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Eastern Caribbean & Panama Canal – Ft. Lauderdale

Holland America Line

Join Holland America Line for a 24-night cruise departing from Fort Lauderdale, visiting Grand Turk, San Juan, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas (US Virgin Islands), Half Moon Cay, Oranjestad, Aruba, Cartagena, Colombia, Caldera, Costa Rica, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Cabo San Lucas and San Diego, California. Enjoy luxurious accommodations and world-class amenities.

Departure date

06 April 2025

Cabins

Inside from

4,588pp

Outside from

5,006pp

Balcony from

6,485pp

Suite from

10,354pp

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

Quote Reference number: 334243-2052417

All prices are subject to availability

Your Holiday Summary

Departure - Arrival
06 Apr 2025 - 30 Apr 2025
Duration
25 days, 24 nights
Sailing
12 sea days
Departure Port
Fort Lauderdale
Call us to quote and add flights

Travelling Itinerary

Day 1
Fort Lauderdale

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:
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Day 3
Grand Turk

Arrival: at 07:00
Departure: at 16:00

Named for the fez-like scarlet blossoms of the cactus that grows here, Grand Turk is a pristine place of simple pleasures. Float dreamily over vibrant coral reefs, dine on conch fritters, set your watch to "island time."

Day 4
San Juan

Arrival: at 13:00
Departure: at 22:30

Massive El Morro Fortress guards Old San Juan, while the benevolent Indian spirit Yuquiyu keeps watch over the entire island from the highest peak in the rain forest. By night there are roulette wheels to spin and fiery flamenco shows to catch. Sample shore excursions: Old San Juan Historic Walking Tour; El Yunque Rain Forest Drive; World Heritage Fortress & Art Museum.

Day 5
St Thomas, US Virgin Islands

Arrival: at 07:00
Departure: at 16:00

The lovely, European-influenced port of Charlotte Amalie wins the prize for Caribbean shopping thrills. Cameras, jewelry, watches, perfumes are all here. So are beautiful beaches, undersea gardens and tales of Blackbeard. Sample shore excursions: Sea Trekking Helmet Dive & Coral World; Champagne Catamaran Sail & Snorkel to St. John; St. Thomas Ocean Racing; Ultimate Island Experience.

Day 6
At Sea

Arrival:
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Day 7
Half Moon Cay

Arrival: at 08:00
Departure: at 14:00

The Caribbean is full of tropical wonders and natural beauty. But there’s nothing like Half Moon Cay, our pristine private island paradise in the Bahamas. Cruise to the Bahamas with Holland America Line and discover the most stunning, highest-rated private-island experience in the region, Half Moon Cay. This island has won Porthole Cruise Magazine’s Best Private Island award 17 consecutive years, and was also named the best in Travel Weekly's Readers' Choice Awards. As soon as your toes touch that powdery white sand and your eyes settle on the perfect blue-crystal clear water, you’ll understand why this island is one of the most sought out destinations. Whether you are planning a romantic getaway or a family vacation, book a Bahamas cruise and explore Half Moon Cay's beautiful beaches, exciting cruise excursions, exclusive beach cabanas and more.

Day 8
Fort Lauderdale

Arrival: at 07:00
Departure:

There is an abundance of things to see and do in the Ft. Lauderdale area: visit the newly redesigned Ft. Lauderdale Beach and cafes, stroll the historic Riverwalk, shop the luxurious stores on Las Olas Boulevard or adventure to the Everglades for an intriguing air boat excursion.

Day 9
At Sea

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Day 10
Grand Turk

Arrival:
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Named for the fez-like scarlet blossoms of the cactus that grows here, Grand Turk is a pristine place of simple pleasures. Float dreamily over vibrant coral reefs, dine on conch fritters, set your watch to "island time."

Day 11
At Sea

Arrival:
Departure:

Day 12
Oranjestad

Arrival: at 07:00
Departure: at 17:00

Located off the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia, the windswept Dutch island of Aruba feels like another world. When you take a cruise to Aruba, you can relax in the shade of a swaying Divi Divi tree on a pristine beach or explore untamed coastal cliffs in an exotic landscape filled with cacti. Just one day on an Aruba cruise can lead to a lifetime full of stories.

Day 13
At Sea

Arrival:
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Day 14
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 15
Enter Panama Canal at Cristobal

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Day 15
Exit Panama Canal Balboa

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Day 15
Cruising Panama Canal

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Day 16
At Sea

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Day 17
Puerto Caldera

Arrival: at 07:00
Departure: at 16:00

One of the stops along the Panama Canal Zone route, Puerto Caldera on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast isn't your ordinary port of call, positioned as it is within easy day-trip distance of the country's multiple national parks. The town itself is small, but makes for an ideal base from which travelers can venture out to explore the variety of this Central American country's outdoor attractions and activities. These include snapping photos of gushing waterfalls (and swimming at the base of one, if you bring your swimsuit!), sightseeing near active volcanoes, bird-watching in nature reserves and sanctuaries and horseback riding on Pacific beaches . . . and that's just for starters. Visitors to Puerto Caldera and the surrounding region also enjoy shopping for handicrafts that local artists sell at their cooperatives, as well as sampling traditional Tico cuisine, especially gallo pinto—a combination of rice and beans eaten at any time of the day or night. Puerto Caldera is the perfect reminder that adventure often awaits just around the bend.

Day 18
At Sea

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Day 19
At Sea

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Day 20
At Sea

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Day 21
Puerto Vallarta

Arrival:
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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 22
At Sea

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Day 23
Cabo San Lucas

Arrival: at 08:00
Departure: at 14:00

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 24
At Sea

Arrival:
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Day 25
San Diego, California

Arrival:

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.

Nieuw Amsterdam

The second of Holland America’s Signature Class ships, Nieuw Amsterdam, celebrates historic New York City with an inspired design and art collection. While on board, rejuvenate in the tranquil Spa & Salon, play pickleball at sea, or enjoy a tantalizing meal at fine dining restaurants. When you’re in the mood for music, Billboard Onboard fills the room with chart-topping hits.

General characteristics

Ship name: Nieuw Amsterdam
Length: 285.29 m (936 ft)
Capacity: 2,106 passengers
Total cabins: 1,053
Tonnage: 86,700 GT

Nieuw Amsterdam

What’s on Board

Technology
Food and Drink
Fitness
Entertainment
Relaxation
Recreational
Other
Decks
technology

Technology

  • Digital Workshop
  • Internet Cafe
food-and-drink

Food and Drink

  • Asian Restaurant
  • Atrium Bar
  • Cabanas
  • Canaletto Restaurant
  • Explorations Cafe
  • Italian Restaurant
  • Kitchen
  • Lido Bar
  • Lido Casual Restaurant
  • Main Dining Room
  • Manhattan
  • Piano Bar
  • Pinnacle Grill
  • Seafood Shack
  • Sports Bar
  • Tamarind Restaurant and Silk Den Lounge
  • Terrace Grill
  • The Verandah
  • Veranda
fitness

Fitness

  • Basketball
  • Fitness Center
  • Pickleball
entertainment

Entertainment

  • Crow's Nest
  • Explorers Lounge
  • Neptune Lounge
  • Panorama Lounge
  • Photo Gallery
  • Show Lounges
relaxation

Relaxation

  • Facial Treatments
  • Greenhouse Spa & Salon
  • Hot Stone Therapy
  • Hydro Massage Pool
  • Lido Pool
  • Sauna
  • Spa
  • Steam Room
  • The Retreat
  • Thermal Suite
  • Whirlpool
recreational

Recreational

  • Club HAL
  • Library
  • The Loft

Decks

DECK 1- MAIN DECK DECK 1 - MAIN DECK
DECK 2 - LOWER PROMENADE DECK DECK 2 - LOWER PROMENADE DECK
DECK 3 - PROMENADE DECK DECK 3 - PROMENADE DECK
DECK 4 - UPPER PROMENADE DECK DECK 4 - UPPER PROMENADE DECK
DECK 5 - VERANDAH DECK DECK 5 - VERANDAH DECK
DECK 6 - UPPER VERANDAH DECK DECK 6 - UPPER VERANDAH DECK
DECK 7 - ROTTERDAM DECK DECK 7 - ROTTERDAM DECK
DECK 8 - NAVIGATION DECK DECK 8 - NAVIGATION DECK
DECK 9 - LIDO DECK DECK 9 - LIDO DECK
DECK 10 - PANORAMA DECK DECK 10 - PANORAMA DECK
DECK 11 - OBSERVATION DECK DECK 11 - OBSERVATION DECK
recreational

Other

  • Art Gallery
  • Atrium
  • Boutique
  • Concierge
  • Culinary Arts Center
  • Observation Deck
  • Shops