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Panama Canal – Miami to San Juan

Holland America Line

Join Holland America Line for a 15-night cruise departing from Miami, Florida, visiting Cartagena, Colombia, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, Acajutla, El Salvador, Puerto Quetzal, Santa Cruz, Mexico, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Cabo San Lucas and San Diego, California. Enjoy luxurious accommodations and world-class amenities.

Departure date

31 January 2026

Cabins

Inside from

3,697pp

Outside from

4,076pp

Balcony from

4,835pp

Suite from

6,099pp

Prices do not include flights.
Call us to add flights, hotels and transfers.

Quote Reference number: 353977-2143375

All prices are subject to availability

Your Holiday Summary

Departure - Arrival
31 Jan 2026 - 15 Feb 2026
Duration
16 days, 15 nights
Sailing
7 sea days
Departure Port
Miami, Florida
Call us to quote and add flights

Travelling Itinerary

Day 1
Miami

Departure: at 16:00

Welcome aboard! Today marks the beginning of your unforgettable cruise holiday. Take time to explore the ship, unwind, and soak in the excitement of what’s to come. Your holiday starts now.

Day 2
At Sea

Arrival:
Departure:

Day 3
At Sea

Arrival:
Departure:

Day 4
Cartagena, Colombia

Arrival: at 07:00
Departure: at 13:00

Its official name is Cartagena de Indias—or "Cartagena of the Indies"—but call it Cartagena for short. The formal name hints at this Colombian city's colonial relationship with Spain; it was founded in 1533 and named after the mother country's Cartagena. Colombia declared independence in 1810, but there's plenty about its fifth-largest city that evokes old Spain, including the impressive fort of Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, and the wall that encloses the old town, one of the few intact structures of its kind in the Americas. Both were considered important enough to inscribe on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1984. They may be historical artifacts, but the fortress and wall aren't merely tourist attractions; they are central to daily life here. Take a stroll and you'll see couples sitting atop the wall, locked in passionate embraces; parents watching their children walk it like a balance beam; and friends chatting while enjoying the Caribbean breeze. Along with history, there's cultural and culinary intrigue here, too. This colorful city was a muse of the late Nobel Prize–winning writer Gabriel García Márquez, and is increasingly being recognized outside Colombia for its cuisine, which takes many cues from Caribbean ingredients. (Don't leave without trying the coconut rice.)

Day 5
Enter Panama Canal at Cristobal

Arrival: at 06:00
Departure:

Day 5
Transit Panama Canal

Arrival:
Departure:

Day 5
Exit Panama Canal Balboa

Arrival:
Departure: at 18:00

Day 6
At Sea

Arrival:
Departure:

Day 7
Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Arrival: at 08:00
Departure: at 18:00

Yet another chance to witness the wonders of eco-rich Costa Rica. Or tour to Sarchi, where the painting of oxcarts has evolved to high art.

Day 8
At Sea

Arrival:
Departure:

Day 9
Acajutla, El Salvador

Arrival: at 08:00
Departure: at 17:00

Day 10
Puerto Quetzal

Arrival: at 06:00
Departure: at 16:00

In the cultured little country of Guatemala modern Maya still weave their stories on backstrap looms, and the great stone temples of Tikal stand in silent testament to ancient Mayan ingenuity. Sample shore excursions: Casa Santa Domingo & Antigua; Lake Atitlan & Highlands; Finca Coffee Plantation Tour; Tikal Expedition by Air.

Day 11
Huatulco

Arrival: at 11:00
Departure: at 17:00

Everything you ever wanted in a seaside resort: warm sun, sandy beaches and nine beautiful bays rimmed in every shade of blue. Nearby: low-growth caducifolia jungles teeming with birdlife and the nesting grounds of endangered sea turtles. Sample shore excursions: Five Bays by Catamaran; Horseback Riding; Bird-watching Eco Tour; ATV Jungle Adventure.

Day 12
At Sea

Arrival:
Departure:

Day 13
Puerto Vallarta

Arrival: at 08:00
Departure: at 15:00

Unique compared to Acapulco, Cancún, Zihuatanejo and several other coastal resort towns in Mexico—many of which were created by the government as planned communities—Puerto Vallarta ("PV" to locals), on the Pacific Ocean, retains quite a bit of its colonial-era charm. Its town square, Plaza de Armas, and the gorgeous parish church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, topped with an ornate crown and overlooking the port, serve as the loveliest representations of bygone ages. While on your Puerto Vallarta cruise, we take you alongside these echoes of the past are more modern attractions, including an ambitious public art project along the seaside walkway (the malecón) and trendy restaurants such as La Leche, serving contemporary Mexican cuisine. Round these out with plenty of fun-in-the-sun outdoor activities on and along Banderas Bay (whale-watching! snorkeling! jet-skiing!), excursions that reveal the best of Puerto Vallarta's flora and fauna, and a side trip to one of Mexico's pueblos mágicos (magical towns, a designation conferred by the government to recognize smaller towns that possess historical and cultural value), and you'd be hard-pressed to find a more pleasant place to spend part of your cruise to Puerto Vallarta.

Day 14
Cabo San Lucas

Arrival: at 08:00
Departure: at 15:00

Los Cabos doesn't exude the same kind of charm as many other areas of inland Mexico do, but its twin towns—San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas—don't seem to mind, and neither do visitors who take a cruise to Cabo, who are more or less drawn here less for traditional Mexican culture than for the sun, the sand and the opportunity to just slow down and relax. Los Cabos—or the Capes—sits at the southernmost tip of the Baja California Peninsula, a narrow strip of land whose varied geography, both above and underwater, makes for plenty of interesting activities and some unusual ones, too. Did you ever think you'd ride a camel in Mexico? You can do that here, or enjoy more predictable pursuits including fishing, golfing and whale-watching. Want something still more laid-back? On your Cabo cruise you can visit picture-perfect El Arco, an arch that may look familiar thanks to its cameo on postcards and tourism advertisements. North of the capes, you can drop by the famed Hotel California. And if you've worked up an appetite on your Cabo cruise, you won't be disappointed: Los Cabos offers plenty to enjoy at the table as well, with farm-fresh fruits and vegetables and, of course, seafood being the mainstays here. Regardless, Holland America Line makes sure that our Cabo cruises have plenty of new and traditional things for our guest to enjoy and experience.

Day 15
At Sea

Arrival:
Departure:

Day 16
San Diego, California

Arrival: at 07:00

As your cruise comes to an end, why not extend the magic? Our team can arrange extra hotel nights for you so you can continue exploring and make even more unforgettable memories before heading home.

Zuiderdam

Classic nautical finishes, modern amenities and a spectacular art collection make Zuiderdam a continued favourite in the Holland America fleet. Numerous enrichment and entertainment activities keep guests going from the moment they wake on this cruise ship. When it comes to dining, there are options for everyone, from steak at the Pinnacle Grill to burgers and fries at Dive-In to exquisite Italian cuisine at Canaletto. Hear your favourite tunes all evening long at music clubs, such as the Rolling Stone Lounge and Billboard Onboard.

General characteristics

Ship name: Zuiderdam
Length: 285.29 m (936 ft)
Capacity: 1,916 passengers
Total cabins: 985
Tonnage: 82,305 GT

Zuiderdam

What’s on Board

Recreational
Fitness
Relaxation
Food and Drink
Entertainment
Other
Decks
recreational

Recreational

  • Club HAL
  • Golf Simulator
  • Indoor Pool
  • Library
  • Outdoor Pool
  • The Loft
fitness

Fitness

  • Basketball
  • Fitness Center
  • Gym
  • Pickleball
relaxation

Relaxation

  • Beauty Salon
  • Greenhouse Spa & Salon
  • Hydro Massage Pool
  • Lido Pool
  • Spa
  • Thermal Suite
  • Whirlpool
food-and-drink

Food and Drink

  • Bar
  • Canaletto Restaurant
  • Explorations Cafe
  • Grill
  • Lido Bar
  • Lido Casual Restaurant
  • Piano Bar
  • Pinnacle Grill
  • Sports Bar
  • Sports Bar
  • The Verandah
  • Vista Dining Room
entertainment

Entertainment

  • Crow's Nest
  • Explorers Lounge
  • Neptune Lounge
  • Night Club
  • Photo Gallery
  • Queen's Show Lounge
  • Theatre

Decks

Main Deck Main
Lower Promenade Deck Lower Promenade
Promenade Deck Promenade
Upper Promenade Deck Upper Promenade
Verandah Deck Verandah
Upper Verandah Deck Upper Verandah
Rotterdam Deck Rotterdam
Navigation Deck Navigation
Lido Deck Lido
Observation Deck Observation
Sports Deck Sports
entertainment

Other

  • Art Gallery
  • Atrium
  • Concierge
  • Culinary Arts Center
  • Duty-free shop
  • Future Cruise Sales
  • Observation Deck
  • Photo Gallery
  • Shops
  • Shore Excursion Office