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24-Day Panama Canal & Eastern Caribbean Discovery
24 nightsFrom Fort Lauderdale17 ports of call

24-Day Panama Canal & Eastern Caribbean Discovery

Holland America Line · Volendam

Departs
11 Dec 2027
Returns
4 Jan 2028
Duration
24 nights
Disembark
Fort Lauderdale

Overview

A 24-night voyage aboard Volendam, departing Fort Lauderdale on 11 Dec 2027 and returning to the same port, calling at 17 destinations along the way.

Fort LauderdaleHalf Moon CayWillemstad, CuracaoCartagena, ColombiaGatun LakeColon, PanamaPuerto LimonGeorge Town, Cayman IslandsFort LauderdaleHalf Moon CayPhilipsburg, Sint MaartenFort de FranceBridgetown, BarbadosScarborough, TrinidadCastries, St. LuciaSt. KittsFort Lauderdale

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Itinerary

24 nights · 30 ports of call
  1. 1

    Day 1 ·Fort LauderdaleEmbark

    11 Dec 2027
    Depart 16:00
    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.

  2. 2

    Day 2 ·Relaxaway Half Moon Cay, Bahamas

    12 Dec 2027
    Arrive 08:00Depart 17:00
    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.
  3. 3

    Day 3 ·At Sea

    13 Dec 2027
  4. 4

    Day 4 ·At Sea

    14 Dec 2027
  5. 5

    Day 5 ·Willemstad

    15 Dec 2027
    Arrive 08:00Depart 17:00
    Amsterdam-like canals, gabled Dutch colonial buildings, an exotic floating market. This bustling duty-free port has it all. Plus the world-famous Curaçao Liqueur Distillery and an intriguing coral reef teeming with parrotfish and queen angelfish. Sample shore excursions: Curaçao Dolphin Encounter; Curaçao See & Sea Tour; Highlights of Curaçao with Folkloric Show; Canoe Safari; Willemstad Trolley Train.
  6. 6

    Day 6 ·At Sea

    16 Dec 2027
  7. 7

    Day 7 ·Cartagena, Colombia

    17 Dec 2027
    Arrive 07:00Depart 14:00
    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.)
  8. 8

    Day 8 ·Enter Panama Canal at Cristobal

    18 Dec 2027
    Depart 07:00
  9. 8

    Day 8 ·Cruising Panama Canal And Gatun Lake

    18 Dec 2027
  10. 8

    Day 8 ·Gatun Lake

    18 Dec 2027
    Depart 11:00
    At the center of one of the world’s greatest engineering projects is a place where nature has been given a space to flourish—the vast Gatún Lake. The lake includes some 33 kilometers (20 miles) of the 77-kilometer (48-mile) route that ships follow through the Panama Canal. While a passenger gazing at its forested shores may assume they are looking at a landscape that predates the canal, the lake is as much a manmade creation as the various locks. It was formed in 1912, with the damming of the Chagres River, and the islands that dot the lake were once the peaks of hills.

    The surface of the lake sits at an elevation of between 25 and 27 meters (82 and 87 feet) above sea level. At its Caribbean end, the Gatún Locks raise ships traveling towards the Pacific to the level of the lake; at its other end, the Pedro Miguel and then the Miraflores Locks lower them back to sea level. In addition to opportunities to see the infrastructure of the canal, created at the expense of millions of dollars and thousands of lives, Gatún Lake is fascinating for its remarkable biodiversity. More than 100 species each of mammals and reptiles, as well as some 500 different birds, thrive in the nature reserves in and near the lake.
  11. 8

    Day 8 ·Cruising Gatun Lake And Panama Canal

    18 Dec 2027
  12. 8

    Day 8 ·Exit Panama Canal Cristobal

    18 Dec 2027
    Depart 15:00
  13. 9

    Day 9 ·Colon

    18 Dec 2027
    Arrive 17:00Depart 21:00
    Colon lies on the stunning Caribbean coast of Panama, where unparalleled beaches and lush tropical scenery are de rigueur. In nearby Portobello, discover the ruins of Spanish forts, watch the colorful yachts sailing in the bay or hunt for treasures in the local markets. Travel to the Gatun Locks for a bird's eye view of the immense ships passing through the Panama Canal.
  14. 9

    Day 9 ·Puerto Limon

    19 Dec 2027
    Arrive 07:30Depart 16:30
    Surrounded by nearly half of all the animal species on earth and 8,000 species of plants, marvel as you take the chance to tour tropical flower farms or ride a Mawamba boat through the jungle canals near Puerto Limon. Explore the capital city of San Jose, where museums beckon and markets burst with luscious local tastes—mangoes, bananas, pineapples, papayas.

  15. 10

    Day 10 ·At Sea

    20 Dec 2027
  16. 11

    Day 11 ·George town, Cayman Islands

    21 Dec 2027
    Arrive 07:00Depart 16:00
    Crystalline waters, snorkeling with tame stingrays, civilian submarines: This duty-free port has it all, plus Seven Mile Beach and a charming turtle farm. Sample shore excursions: Stingray City Cruise & Island Drive; Reef & Wreck Snorkel by Boat; Scuba Adventure; Nautilus One Semi-submarine.
  17. 12

    Day 12 ·At Sea

    22 Dec 2027
  18. 13

    Day 13 ·Fort Lauderdale

    23 Dec 2027
    Arrive 07:00Depart 16:00
    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.

  19. 14

    Day 14 ·Relaxaway Half Moon Cay, Bahamas

    24 Dec 2027
    Arrive 08:00Depart 17:00
    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.
  20. 15

    Day 15 ·At Sea

    25 Dec 2027
  21. 16

    Day 16 ·At Sea

    26 Dec 2027
  22. 17

    Day 17 ·Philipsburg, St Maarten

    27 Dec 2027
    Arrive 08:00Depart 17:00
    Philipsburg is the capital of Sint Maarten, the Dutch side of the Caribbean island Saint Martin. Beachfront bars line the boardwalk along Great Bay. Voorstraat, or Front Street, has duty-free shops and casinos. The St. Maarten Zoo is home to parrots, monkeys and a playground. Sint Maarten Museum displays artifacts from the indigenous Arawak people. The ruins of 17th-century Fort Amsterdam stand on a nearby peninsula.
  23. 18

    Day 18 ·Fort-de-France

    28 Dec 2027
    Arrive 08:00Depart 17:00
    Stunning volcanic history (in 1902 Mont Pelee blew open with catastrophic force), rum distilleries and blooms in every tropical hue await on this verdant "Island of Flowers."
  24. 19

    Day 19 ·Bridgetown

    29 Dec 2027
    Arrive 08:00Depart 17:00
    Barbadians, or Bajans in local parlance, consider their island nation the most British of the Caribbean: Queen Elizabeth II is still head of state, and English products are stocked in many of its stores and restaurants. Barbados is known as the birthplace of international pop star Rihanna, but it has also produced some of the biggest Caribbean calypso and soca music stars. The summer Crop Over festival is a huge carnival event. With live music and crafts for sale, the popular Friday fish fry at Oistins Bay is a fun place to mingle with the locals.

    Centered around a waterway called the Careenage and its handsome Chamberlain Bridge, the historic center of Bridgetown, the country's capital, was granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 2011 for its wealth of British colonial architecture dating from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Among the famous figures who visited Bridgetown when it was at its peak was none other than George Washington, who spent two months in 1751 in a house that still stands today, on his only trip abroad.

    Barbados is only 34 kilometers (21 miles) long, and even if your time is limited, you can explore much of the island using Bridgetown as your base. The less populated, rugged east coast of this coral island is strikingly beautiful and home to a number of different turtle species. The west coast, often nicknamed the "Platinum Coast," is where you'll find some of the island's most popular beaches and biggest mansions. The interior, with its 340-meter-high (1,115-foot-high) Mount Hillaby, historic sugar plantations and lush gardens, will lure you away from the beach for a few hours.
  25. 20

    Day 20 ·Scarborough, Trinidad

    30 Dec 2027
    Arrive 08:00Depart 17:00
    Perched on the hillsides above the Southern Caribbean Sea, Scarborough was the site of numerous territorial disputes between England, France, and the Dutch Republic; the island gained independence in 1962. Explore Fort King George, an 18th century fortification and historic and archaeological museum; discover rare flora at the Botanical Gardens and Orchid House; and shop for local crafts and taste treats at the local market.
  26. 21

    Day 21 ·Castries

    31 Dec 2027
    Arrive 08:00Depart 17:00
    Stunning mountain peaks, lush rainforest, and perfectly turquoise water. Discover this Caribbean gem on a Cruise to St. Lucia. This Caribbean island offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the raw power of Mother Nature at her finest. On a Cruise to St. Lucia, visit the only drive-in volcano in the world, explore the natural wonders of the wild or simply relax with a good book on an even better beach. St Lucia truly has it all. Book a Caribbean cruise and discover St. Lucia's sandy white beaches, vibrant tropical foliage, and authentic island food.
  27. 22

    Day 22 ·Basseterre

    1 Jan 2028
    Arrive 08:00Depart 17:00
    St. Kitts and Nevis are a pair of islands that form a single Eastern Caribbean nation. Ripe with historical sites, the larger St. Kitts passed hands among the Spanish, French and English, with the latter establishing the strongest foothold. The architecture and layout of its capital city, Basseterre, are all typically British. And the island's sprawling, colonial-era plantations are a reminder of the tumultuous history of the tobacco, rum, sugar and slave trades that were here for generations. Beyond its rich past, St. Kitts offers golden-sand beaches for relaxing, a lush jungle interior that welcomes heart-pumping adventure, laid-back bars with fantastic sunset views and restaurants serving up über-local fare.

  28. 23

    Day 23 ·At Sea

    2 Jan 2028
  29. 24

    Day 24 ·At Sea

    3 Jan 2028
  30. 25

    Day 25 ·Fort LauderdaleDisembark

    4 Jan 2028
    Arrive 07:00
    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.

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