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Panama Canal

Overview

A world of wonders awaits your exploration

One of the greatest achievements of the 20th century, the Panama Canal remains an engineering marvel and one of the world's most vital trade routes. Transiting the Panama Canal is a traveler's "must do" adventure and is just the beginning of the wonders you'll experience on a Holland America Line Panama Canal cruise vacation. Walk in the footsteps of ancient Incans at Machu Picchu. Explore rainforests and jungles in search of rare birds and endangered species. Relax on beautiful Mexican and Caribbean beaches. Cruise Costa Rica's Golfo Dulce and South America's Amazon River. All this while enjoying our 5-star service, plush accommodations and first class transportation.

Click on our new Interactive Map for port details, shore excursions, destination videos and more.

Featured Ports & Excursions

Callao (Lima) Peru

Your link to colonial Lima: Cuzco, where ancient Quechua is still spoken in the marketplace, and mist-veiled Machu Picchu. Sample shore excursions: Archeological Day in Lima; Shopper's Delight; Cuzco & Machu Picchu Overland Adventure.

Cartagena, Colombia

Once a bastion of the Spanish Main, this fortified city boasts colonial architecture, pristine offshore islands and the finest emeralds in the world. Sample shore excursions: Cartagena City Tour; Old Walled City Historical Walking Tour; Rosario Islands Cruise.

Half Moon Cay, Bahamas

Holland America Line's pristine private island offers everything you need for a day of play in paradise: a two-mile crescent of perfect beach; an interior lagoon; private beachside cabanas with butler service, showers and misters; and all manner of watersports and activities, including a children's aqua park and a buoyed personal watercraft course. Sample shore excursions: Horseback Riding by Land and Sea; Deep-sea or Flats Fishing; Stingray Adventure; AquaTrax Watercraft Adventure.

Explore unique shopping opportunities available
in this port
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Manaus, Brazil

This jungle capital sprang up during the great rubber boom of 1896. Its splendid opera house, the centerpiece of this "Paris of the Jungle" where wealthy rubber barons enjoyed performances of Verdi and Puccini, has been magnificently restored. Witness the "Meeting of the Waters" where massive dark and light rivers meet and run parallel for miles without blending. Sample shore excursion: The Meeting of the Waters: A Jungle Cruise; Manaus & the Teatro Amazonas Opera House.

Puerto Chiapas, Mexico

Gateway to the Mayan world in the Pacific, shrouded in mystery. Among the most well-preserved archeological sites is the sprawling complex at Palenque, dating to 100BC. Here, vividly colored murals offer glimpses into Mayan life while great stone temples guard inscriptions that have yet to be deciphered.

Nearby, explore San Cristobal de Las Casas cathedral, which combines baroque and colonial styles of architecture. Journey to a rainforest and marvel at the lush mangroves and abundant wildlife. Try a fresh tamale, a delicious part of celebrations here, or shop for local handicrafts like tin toys, wood and stone carvings or colorful textiles. Or, simply wander the beaches and take in the untamed and exotic surroundings. Sample shore excursions: The Mayan Ruins of Palenque; Mangrove Exploration & Bird Watching.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

No longer the well-kept secret of the artists, writers and Hollywood stars who first "discovered" it in the 1960s, "PV" (as it is affectionately known) still retains the essence of the quaint fishing village it once was. Here is Viejo Vallarta, the quaint Old Town, An enticing mix of red-tiled buildings, cobbled streets, chic shops and bustling open markets. Here are Mismaloya Beach, Gringo Gulch and Conchas Chinas, the Beverly Hills of Vallarta.

Nearby: the rugged canyons and luxuriant jungles of the Sierra Madre. Sample shore excursions: Countryside on horseback, Dolphin encounter; Town, Country & Tequila; Sea Lion Encounter; Eco-safari Off-road Adventure; Canopy Adventure.

Puntarenas, Costa Rica

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. Sample shore excursions: Sky Walk in the Forest; Poas Volcano & Cloud Forest; Sarchi & the Artisans of Costa Rica; Tropical Mangrove River Cruise; Orchid Farm Tour; Picturesque Sarchi.

San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua

This lovely beach town is your portal to Masaya, famous for its steaming volcano and colorful crafts market, and colonial Granada, rich in folkloric culture and views of Lake Nicaragua. Sample shore excursions: Masaya Shopping Tour; Pastoral Nicaragua by Horseback.

St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.

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.

Explore unique shopping opportunities available
in this port
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Protection Plans

Cancellation Protection Plans CPP Standard Plan

Our Standard Cancellation Protection Plan (CPP Standard Plan) will allow you, for any reason, to provide written cancellation up to 24 hours prior to scheduled cruise or cruisetour departure and receive a refund equal to 80% of the applicable cancellation fee (90% if you purchased our CPP Platinum Plan). In addition, Holland America Line (HAL) automatically assumes an additional US$500 of liability for lost, damaged or delayed baggage of passengers who purchase the CPP Standard Plan still subject, however, to the limitations in our baggage policies. For example, we do not cover losses while baggage is in the custody of airlines. Click here to review our Baggage Policy.

The CPP Standard Plan is not insurance; it provides no rights other than those explained above. For example, it does not protect double-triple-quad occupancy rates should one or more members of your party cancel, nor does it cover expenses or unused services due to trip interruption.

CPP Platinum Plan

Our Platinum Cancellation Protection Plan (CPP Platinum Plan) enables you to supplement the CPP Standard Plan with insurance coverage and travel assistance services as well as increase your refund amount to 90% for cancellations made more than 24 hours prior to departure. The CPP Platinum Plan provides you with the following insurance benefits and services, in addition to the CPP Standard Plan benefits and larger refund:

  • Trip Cancellation coverage provides protection if you or a traveling companion must cancel for a covered reason during the 24 hours prior to scheduled departure. The plan reimburses your non-refundable cancellation charges or increased occupancy charges (if a traveling companion cancels) imposed by HAL.
  • Trip Interruption coverage provides protection if your trip is interrupted after departure due to a covered reason. The plan reimburses your unused (determined in the case of your cruise or cruisetour on a pro rata basis), non-refundable land or sea expenses prepaid to HAL, airfare paid to return home and certain additional expenses up to $100/day. Maximum benefit is 150% of your cruise/cruisetour cost.
  • Trip Delay coverage provides reimbursement for reasonable additional accommodations and traveling expenses incurred to rejoin the trip in progress when you are delayed for more than 12 hours, due to covered reasons. Maximum benefit is US$1,000; not to exceed US$100/day.
  • Emergency Evacuation coverage will pay the necessary costs of transportation, medical services and medical supplies if, due to a covered medical reason, you must be transported to medical facilities during your cruise or cruisetour. Maximum benefit is $50,000.
  • Medical Expense coverage reimburses up to $10,000 for medical and emergency dental expenses incurred as a result of an injury or sickness that first manifests itself during your cruise or cruisetour.
  • You will also receive the following 24-Hour Emergency Hotline Assistance Services, arranged by the CPP Platinum Plan administrator's designated provider: Emergency Cash Transfer Assistance, Medical Consultation and Monitoring, Emergency Legal Assistance, Emergency Medical and Dental Assistance, Lost Travel Document Assistance and Emergency Medical Payment Assistance.

There are no pre-existing condition limitations in the CPP Platinum Plan!

"IMPORTANT NOTE": This is a summary of coverage. Please refer to the Description of 24-Hour Emergency Hotline Services and Certificate of Insurance in the CPP Platinum Plan pamphlet available from Holland America Line which contains the details of assistance services and insurance coverage, terms, conditions, exclusions and other applicable limitations. The CPP Platinum Plan is only available for U.S. and Canadian residents. The CPP Standard and CPP Platinum Plans are optional, must be paid at time of deposit and are non-refundable. The per person, per cruise costs for both plans are listed with the cruise fares. The insurance coverage provided under the CPP Platinum Plan is underwritten by Virginia Surety Company, Inc., under policy #HTP04195 and the CPP Platinum Plan is administered by BerkelyCare, a division of Affinity Insurance Services, Inc. in all states except: AIS Affinity Insurance Agency, Inc. in CA/MN/OK; and AIS Affinity Insurance Agency in NH and NY. Claims are administered by BerkelyCare, a division of Affinity Insurance Services, Inc., in all states except: Aon Direct Insurance Administrators in CA; AIS Affinity Insurance Agency, Inc. in OK; and AIS Affinity Insurance Agency in NH and NY. CA License #0795465. The program provides limited health insurance benefits and does not provide basic hospital, basic medical or major medical insurance as defined by the NY State Insurance Department. The CPP Standard Plan is not insurance and is administered by Holland America Line Inc.

Review Entire Certificate of Insurance

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