeles or San Diego. A full transit ends in a different city than it starts. A partial transit returns to Florida. You can stay a night in Panama City only when the itinerary docks there. Many ships only pass through.
