Cruising through the Panama Canal will be one of the unforgettable experiences of your voyage.It takes approximately eight hours to navigate the 50-mile waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, allowing you to experience firsthand one of the engineering marvels of the 20th century. Completed in 1914, the canal marks the culmination of a dream born in 1513, when Balboa became the first European to cross the Isthmus of Panama and sight the Pacific. In 1880 Ferdinand de Lesseps and the French Canal company, builders of the Suez Canal, began construction in Panama, only to be defeated by disease, staggering cost overruns, and massive engineering problems. The French sold their claim and properties to the United States for $40 million, a staggering loss of $247 million on their investment. The United States began construction in 1904, completing the project in 10 years at a cost of $387 million. Building the canal meant solving three problems: engineering, sanitation, and organization. The project, for example, required carving a channel through the Continental Divide and creating the then-largest man-made lake ever built, as well as defeating yellow fever and other tropical maladies. The United States oversaw the operation of the Panama Canal until December 31, 1999, when the Republic of Panama assumed responsibility for the canal's administration. The Panamanian government controls the canal through the Panama Canal Authority, an independent government agency created for the purpose of managing the canal.PLEASE NOTE: A full transit of the Panama Canal provides guests the opportunity to enjoy this engineering marvel and the beautiful nature surrounding it. Guests will spend this day onboard the ship. Shore excursions will not be offered as the ship spends the majority of the day transiting the canal and its three sets of locks.
Pricing per person based on double occupancy:
Interior Prices starting at $1,524.00
Oceanview Prices starting at $1,754.00
Balcony Prices starting at $2,579.00
Rates are cruise only and per person based on double occupancy. Airfare, insurance, and transfers are at an additional cost. Travel insurance is highly recommended, ask your travel agent for details.
Passports are required and must be valid for six months after return date. Check CIBT.com for Visa Requirements
MEMBERSHIP CREDITS CANNOT BE USED FOR THIS VACATION
Itineraries are subject to change; port sequence, scheduled time, and/or day. For the most updated cruise information, please visit www.princess.com.
Travel specials are subject to availability and rates are subject to change. Global Connections is not responsible for publishing/printing errors.