Panama Canal & Central America

Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom. A beloved leisure destination for Floridians and visitors alike, the Ft. Lauderdale area exudes the carefree attitude of South Florida's coast. In Miami, a thriving Cuban culture infuses Old Havana and gleaming high-rises overlook Biscayne Bay. On the outlying barrier islands, South Beach is an intoxicating blend of seaside glamour and art deco pastel brilliance. Farther north, the seven-mile-long Ft. Lauderdale Beach provides a more leisurely ambience. Along Las Olas Boulevard, cafés and boutiques invite lingering and endless browsing.

Sail through turquoise waters where legends of marauding pirates, swashbucklers and tales of hidden treasures were born.

Learn about the delicate ecosystems of the Caribbean Sea that lie beneath the surface of these crystal clear, warm waters. These remarkable coral reefs are known as the “rainforests of the sea.”

Jamaica is renowned for its relaxed island atmosphere and lively rhythms. Its main port of Montego Bay is home to lively resorts and soft-sand beaches. The birthplace of reggae, the island still celebrates its most famous native son, Bob Marley. Jamaica's plantation past is on display at the Rose Hall Great House, an elegant, late 18th-century Georgian mansion. The fascinating house chronicles life during a turbulent time in Jamaica's history and tells the story of the “White Witch,” whose voodoo practices gave rise to the legend of the White Witch of Rose Hall.

Fed by the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean covers nearly 1.1 million square miles and boasts a depth of approximately 25,000 feet below sea level at its deepest point in the Cayman Trench.

Forty-eight miles long, the Panama Canal crosses the narrowest stretch of the Isthmus of Panama. Witnessing this engineering marvel at work is truly memorable. A partial crossing to the Gatun Lake transits through a series of three locks that lift and lower ships 85 feet from sea level, guided by electric locomotives known as mulas. Far from the mechanics of the locks' chambers, the canal is embraced by the lush beauty of the surrounding countryside.

Colón lies near the Panama Canal's Atlantic entrance. During the California gold rush, prospectors from the eastern United States sailed here, trekked across the narrow isthmus of Panama, then sailed up the Pacific coast, believing the journey easier than traversing the entire United States. Indigenous tribes maintain a strong presence in this northern corner of Panama. In the city's rural reaches, the Emberá people—descended from ancient tribes—live in thatched-roof huts, travel by dugout canoe and weave traditional baskets.

Puerto Limón is the gateway to one of the world's most biodiverse countries. In 1502, Christopher Columbus landed on the nearby island of Isla Uvita. Puerto Limón boasts a diversity of its own. Italian, Jamaican and Chinese residents descended from immigrants who came here to lay the railroad to San José in the late 19th century. Coffee exports from the highlands, and the later arrival of the United Fruit Company, helped to bolster the local economy. Today, a rich Afro-Caribbean heritage is prevalent, with many speaking a creole form of English, Limonese Creole.

The Caribbean Sea has been recognized the world over for its rich biodiversity. More than 10,000 marine species thrive in its waters, which are also home to approximately 10 percent of the Earth's coral reefs.

Roatán is part of the Bay Islands and a snorkeler's paradise. The reefs that skirt its archipelago boast the highest diversity of corals in the Caribbean. Its botanical and butterfly gardens host an astonishing array of tropical plants and multihued winged creatures. More than a tropical playground, the Bay Islands have a rich history of Spanish, British and French presence, as all of them vied for land with the indigenous Caribs. Over the decades, settlers from around the world put down roots in this island paradise and established a successful fruit trade industry.

Inhabited by the Maya for more than 5,000 years, Belize is home to more than a dozen remarkable ruins. At the ancient site of Altun Ha, one of Central America's most accessible archaeological treasures, several Mesoamerican temple-pyramids stand as testaments to an advanced civilization. Its most famous, the Temple of the Masonry Altars, is 54 feet tall. Offshore, Belize boasts another spectacular wonder: the famous Great Blue Hole. Just off Ambergris Caye, this natural phenomenon is a breathtaking chute in the middle of a shallow lagoon and paradise for diving enthusiasts.

The island of Cozumel holds the keys to many of the most intriguing secrets of Mexico's ancient civilizations. At San Gervasio, pre-Columbian women made offerings to Ix Chel, goddess of the moon and fertility. More recently, the Spanish left marks of their early presence in the colorful colonial architecture and lively traditions of San Miguel and at the scenic lighthouse at Punta Sur. Today, this island off Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula attracts as many snorkelers as it does history buffs; the Cozumel Reefs National Marine Park is the world's second-largest coral reef system.

Bid farewell to your fellow guests and journey home. Or spend more time exploring, perhaps joining one of our extensions.