Q – (5.16.25) – There is this bucket list idea that originated with my lovely wife that we need to cruise through the Panama Canal. I am a Construction Engineer by trade and I have read a bit about the construction phase and I am also intrigued. We were directed to your website because you only evaluate and list sailings for the world’s top ten lines. We want to do a Canal cruise in February but all we could find was a ship operated by StarPride Cruises. We have never heard of them and they are not on your list. Meanwhile, I could not find a single alternative. What is going on here? Is your site just wrong?
A – You have actually uncovered a rather remarkable trend among cruisers. Panama Canal cruises were extremely popular at one time providing ports on either side of the journey in Mexico and the Caribbean. But a regular series of high-end ships doing a “season” of Canal cruising really boils down to one current option – Windstar Cruises and their ship the the Star Pride. It carries fewer than 400 guests and cruises between Costa Rice and Panama.
Here are some key ports:
- Colon, Panama – The starting point for many itineraries.
- Panama Canal – A full daylight transit through the canal.
- Balboa, Panama – A gateway to Panama City.
- Isla Parida, Panama – A secluded island with pristine beaches.
- Golfo Dulce (Puerto Jimenez), Costa Rica – A biodiverse rainforest region.
- Quepos, Costa Rica – Near Manuel Antonio National Park.
- Puntarenas, Costa Rica – The final stop for some itineraries.
The Windstar Product is not among the Top Ten Ranked Cruise lines but they are in the top fifteen. Their itineraries and food, including outdoor dining, get high marks. The ship itself was formerly owned by Seabourn Cruises where it sailed the world.
These days, the top-ranked cruise lines (www.cruisetruth.com) only sail through the Canal on repositioning cruises between the US and Europe. These twice-a-year sailings normally take place in April and October to allow for the resumption of summer and winter sailing schedules.
The major cruise lines believe that demand for Canal cruises has dropped substantially during the past decade. Executives believe that this is more a comment on the ports surrounding this itinerary than it is about the Canal itself.
