Panama Canal & the Americas

Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom. Chile's modern capital of Santiago is one of the largest cities in the Americas. Its impressive neoclassical, neo-Gothic, art deco and other architecture spans several centuries. Santiago's gateway, Valparaíso, is often compared to San Francisco for its many cerros, or hills. The city prospered as a major port until the opening of the Panama Canal rendered it unnecessary. Quaint Victorian-era architecture recalling its 19th-century affluence and steeply sloped barrios are linked by ascensores, or funiculars, and winding byways. From Los Cerros, the views are spectacular.

Sail Mar Pacífico, meaning “peaceful sea,” dubbed by Ferdinand Magellan when he crossed these waters almost 500 years ago.

Traverse the world's largest ocean, which covers almost 64 million square miles. At twice the size of the Atlantic, the Pacific is an ocean of extremes.

Iquique enjoys a scenic locale between the Pacific Ocean and the Pampa del Tamarugal, a vast plateau within the Atacama Desert. This bustling city was once part of Peru and grew prosperous from saltpeter mining. It was ceded to Chile in 1883 after the War of the Pacific. Today, Iquique boasts many architectural treasures around its central Arturo Prat Square, from the stately Municipal Theater and the elegant Casino Español to a Gothic and Moorish-style Clock Tower. The city's well-preserved Georgian-style homes are a picturesque legacy from the 19th-century mining boom.

Sail the Pacific Ocean, its vast expanse of waters covers more than 30 percent of the Earth's surface and touches the continents of Asia, Australia, North and South America.

Cross the Pacific Ocean and learn about its fascinating geology, with more than 75,000 volcanoes—many still active—reaching up from its depths.

Lima was founded in 1535 by Francisco Pizzaro as La Ciudad de los Reyes, or “City of Kings.” It soon grew into the capital of Spain's Viceroyalty of Peru and established the oldest university in the Americas, the National University of San Marcos. One of the most cosmopolitan cities in South America, Lima's extravagant collection of architecture spans the centuries: early colonial, Spanish baroque, neoclassical and Art Nouveau buildings all adorn the cityscape. The historic center, graced with hundreds of balconies built during the viceroyalty era, is a UNESCO Site.

The Pacific Ocean may have been officially discovered in 1521, yet early civilizations have been traversing these waters since 3000 BC.

Panama City is a gleaming city of high rises on the Pacific and gracefully blends new and old. At once a rousing tribute to international finance and a rich reminder of a colonial past, it is Central America's unparalleled cosmopolitan center. The atmospheric Old Town, the Casco Viejo, straddles a peninsula and hosts some of the nation's most prized cultural and historic treasures, including churches, palaces and plazas. Nearby, one of the world's greatest engineering feats, the Panama Canal, conveys ships along its 48 miles to the Caribbean Sea.

The Panama Canal connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, crossing the narrowest stretch of the Isthmus of Panama. A full transit through the 48-mile-long canal takes around eight to ten hours and passes through the Gatun Lake and the Culebra Cut, an artificial valley that runs through the Continental Divide. An engineering marvel of the 20th century, the crossing passes through a series of locks that lift and lower ships 85 feet from sea level, guided by electric locomotives known as mulas. The Panama Canal transit is a rite of passage and a truly memorable experience.

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

Port Antonio is the capital of Portland Parish and is home to some of Jamaica's most stunning beauty spots. Visitors can enjoy nature in the island's lush rainforests, or soak up the vistas from the shores of one of Jamaica's pristine beaches; Frenchman's Cove Beach and San San Beach are renowned for their stunning beauty and are ideal spots to while away a tranquil afternoon. The island's iconic Blue Lagoon offers a unique bathing experience due to its mix of hot and cold waters, fed by an underwater spring, and provides the perfect place to snorkel or swim.

Man of War Bay is nestled within the serene expanse of the largely uninhabited Great Inagua Island. It boasts a captivating landscape, where turquoise waters lap white-sand shores, framed by lush greenery and rugged terrain. Surrounded by mangroves and saltwater flats, the bay nurtures a diverse ecosystem. Its pristine waters harbor an array of marine life, including vibrant corals and tropical fish. The surrounding wetlands are home to numerous bird species, notably flamingos, which flock to the bay's shores, creating a picturesque scene with their striking pink plumage.

San Salvador, part of the Bahamas archipelago, is a hidden gem blessed with natural beauty and historical significance. Its pristine white sandy beaches and clear waters paint a serene landscape. The island's diverse marine life, from shallow-water coral reefs to blue holes, entices both divers and snorkelers alike, while its untouched landscapes full of lush coastal areas and serene cays attract nature enthusiasts seeking tranquility. According to some historical accounts, the island was also the site of Christopher Columbus's first landfall in the Americas in 1492.

Sail the Atlantic Ocean, divided in half, north to south, by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Longer than the Rockies, the Himalayas and the Andes combined, this underwater mountain range is the longest on Earth.

Sail legendary waters, where medieval Europeans believed “there be dragons” beyond the ocean's horizon.

The nutrient-rich waters of the Atlantic Ocean are home to more than half of the world's fisheries, annually providing millions of tons of fish and other marine species for human consumption and industrial purposes.

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