Holland America Line takes passengers on an awe-inspiring voyage from Vancouver down the Pacific coast and through the bucket-list Panama Canal for just over $150 per day this fall.
Passengers will enjoy cruising the rugged Pacific Northwest coastline down to dreamy stops in southern California before embarking on the balmy shores of Mexico.
The cruise also includes a few intriguing ports in Central America before making a full transit through the Panama Canal, considered a marvel of engineering and a favourite voyage of cruise enthusiasts.
Guests will sail on the five-star Eurodam, lauded for its elegant decor, world-class entertainment, and BBC Earth experiences. It is the line's first Signature Class cruise ship, offering room for 2,104 passengers, two swimming pools, a basketball court, a tennis court, a supervised youth program, a movie theatre, an arcade, a full-service spa, and a disco.
Panama Canal voyage itinerary from Vancouver
The cruise departs from Canada Place on Oct. 5 at 7 a.m., however, it officially commences in Seattle the previous day. Travellers who prefer to start south of the border can select Seattle as the departure city instead (this itinerary has been priced for Vancouverites).
After two days at sea, the ship stops in Santa Barbara and San Diego in California (each stop allows about eight hours in port). After another pair of sea days, passengers wake up in sunny Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where they'll spend a day exploring the vibrant resort town.
After one sea day, the ship stops in another Mexican city, Huatulco, before sailing to the final Mexican stop on the itinerary, Puerto Chiapas.
Cruises spend a day in Guatemala's Puerto Quetzal on Oct. 16 before visiting Acajutla in El Salvador. After one day at sea, the ship stops in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, where passengers can explore the tropical rainforest.
After another day at sea, the cruise makes a full transit through the awe-inspiring Panama Canal. The final port of call on the itinerary is Aruba, famous for its palm tree-lined shores, glamorous high-rise buildings, and coral-pink flamingos that wade into its crystal-clear waters.
Passengers disembark the ship in Fort Lauderdale Florida on Oct. 26.
| Date | Port | Arrive | Depart |
| Sun., Oct. 5 | Vancouver | 7 a.m. | 3 p.m. |
| Mon., Oct. 6 | At Sea | ||
| Tues., Oct. 7 | At Sea | ||
| Wed., Oct. 8 | Santa Barbara | 8 a.m. | 4 p.m. |
| Thurs., Oct. 9 | San Diego | 9 a.m. | 5 p.m. |
| Fri., Oct. 10 | At Sea | ||
| Sat., Oct. 11 | At Sea | ||
| Sun., Oct. 12 | Puerto Vallarta | 8 a.m. | 5 p.m. |
| Mon., Oct. 13 | At Sea | ||
| Tues., Oct. 14 | Huatulco | 10 a.m. | 6 p.m. |
| Wed., Oct. 15 | Puerto Chiapas | 8 a.m. | 5 p.m. |
| Thurs., Oct. 16 | Puerto Quetzal | 8 a.m. | 6 p.m. |
| Fri., Oct. 17 | Acajutla | 7 a.m. | 6 p.m. |
| Sat., Oct. 18 | At Sea | ||
| Sun., Oct. 19 | Puntarenas | 8 a.m. | 6 p.m. |
| Mon., Oct. 20 | At Sea | ||
| Tues., Oct. 21 | Panama Canal | ||
| Wed., Oct. 22 | At Sea | ||
| Thurs., Oct. 23 | Aruba | 8 a.m. | 5 p.m. |
| Fri., Oct. 24 | At Sea | ||
| Sat., Oct. 25 | At Sea | ||
| Sun., Oct. 26 | Fort Lauderdale | 7 a.m. |
Vancouver cruise with Holland America Line through the Panama Canal
Holland America Line is known for its mid-size vessels that can navigate this trim terrain.
Fans of the cruise line typically enjoy sailing on ships they can become well acquainted with during the voyage and relish opportunities to speak with the captain and cruise director.
Holland offers several different cabins on the Eurodam, including inside (the lowest price), ocean view, verandah (balcony), signature suite, and the Neptune suite (the most posh selection).
The cost of the cruise includes meals, entertainment, transportation, and accommodation. It doesn't include specialty dining, alcohol, excursions, WiFi, or tips. Travellers planning to add these extras may want to purchase a package before the cruise. The premium cruise package provides 50 per cent off these items when purchased in advance (see image 4 in gallery).
The total cost for an inside cabin for two passengers is $6,843.58 or $3,421.79 per person. That price works out to roughly $162.94 per diem, per person for the 21-night sailing (see image 5 in gallery).
Prices for one-way flights from Fort Lauderdale to Vancouver with one short stopover cost around $240 (and there are several carriers to choose from).
Travellers should stay at least one night in a hotel post-cruise to prevent missing flights or at the very least get one departing late in the day. The cruise could arrive late and it also takes some time to disembark and get to the airport (see image 6 in gallery).
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