It’s no wonder the Caribbean is one of the most popular vacation destinations around. So popular in fact, that virtually all of the major cruise line offer Caribbean itineraries. But as popular as cruises to the area are, now’s not the time to think, been there, done that.
Combine your next Caribbean itinerary with a cruise through the Panama Canal for a new twist on this tropical trip. Many itineraries allow for stops at traditional Caribbean spots, in addition to a stop in the canal.
Even now, more than 95 years after its completion, the Panama Canal is one of the greatest engineering marvels ever built – and still more than just a novelty. Saving freighters thousands of mils that they’d have to travel around South America each way, the canal ushers approximately 5 percent of the world’s commercial trade between the Atlantic and Pacific.
It takes ships approximately 9 hours to navigate the canal’s 50 miles, which include three sets of locks that effortlessly lift huge freighters and cruise ships as high as 85 feet above sea level. Nearly 14,000 vessels make the voyage each year. Panama Canal Cruises and Deals
