Caribbean Cruise to Costa Rica & the Panama Canal with Miami Beach

Trade the midwinter weather for a tour and cruise holiday taking in Florida’s East Coast, the Caribbean Sea, Costa Rica and Panama, home to its world-famous canal. Starting with two days in Fort Lauderdale, you’ll have opportunities to enjoy some downtime by the coast before getting a taste of life in Miami with a tour of renowned South Beach and lively Little Havana. You’ll then board your ship from Holland America Line’s award-winning fleet, ahead of a stop in the Bahamas. After taking in Half Moon Cay’s coastal havens, head south to Willemstad, a pretty retreat on palm-studded Curacao (or Aruba for 2027 departures). Afterwards, continue to the Colombian port city of Cartagena, where you’ll discover its old town, before sailing for the passage into the historic Panama Canal.

Entering via the port town of Cristobal, which is set on the outskirts of Colón, you’ll pass through the interlocking waterways that cuts Central America in two. There will be plenty of wildlife-spotting opportunities as you cross Gatun Lake, which was once the world’s largest artificial lake, and will showcase the diverse architecture of Panama City. Heading back to Cristobal, you’ll then visit Puerto Limón, the gateway to Costa Rica’s verdant Caribbean coast. Afterwards, cruise to the capital of the Cayman Islands, George Town, where you’ll have ample time under your own steam to explore before sailing northwards back to Florida. A final two days at leisure await in Fort Lauderdale, and you can join an optional tour of the Everglades and Palm Beach.

What's Included:

• Four nights’ room-only accommodation in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, plus one night on the aircraft
• 12 nights’ full-board accommodation onboard your Holland America Line cruise ship
• Tour of Miami South Beach and Little Havana
• Visits to Half Moon Cay
• Stops in Willemstad (2026 departures) or Aruba (2027), and Cartagena
• Cruise along the Panama Canal and Gatun Lake
• Call at Cristobal and Colón
• Ship visit to Puerto Limón (San José)
• Call at Grand Cayman
• Return flights to Miami
• Comfortable coach transfers and luxury cruise amenities throughout
• Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager

Highlights:

• Unwind amongst the tropical beaches and cabanas of Half Moon Cay, one of the Bahama’s scenic private islands.
• Take in the magnificent Panama Canal, a wonder of 19th-century engineering.
• Savour luxury at sea with a 12-night full-board cruise onboard your Holland America Line ship.
• Explore Cartagena’s remarkably well-preserved 17th-century buildings and take in its major sights in the city’s walled old town.
• Marvel at Collins Avenue’s art-deco masterpieces in Miami’s South Beach and explore Latin American culture with a visit to Little Havana
• Enjoy thrilling animal encounters on an optional airboat ride through the Everglades National Park
• Discover charming Cristobal, the gateway to the Panama Canal, and introduce yourself to Panamanian culture with a brief stop in nearby Colón
• Embrace the Dutch Caribbean’s laid-back atmosphere, visiting vibrant Curacao, (2026 departures), or Aruba’s charming beachfront towns (2027)
• Soak up panoramic views of Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast and its original colonial-era landmarks
• Learn about Cayman Islands’ past with a visit to George Town, Grand Cayman’s capital, and explore at leisure or on an optional tour

Day 1: Fly to Miami

Touch down on Florida’s East Coast today and meet your friendly local tour manager upon arrival. You’ll then transfer to your four-star hotel in Fort Lauderdale for check-in ahead of an afternoon at leisure to settle in.

Day 2: Arrival in Florida and included tour of Miami

Today, you’ll head south to cosmopolitan Miami, a city of art-deco skyscrapers and pristine white-sand beaches.

Start with a visit to South Beach. The main thoroughfare, Collins Avenue, is famed for its high-end boutiques, lively bars and iconic architecture, which showcases over 800 art-deco buildings and hotels. You’ll have some time here to soak up the atmosphere, perhaps browsing the local stores or taking a stroll along the nearby seafront, before continuing to Little Havana.

Here, amongst the neighbourhood’s bustling Latin bars and stores, you’ll enjoy an authentic introduction to South and Central American culture. Having become a cultural hub for thousands of Cuban exiles throughout the 1960s, this energetic corner of Miami remains a popular tourist hotspot, and you’ll have the rest of the afternoon to embrace its cultural highlights.

Day 3: Board your Holland America Line ship

Your third day in Florida marks the start of your Caribbean cruise. Spend a final few hours ashore this morning before heading to the port to board your cruise ship.

After checking into your cabin, you’ll have the rest of the day free and can get acquainted with the on-board amenities before watching the sun go down over the Atlantic as you cruise south.

Day 4: Call at Half Moon Cay, Bahamas

Your first shore excursions await today in Half Moon Cay, a serene private island in the heart of the idyllic Bahamas. Known for its white-sand beaches, turquoise lagoons and the cabanas that dot its palm-lined beaches, the island is a popular port of call on any cruise itinerary, and you’ll be well-placed to enjoy its finest coastal vistas.

While exploring this Bahamian island, you can also join a range of optional activities offered by Holland America Line, including boat snorkelling, horseback riding and a stingray feeding experience in a nearby cove.

Day 5: Day at sea

Wake up to views of the glittering Caribbean Sea ahead of a full day at leisure as your ship travels south. Take advantage of the ship’s on-board amenities, from its live entertainment venues and sundeck cinemas to its fitness suites and swimming pools.
You’ll also have access to a range of award-winning restaurants, whether you’re in the mood for casual street food or a more refined dining experience.

Day 6: Day at sea

Another full-day's sailing awaits this morning and you’ll be free to spend it as you see fit. If you haven’t already, be sure to visit one of the ship’s entertainment areas for daily interactive shows, including sing-alongs and quiz evenings, or settle in for a seminar at The World Stage theatre.

Day 7: Call at Willemstad, Curaçao

On departures in 2026, tropical Curaçao, a Dutch Caribbean haven, will be yours to explore this morning with a call at colourful Willemstad. Known for its pastel-coloured houses, this impressive coastal town promises the perfect setting for laid-back Caribbean exploration. While ashore, you’ll be free to explore on your own time, taking in the city’s easy-going atmosphere, or sampling some of the nation’s famous blue liqueur.

If you’d like, you can also join an optional excursion, covering the best of Curaçao’s rich cultural highlights. Pay a visit to one of the island’s rural ostrich farms, with an additional stop at a nearby aloe plantation and time to witness the town’s most significant landmarks under guidance.
After an engaging day's exploration in Willemstad, continue west to Colombia.

Please note: 2027 departures will visit Aruba, with a stop at the town of Oranjestad, instead of Cuaracao today. Boasting a number of pristine white-sand beaches and rugged cactus-lined terrain in land, Aruba’s striking natural landscapes will be yours to enjoy with a full day at leisure. Vibrant Oranjestad, with its pastel-coloured buildings also offer exciting opportunities to explore, and there will be a host of options available too.

Day 8: Day at sea

Relax with another full day at sea today, perhaps sipping a cocktail on the sundeck or catching some live entertainment in the Rolling Stone Lounge. If you haven’t already, you can also find a number of shops below deck, or try your luck at a few rounds of cards in the ship’s casino.

Day 9: Call at Cartagena, Colombia

Today’s shore excursion will introduce you to Cartagena, one of South America’s oldest original settlements. With its convenient access to the Caribbean, and the string of defensible island forts that guarded its shores, Cartagena was one of the continent’s most affluent trading ports throughout the Age of Exploration. See the city’s maritime heritage reflected in the grand architecture and imposing walls of the city’s old town and explore its bustling street markets and historic landmarks at leisure.

You can also join another range of optional activities, including guided walking tours of the city, a traditional jewellery-making class and a visit to the National Aviary of Colombia for sights of some of South America’s most exotic native birds.

Later this afternoon, return to sea and continue your journey west.

Day 10: Cruise to Panama Canal Cristobal, Gaturn Lake, and included stop at Colón

One of your cruise’s unmissable highlights awaits today, sailing along the historic Panama Canal. You’ll arrive at the harbour town of Cristobal in the early morning before passing through the canal’s impressive series of locks - each one weighing over 750 tonnes! As you move through the Canal’s walls, your crew will be on hand to offer intriguing insights into the history, function and cultural importance of this engineering marvel. Built in the late 19th century, the canal is a symbol of modern engineering and has become one of the world’s most important shipping lanes, offering sailors a safer and more efficient route between the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean.

After some time, you’ll enter the open waters of Gatun Lake, which was once the world’s largest man-made body of water, for the next leg of your voyage through Panama. As you pass along its banks, keep an eye out for Gatun’s intriguing local wildlife, from the American crocodiles that prowl its waters to the sloths and monkeys that reside in the nearby trees.

Towards the end of today’s cruise, you’ll pass the national capital, Panama City, where towering modern skyscrapers seamlessly blend with the centuries-old architecture of Casco Viejo, the city’s historic Spanish old town. MS Rotterdam will then turn around and offer you more incredible views as she heads back to Cristobal for a brief evening’s visit to Colón. You’ll be free to see the city’s coastal landmarks under the setting sun.

Later, settle back into your cabin for an overnight sailing north.

Day 11: Call at Puerto Limón, Costa Rica

Wake up on Costa Rica’s delightful Caribbean coast in Puerto Limón, one of the country’s most popular cities. View the lush Balvanero Vargas Park, named after the city’s governor who ordered its construction, or soak up the sun on the city’s beachfront areas.

Optional excursions today include an amazing opportunity to cruise through the biodiverse lagoons and turtle-rich nesting grounds of Tortuguero National Park with a short journey further up the coast. Elsewhere, a scenic drive past the stilted houses of Puerto Limón’s Cieneguita neighbourhood promises a taste of traditional Costa Rican and Afro-Caribbean culture, culminating in a live dance performance. For a more relaxing day’s activity, tours of Puerto Limón’s nearby plantations and haciendas are also available.

Day 12: Day at sea

Another full day’s sailing includes more opportunities to enjoy the first-class onboard amenities and you’ll be free to do as much or as little as you like. If you haven’t already, you could try your hand at pickleball on the top deck or learn more about the Caribbean’s storied past with a talk at the World Stage auditorium.

Day 13: Call at George Town, Cayman Islands

Grand Cayman will be yours to explore this morning as you dock in the islands’ elegant capital, George Town. This exquisite seaside town boasts a remarkable collection of original 19th-century buildings, amongst the boutiques of Cardinall Avenue, and is renowned for the untouched natural beauty of its clear-water beaches. If you’d prefer a closer look at life in the Caribbean, the Cayman Islands National Museum promises an introduction to the islands’ settlement and modern history.

Those looking to tick a few more experiences off their holiday wish-list can opt to board a semi-submersible for a boat tour of the island’s coral reefs or visit the Cayman Turtle Centre to meet the islands’ sea creatures. There will also be the opportunity to discover Grand Cayman’s rum-producing heritage with a tour and tasting at local distillery.

Day 14: Day at sea

Spend your final day at sea as you see fit with a full day under your own steam.

Day 15: Call at Fort Lauderdale

Rise to the sights and sounds of the Floridian coast as you return to Fort Lauderdale. After disembarking, return to your Fort Lauderdale Beach hotel for a further two nights.
After checking back in, you’ll have the remainder of the day at leisure.

Day 16: Optional Everglades airboat tour and Palm Beach visit or day at leisure

Join an optional venture into Florida’s wild Everglades today, the largest subtropical area in the United States, on an airboat excursion.
Arriving at the Everglades National Park, step aboard a traditional airboat before heading deep into the heart of the reserve’s mangrove swamps. Amongst these wetland stretches, your expert guide will introduce you to the region’s local wildlife, offering up-close looks at the alligators, water snakes and various bird species.

Next, head for the coast with a stop in Palm Beach, one of Florida’s most popular beachfront areas. Separated from the mainland, this artistic haven is a popular winter retreat for locals and snowbirds alike, showcasing a wide range of ornate 1920s architecture amongst its trendy boutiques and galleries. Here, you’ll have also the chance to view the striking Breakers Hotel with its impressive Renaissance-revival facades.

Later, back in Fort Lauderdale, wind down on the seafront, and perhaps find dinner in one of the city’s local restaurants.

Day 17: Morning at leisure and fly back to the UK

Spend a final few hours enjoying the sunshine today before heading to the airport for your overnight flight.

Day 18: Land back in the UK

Land back in the UK after your overnight return flight.