Azamara Club Cruises Holiday Sailing

Unforgettable Holiday Celebration

Festive Voyage through the Panama Canal 

with Free Air*

16-NIGHT PANAMA CANAL & CENTRAL AMERICA

2-FOR-1SAVINGS & GRATUITIES INCLUDED

Plus, when you book by Aug 31, 2010, you’ll also enjoy
• Club Veranda Stateroom for
the price of a Club Oceanview†
• $1,000 Onboard Credit
per couple with all Club Oceanview and above staterooms
• Free Air from select gateways

Azamara Journey® • Dec 23, 2010 Holiday Voyage
Dec 23 MIAMI, FLORIDA	Jan 1 AT SEA Learn about Huatulco’s indigenous culture from an onboard expert.
Dec 26 CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA Shop in the beautifully restored Old Town for a holiday surprise.	Jan 2 HUATULCO, MEXICO Snorkel in sparkling waters, watch cooking demonstrations and enjoy Mexico’s diverse culture.
Dec 27 AT SEA Indulge in a soothing spa treatment aboard the ship.	Jan 3 ACAPULCO, MEXICO Visit the Sea Turtle Rescue Center or swim with dolphins on unforgettable Land Discoveries.
Dec 28 PANAMA CANAL (CRUISING) Enjoy the spectacular vistas as you cruise the locks and waterways of the Panama Canal.	Jan 4 AT SEA Delight in fine cuisine paired with boutique wines, complimentary with lunch and dinner.
Dec 29 AT SEA Enjoy our pool butlers. Need we say more?	Jan 5 CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO Rendezvous at the romantic hidden beach of Playa del Amor.
Dec 30 PUNTARENAS, COSTA RICA Marvel at the majesty of Costa Rica’s rain forests.	Jan 6-7 AT SEA Sip champagne at an onboard art auction worthy of your collection.
Dec 31 SAN JUAN DEL SUR, NICARAGUA Ring in the new year with romance on a horse-drawn carriage ride in Granada.	Jan 8 SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

Celebrity Cruises Announces 2010 / 2011 Panama Canal Deployment

Celebrity Cruises 2010 / 2011 Panama Canal & Pacific Coastal Wine Cruises

Exotic. Historic. The Panama Canal is a voyage that has no equal. And the adventures that it offers are simply unforgettable: lush rainforests, unique wildlife, volcanic springs, living coral reefs, and the incomparable experience of sailing one of man's greatest achievements—the Canal itself.

What's more, your experience promises to be every bit as spectacular aboard these top-rated ships, with amenities such as award-winning cuisine, one of the finest spas at sea, and Celebrity's Star Treatment.®

Make plans now to sail Celebrity Infinity or Celebrity Constellation this winter or be among the first to book 2010/2011 sailings, as these new itineraries are now open for booking.

Choose from the following 2010/2011 itineraries:

Celebrity Infinity

16-Night Eastbound Panama Canal
September 24, 2010

Seattle, Washington • San Diego, California • Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Acapulco, Mexico • Huatulco, Mexico • Puntarenas, Costa Rica • Panama Canal
(Cruising) • Cristobal Pier, Panama • Cartagena, Colombia • Fort Lauderdale, Florida

14-Night Eastbound Panama Canal
October 24; November 21, 2010

Los Angeles, California • Cabo San Lucas, Mexico • Acapulco, Mexico
Huatulco, Mexico • Puntarenas, Costa Rica • Panama Canal (Cruising)
Cristobal Pier, Panama • Cartagena, Colombia • Fort Lauderdale, Florida

14-Night Eastbound Panama Canal
April 10, 2011

San Diego, California • Cabo San Lucas, Mexico • Acapulco, Mexico
Huatulco, Mexico • Puntarenas, Costa Rica • Panama Canal (Cruising)
Cristobal Pier, Panama • Cartagena, Colombia • Fort Lauderdale, Florida

14-Night Westbound Panama Canal
October 10; November 7, 2010

Fort Lauderdale, Florida • George Town, Grand Cayman • Cartagena, Colombia
Panama Canal (Cruising) • Puntarenas, Costa Rica • Huatulco, Mexico
Acapulco, Mexico • Cabo San Lucas, Mexico • Los Angeles, California

14-Night Westbound Panama Canal
March 27, 2011

Fort Lauderdale, Florida • George Town, Grand Cayman • Cartagena, Colombia
Panama Canal (Cruising) • Puntarenas, Costa Rica • Huatulco, Mexico
Acapulco, Mexico • Cabo San Lucas, Mexico • San Diego, California

16-Night Westbound Panama Canal
April 24, 2011

Fort Lauderdale, Florida • Cartagena, Colombia • Panama Canal (Cruising)
Puntarenas, Costa Rica • Acapulco, Mexico • Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
San Diego, California • Seattle, Washington

14-Night Canal & South America
December 5, 2010

Fort Lauderdale, Florida • Cartagena, Colombia • Panama Canal (Cruising)
Manta, Ecuador • Lima (Callao), Peru • Arica, Chile
La Serena (Coquimbo), Chile • Valparaiso, Chile

14-Night South America & Canal
March 13, 2011

Valparaiso, Chile • La Serena (Coquimbo), Chile • Arica, Chile • Lima (Callao), Peru
Manta, Ecuador • Panama Canal (Cruising) • Cristobal Pier, Panama
Cartagena, Colombia • Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Celebrity Mercury

16-Night Westbound Panama Canal
April 19, 2010

Charleston, South Carolina • Cartagena, Colombia • Panama Canal (Cruising)
Puntarenas, Costa Rica • Huatulco, Mexico • Acapulco, Mexico
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico • Los Angeles, California

17-Night Eastbound Panama Canal
October 1, 2010

San Diego, California • Cabo San Lucas, Mexico • Acapulco, Mexico
Huatulco, Mexico • Puntarenas, Costa Rica (overnight) • Panama Canal (Cruising)
Cartagena, Colombia • Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic • Baltimore, Maryland

Celebrity Millennium

10-Night Pacific Coastal Wine Cruise
September 17, 2010

Vancouver, British Columbia • Nanaimo, British Columbia • Victoria, British Columbia
Seattle, Washington • San Francisco, California (overnight) • Monterey, California
Catalina Island, California • San Diego, California

14-Night Eastbound Panama Canal
September 27, 2010

San Diego, California • Cabo San Lucas, Mexico • Acapulco, Mexico
Huatulco, Mexico • Puntarenas, Costa Rica • Panama Canal (Cruising) • Cristobal
Pier, Panama • Oranjestad, Aruba • Willemstad, Curacao • San Juan, Puerto Rico

Princess Announces 2010-11 Panama Canal & Coastals Program

2010-2011 Panama Canal & Coastals Program Opens

Princess® Cruises opened the bookings for Panama Canal and Coastals program for 2010-2011 starting today. In this post, I'll focus on the Panama Canal. This is one of the marvels in engineering in our world. If you've not been to the canal yet, you really should put this on your short list of cruise destinations to visit.

Get a Princess® Perspective on the Epic Panama Canal
It’s a modern wonder winding through 51 miles of jungle, mountain and granite to connect the world’s two greatest oceans —The Panama Canal. It’s also one of the most popular destinations for cruising, and is high on most travelers’ lists of the world’s “must-see” landmarks. Which is why Princess offers such a wide variety of ways to experience the Canal. In 2010 and 2011, you can join one of several incredible Princess itineraries to see its mighty locks up close. Choose voyages from10 to 19 days with either partial or full transit — or with a 2-Day Experience.

3 Ships, 5 Unique Itineraries

Princess® showcases mankind's greatest engineering feat on voyages ranging from 10 to 19 days.

Island and Coral Princess®, with over 700 balcony staterooms, are custom-built to traverse the canal, offering guests the chance to see the impressive locks of this modern marvel up close.

Sea Princess® offers over 400 balcony staterooms and features the outdoor big-screen sensation, Movies Under the Stars®. 2-Day Panama Canal Experience

2-day Canal Experience

Experience at the Panama Canal, available on all itineraries of 15 to 19 days. A full transit of the Canal is combined with a full day and overnight stay at Fuerte Amador on the Pacific side — giving you time to partake of such exciting shore excursions as a ride on the Panama Canal Railway, a tour of breathtaking Soberania National Park Rainforest, a visit to an authentic Embera Indian village or a trip into the bustling capital of Panama City. It’s the best way to experience both the Canal in all its engineering glory, and the scenic and cultural attractions of one of Central America’s most intriguing regions.

10-day roundtrip Panama Canal (Partial Transit)

Sailing roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale, this is a voyage as convenient and relaxing as it is wondrous. Your host is the lovely Island Princess,® a ship custom built for visiting the canal. Pass through the incredible Gatun Locks, where you’ll see the Canal in operation first-hand, and on to beautiful Gatun Lake. You’ll also enjoy islands in the turquoise Caribbean and a call in Costa Rica.

10-day Panama Canal Adventurer (Full Transit)

Enjoy the Canal as it was meant to be experienced by those who built it — with a full transit between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Sail between Ft. Lauderdale and Acapulco, visiting ports in the Caribbean, the Mexican Riviera and Central America including Jamaica’s wonderful Ocho Rios — home to the spectacular Dunn’s River Falls — Costa Rica’s Puntarenas, San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua and Huatulco, Mexico.

15- to 19-day Panama Canal cruises with 2-day Canal Experience
These are the best voyages for those who wish to immerse themselves in the history of the Canal and the natural beauty of the surrounding Central American scenery. Sail from 15 to 19 days between either Los Angeles, San Francisco or Vancouver and Ft. Lauderdale, with two full days in Panama to take in all the sights.

SEARCH FOR PANAMA/TRANSCANAL CRUISES (CLICK HERE)

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Why Not Panama Canal 2010

We've talked about Transtatlantic cruises which typically sail in the Spring from Florida to Europe and in the Fall from Europe to New York, Florida, or San Juan. These are known as repositioning cruises because the ship is changing its base of operations from one area of the globe to another.

These not the only repositioning cruises available throughout the year. Royal Caribbean International has just announced its 2010 15-Night Eastbound Panama Canal cruise for Fall 2010. It will be on Radiance of the Seas, September 24, 2010, and stop at the following ports:

San Diego, California • Cabo San Lucas, Mexico • Acapulco, Mexico • Huatulco, Mexico • Puntarenas, Costa Rica • Panama Canal (Cruising) • Cristobal Pier, Panama • Cartagena, Colombia • George Town, Grand Cayman • Tampa, Florida

As you can see, this particular sailing is a full transit of the Panama Canal. The cruise is sailing Eastbound from San Diego to Tampa, Florida. Typically you'll see the reverse itinerary in the Spring. In 2010, Royal Caribbean Jewel of the Seas has a March 11th sailing doing that itinerary.

Sailing through the Panama Canal is an experience that you will never forget. It is amazing to see the canal in operation. See my previous blog posting, Cruising the Panama Canal, for an account of one of our Panama Canal cruises.

As you plan your 2010-2011 cruise vacations, why not consider Panama Canal. The Radiance of the Seas is only one example of the cruises you can do. If 15 nights is too long for you, there are other possibilities which include a partial transit of the Panama Canal. Let me help you plan your visit to the Panama Canal. It is one of my favorite cruises, so I'd love to share more information with you.

Cruising Panama Canal

The sun is starting to rise. You are standing on the bow of your cruise ship along with many of your fellow passengers. There's excitement in the air as the ship approaches the locks. You yawn (did I mention it's 5 am?). The ship is about to transit the Panama Canal. This is a long process; it will take about 9 hours to complete the full transit.

Even though you have an aft balcony cabin, you wanted to watch from the bow, just like many other passengers. Everyone has carved out their own space along the railings, and things are orderly. Another ship is going through the locks at the same time. This is perfect since you'll be able to watch that ship as it completes its journey.

Five days ago, you sailed out of the Port of Miami for a 14 Night Western Panama Canal cruise. There were several choices when you booked your cruise, but you opted for the full transit which would go from Miami to San Diego. You've already completed three refreshing sea days and a stop in Aruba, so you are ready for the highlight of the cruise.

Since we were transiting the Canal from the Atlantic to the Pacific we entered the channel from Limon Bay at the Cristobal breakwater. This sea-level section of the Canal channel on the Atlantic side is 6 and a half miles long and 500 feet wide and runs through a mangrove swamp that is only a few feet above sea level in most places. Our ship was lowered 85 feet in a continuous flight of three steps at Gatun Locks. Each lock chamber is 110 feet wide and 1,000 feet long. The length of Gatun Locks, including approach walls, is one and a half miles.

Besides the locks themselves, the mules which pull the vessel through the locks, are probably the most interesting thing you see as the ship transits the canal. Since most cruise ships are PANAMAX, you'll be able to get very close to the mules, perhaps even being able to talk to one of the drivers.

After going through Gatun Locks, we entered Gatun Lake where we stayed until after lunch time. A Pacific-bound ship enters Pedro Miguel Locks at the south end of Gaillard Cut where it is lowered 31 feet in one step to Miraflores Lake, a small artifial body of water a mile wide that separates the two sets of Pacific locks. The length of Pedro Miguel Locks if 5/6 of a mile.

Shortly before 4 PM, we were lowered the remaining two steps to sea level at Miraflores Locks, which are slightly over a mile in length. The lock gates at Miraflores are the tallest of any in the system because of the extreme tidal variation in the Pacific Ocean.

Be sure to bring lots of sunscreen with you because the sun is extremely hot. The crew made several announcements throughout the day. Those that didn't heed the warning, looked like lobsters at the end of the day.

After completing our transit, our ship tendered near Fuerte Amador, Panama where passengers that wanted to go ashore were able to disembark. We would continue our journey westward around 11:30 PM.

As I mentioned earlier, there are several choices when considering a visit to the Panama Canal. If you don't have the time for a full transit, there are partial transits and some cruises which make a stop at a port near Miraflores Locks (Colon, Panama for example) so that you can visit the information center, see the locks and perhaps take a railway journey between two oceans.

The Panama Canal, which took 10 years to complete (1904-1914), is the 8th Wonder of the World and definitely should be on your must-see list.