Panama Canal Cruise by Motorcoach

Day 1

This morning we leave Pennsburg and arrive in Fayetteville, North Carolina by dinner time.

Day 2

After a continental breakfast at the hotel we will check-out and continue our journey south to Orlando, Florida. We will overnight at the Rosen Inn on International Drive. CB

Day 3

We will arrive in Fort Lauderdale by early afternoon to board our cruise ship, Holland America's Rotterdam. D - aboard ship

Days 4

All Bahama Islands are full of tropical wonders and sun-kissed beaches. But Half Moon Cay, Holland America Line's private island in the Bahamas, is an absolute stunner. The crescent-shaped slice of heaven is the highest-rated Bahamas private island. It has won Porthole Cruise Magazine's Best Private Island award consecutively for 20 years and garnered the best in Travel Weekly's Readers' Choice Awards. When you feel the sugar-white sand on your toes or see its brilliant blue lagoon, you'll understand why cruise travelers love Half Moon Cay. True bucket-list excursions, secluded cabanas, and stunning beaches make it ideal for any type of vacation. B, L, D - aboard ship

Days 5 & 6

Two full days at sea gives us the opportunity to enjoy the ship's amenities. Take a swim or enjoy a spa service. Also aboard you'll find a fitness center, internet center, casino, and movie theater. B, L, D - aboard ship

Day 7

There is so much to see and do on our cruises to Curaçao. This precious island has a good mixture of history and modernism which all of our guests can truly enjoy. The capital of Curaçao, Willemstad, is almost as old as a more famous Dutch settlement. It was founded in 1634, just 10 years after New Amsterdam, later called New York. But while the Dutch control of New Amsterdam was relatively brief, Curaçao remains a part of the Netherlands to this day. This Curaçao cruise takes you to its historic center which is a unique mixture of Dutch architecture and Caribbean pastels, its gabled row houses overlooking Sint Anna Bay, a waterway dividing the city in two and connecting the Caribbean to the protected Schottegat Bay. The entire historic center of Willemstad has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While Willemstad's legendary days of yore can be explored at institutions like the Kura Hulanda and Curaçao Maritime Museum, this is a vibrant, living city too. This Curaçao cruise highlights this multicultural melting pot which might include a stop at its floating market and a visit to a Curaçao distillery to taste the famous local liqueur. Natural wonders await as well: Some of the Caribbean's most stunning diving and snorkeling spots are here. Finally, a meal in Willemstad will let you experience the diversity of the island through the surprising flavors of its cuisine, which reflects European, Caribbean, and Latin American influences. B, L, D - aboard ship

Day 8

Another leisurely day aboard the ship will allow you to enjoy the amenities of the Rotterdam. B, L, D - aboard ship

Day 9

Its official name is Cartagena de Indias—or "Cartagena of the Indies"—but call it Cartagena for short. The formal name hints at this Colombian city's colonial relationship with Spain; it was founded in 1533 and named after the mother country's Cartagena. Colombia declared independence in 1810, but there's plenty about its fifth-largest city that evokes old Spain, including the impressive fort of Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, and the wall that encloses the old town, one of the few intact structures of its kind in the Americas. Both were considered important enough to inscribe on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1984. They may be historical artifacts, but the fortress and wall aren't merely tourist attractions; they are central to daily life here. Take a stroll and you'll see couples sitting atop the wall, locked in passionate embraces; parents watching their children walk it like a balance beam; and friends chatting while enjoying the Caribbean breeze. Along with history, there's cultural and culinary intrigue here too. This colorful city was a muse of the late Nobel Prize–winning writer Gabriel García Márquez, and is increasingly being recognized outside Colombia for its cuisine, which takes many cues from Caribbean ingredients. (Don't leave without trying the coconut rice.) B, L, D - aboard ship

Day 10

Think of the Panama Canal, and the image that may come to mind is of the world's huge tankers and cruise ships passing through a series of locks. That, however, reflects only one aspect of this part of the world. As ships travel from the Atlantic to the Pacific, they also pass colonial towns, historic fortresses, and manmade lakes that are today home to sanctuaries for hundreds of different animal and plant species. At the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal, Colón evokes the old Panama of yesteryear, with its historic buildings gradually being restored. Some 77 kilometers (48 miles) to the south, at the canal's Pacific entrance, Panama City's glittering skyline of office towers and condominiums reflects the country's dynamic present and future. Traveling between these two cities, an epic tale unfolds before you - an old-school feat of engineering, ambition, and courage. As David McCullough recounts in his sweeping history The Path Between the Seas, it was a combination of sheer human might and engineering prowess that today allows ships to cross the Panama isthmus, saving sailors from making the dangerous, almost 13,000-kilometer (8,000-mile) journey around the tip of South America. B, L, D - aboard ship

Day 11

Puerto Limón probably isn't the most bustling port you've ever visited, but don't be put off by its facade; like most coastal towns in Costa Rica, it is a perfect base from which to explore an attraction and activity-rich region that can fulfill a variety of interests. You're never far from a rain forest or outdoor adventure in Costa Rica, and there are lots of day trips from Puerto Limón that allow you to pack in an adrenaline rush or a few more ticks on your birding list within just a few hours. There are treetops for zip lining and rushing rivers for whitewater rafting if you're a more active traveler, and animal lovers can take sanctuary tours in and around Puerto Limón. Of course, when it comes time to eat, there's plenty of the national favorite, gallo pinto (rice and beans), and as with many port towns, there is lots of fresh seafood and even an upscale Italian restaurant. As for shopping, you can find arts and crafts that were made locally as well as edible treats like handmade chocolate. B, L, D - aboard ship

Days 12 & 13

Two leisurely days aboard the ship will allow you to enjoy the amenities of the Rotterdam. B, L, D - aboard ship (each day)

Day 14

One of the first things you’ll notice on your Key West cruise is the colorful gingerbread wooden houses and the amazing sunsets, and the constant crowing of roosters. Hundreds of the noisy birds - along with their quieter-clucking mates - roam the streets at all hours, and are nearly as synonymous with Key West cruises as its six-toed cats, the famous furry residents of Ernest Hemingway’s mansion in the Old Town district. They’re all part of the quirky charm of the United States' southernmost point, whose compact 11 square kilometers (4.2 square miles) pack in everything from gorgeous historic architecture and spectacular fishing and sailing to a raucous party scene along famed Duval Street. All of which is truly enjoyed by vacationers who cruise to Key West, Florida. B, L, D - aboard ship

Day 15

After disembarking we depart for Orlando for our overnight lodging. B - aboard ship

Day 16

Today we continue to Fayetteville, NC for our overnight lodging.

Day 17

After a continental breakfast at the hotel we will check-out & depart for home. With stops for rest and lunch en route our arrival will be by early evening. CB

Please note

Our intention is to run each tour as originally planned and published. However, if deemed necessary to do so, Perkiomen Tours reserves the right to make changes to tour components, schedules or itineraries without prior notification.

Tips for Perkiomen motorcoach drivers and tour escorts are not included in the price of this tour. We feel that these gratuities should be extended on an individual basis and dictated by the level of service provided.

Motorcoach seating is assigned at the time of reservation but can not be guaranteed. Although we do our best to keep each traveler in the seat assigned at the time of reservation, there are times that it is necessary to move seat locations. Please be sure to verify your final seat number(s) with the driver at the time of boarding. Daily seat rotation is practiced on most multi-day tours. Seat rotation will be explained by your driver or tour escort.