17 hours Ago By USA TODAY
Travelers can pack Caribbean, Latin America and American West Coast vacations into one on a new Holland America Line cruise. The cruise line will offer a 21-day Panama Canal itinerary in 2027, taking guests from Florida to Canada with a wide range of stops in between. Along with transiting the waterway , guests will visit Aruba, Mexico, California and many other destinations.
“It’s easy to understand why the Panama Canal – one of the wonders of the modern world – is on the top of so many of our guests’ bucket lists,” Paul Grigsby, the line’s vice president of revenue planning and analytics, told USA TODAY in an email. “This itinerary not only takes travelers through the famous and historic locks, but also gives them the chance to experience exhilarating ports of call in eight countries – all while beginning and ending their journey in convenient North American homeports.” Here’s what guests can expect.
When is Holland America’s 21-day Panama Canal cruise? The cruise will depart on April 11, 2027, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, aboard the line’s 2,106-guest Nieuw Amsterdam ship. Where will the cruise go? Passengers will begin their sailing in the Caribbean, stopping in Oranjestad in Aruba before making their way to the Panama Canal. After transiting from Cristobal to Balboa, the ship will visit Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Acajutla in El Salvador; and Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala.
Guests can visit multiple UNESCO World Heritage Sites along the way, such as El Salvador’s Joya de Ceren Archaeological Site , containing the remains of a pre-Hispanic farming community that was buried under a volcanic eruption. The itinerary – along with other select Panama Canal cruises in 2026 and 2027 – will also include a return to Acapulco, Mexico, for Holland America. “It’s the first time our ships will call in nearly 15 years,” Grigsby said.
“Visiting will open up so many opportunities for our guests as the port – nearly 500 years old – is the gateway to stunning beaches, ancient ruins and culinary delights.” Other Mexico ports will include Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas, followed by San Diego, California. Victoria in Canada will round out the schedule before the cruise ends in Vancouver.
Holland America will also offer a similar itinerary making the reverse journey from Vancouver to Fort Lauderdale in September 2026. A different way to travel: What it's like to sail Panama, Costa Rica How much does the cruise cost? The cruise starts at $3,339 per person based on double occupancy, including taxes and fees. Holland America fares include accommodations, many meals onboard, live entertainment and more.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Caribbean to West Coast: 21-day Holland America cruise sailing in 2027.
