Panama Cruises: Sailings, Embarkations & Ports of Call
73 ships from 24 cruise lines
Panama cruises at a glance
Waterways Cruise lists 348 upcoming sailings on 73 ships from 24 cruise lines visiting Panama, calling at 11 places. Cruises can start in Balboa and Colón and end in Balboa, Colón and Panama Canal. Of 348 upcoming sailings, 64 start in Panama and 65 end there. More Central America & Mexico cruises.
Reviewed and fact-checked by J. Richard · About this page · About us
Compare Panama cruise lines
See every Panama cruise line by ocean and river and by ultra-luxury, luxury, premium and contemporary style, with fares, cruise lengths, ships and ports.
About Panama
Panama is far more than the canal: it is a compact, dollar-friendly isthmus where colonial history, Indigenous cultures, rainforest, and the ocean all meet. For milestone American travelers, a Panama Canal cruise or small-ship expedition pairs world-class engineering with the freedom to explore Casco Antiguo, Guna Yala, and the Chiriquí highlands without feeling herded.
Typical routes
- Large-ship full or partial Panama Canal transit: one-way or round-trip voyages between Florida and California, often with additional calls in Aruba, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico.
- Small-ship and expedition coastal Panama: Caribbean side with Bocas del Toro and Guna Yala, plus canal transit and Gatun Lake nature trips.
Ports overview
Panama's cruise ports split neatly between the Pacific and Caribbean sides. Large-ship canal transits usually call at Balboa/Fuerte Amador and Cristóbal/Colón; expedition vessels add Bocas del Toro and Guna Yala, where passengers experience Indigenous culture and coral reefs rather than container terminals.
Cruise season
Mid-December through April is the driest and most reliable season for canal and coastal cruising. May through November is greener, less crowded, and often cheaper, but afternoon tropical rain showers are common. Canal operations continue year-round.
Find your Panama sailing
Upcoming sailings calling at Panama, earliest departure first.
18 Days One-Way from San Antonio to Fort Lauderdale
Visits Panama. Also visits Chile, Peru, Ecuador
ms Nieuw Amsterdam
34 Days One-Way from Sydney to Miami
Visits Panama. Also visits Australia, Tongatapu Island Tonga, United States
Queen Elizabeth
23 Days One-Way from Fort Lauderdale to Vancouver
Visits Panama. Also visits United States, Colombia, Costa Rica
ms Eurodam
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17 Days One-Way from Fort Lauderdale to San Diego
Visits Panama. Also visits United States, Colombia, Costa Rica
ms Eurodam
17 Days One-Way from Port Canaveral to Los Angeles
Visits Panama. Also visits United States, Turks And Caicos Islands, Aruba
Star Princess
20 Days One-Way from Valparaiso-Santiago to New York
Visits Panama. Also visits Chile, Peru, Jamaica
Viking Polaris
16 Days One-Way from Fort Lauderdale to San Diego
Visits Panama. Also visits United States, Aruba, Costa Rica
ms Oosterdam
22 Days One-Way from Fort Lauderdale to Vancouver
Visits Panama. Also visits United States, Aruba, Costa Rica
ms Oosterdam
36 Days One-Way from Civitavecchia-Rome to Los Angeles
Visits Panama. Also visits Italy, France, Spain
Coral Princess
13 Days One-Way from Colon to Fort-De-France
Starts in Panama. Also visits Colombia, Bonaire, St Vincent and Grenadines
Le Bellot
27 Days One-Way from Los Angeles to Southampton
Visits Panama. Also visits United States, Mexico, Costa Rica
Queen Elizabeth
15 Days One-Way from Los Angeles to Miami
Visits Panama. Also visits United States, Mexico, Costa Rica
Queen Elizabeth
Where Panama cruises start and end
Embarkation ports (2)
Balboa (198) (cruises from) · Colón (113) (cruises from)
Disembarkation ports (3)
Balboa (198) · Colón (113) · Panama Canal (287)
Ships by type: 71 ocean 6 expedition · a ship that visits several places here is counted once; an expedition ship that also sails as an ocean ship appears under both types.
Plan your Panama cruise
Panama cruise port guide
Cruise ports, what to see, history and practical advice.
Panama cruise port guide →More Central America & Mexico cruises
Mexico · Costa Rica · Honduras · Belize · Guatemala · El Salvador · Nicaragua
Frequently asked questions about Panama cruises
How many places do cruises visit in Panama?
11 Panama places are visited by 73 ships from 24 cruise lines.
When is the best time to take a Panama cruise?
Mid-December through April is the driest and most reliable season for canal and coastal cruising. May through November is greener, less crowded, and often cheaper, but afternoon tropical rain showers are common. Canal operations continue year-round.
Sources and further reading
Background on Panama draws on these references. Sailing, fare and port data come from cruise line itineraries and are refreshed regularly.
- CIA World Factbook: Panama - The World Factbook
- Wikipedia: Panama
- Panama Canal Authority: Panama Canal Official Website
- Visit Panama: Panama Tourism Official Portal
- U.S. Department of State: Panama International Travel Information
Created by the Waterways Cruise content team and reviewed and fact-checked by J. Richard, Sr. Cruise Travel Agent and Founder of Waterways Cruise.
Published September 9, 2026 · Last updated October 31, 2026
Fares, availability and itineraries change often. Confirm current details with your cruise line or a Waterways Cruise agent before you book.
Cruise Disclosure
Good to know: Prices are quoted per person based on double occupancy and include all applicable taxes and fees. Availability and prices can change quickly, so please continue through the booking process to confirm the latest availability and pricing before you pay.
We work hard to make sure everything on this website is accurate and up to date. However, some information may be incomplete or inaccurate, including details supplied by third parties or otherwise outside our control, and we cannot be held responsible for such errors. We work with 41 cruise line operators, that are providing cruises on 585 ships visiting 1,731 ports across 7,194 unique cruises, creating 13,822 itineraries. This is a great deal of data to continually update daily from our suppliers. If a pricing error, misrepresentation, or omission occurs, we reserve the right to adjust the pricing, correct the information, or cancel or decline any booking made in error, with notice to you. Thank you for your understanding!