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.
17 Days One-Way from Bridgetown to Panama City
Ends in Panama. Also visits Barbados, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago
Star Legend
17 Days One-Way from Miami to San Diego
Visits Panama. Also visits United States, Colombia, Costa Rica
Norwegian Star
15 Days One-Way from Bridgetown to Panama City
Ends in Panama. Also visits Barbados, St Vincent and Grenadines, Grenada
Star Clipper
Why Book With Waterways Cruise?
Four decades of expertise, one dedicated advisor, and every detail handled, from your front door to the gangway and back.
Cruise Concierge
A dedicated advisor who learns your name, your travel style and your preferences, then stays with you from the first conversation to the day you return home. Not a call center. Never a stranger.
100% Custom‑Built
No cookie-cutter packages. Flights, hotels, transfers and shore days are designed from scratch around how you actually like to travel, then refined until the trip feels like yours.
40+ Years in Travel
Founded by J. Richard, a four-decade veteran of the travel industry, and focused solely on premium river and ocean cruising. Decades of ship and itinerary knowledge go into every recommendation.
Book With Total Confidence
A travel agency that is a proud member of Signature Travel Network, CLIA, ASTA and IATA.
8 Days One-Way from Colon to Puntarenas
Starts in Panama. Also visits Costa Rica
Wind Star
8 Days One-Way from Colon to Panama City
Starts and ends in Panama
National Geographic Quest
13 Days One-Way from Fort-De-France to Colon
Ends in Panama. Also visits Martinique, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and Grenadines
Le Laperouse
11 Days One-Way from Puntarenas to Colon
Ends in Panama. Also visits Costa Rica
Le Bellot
17 Days One-Way from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles
Visits Panama. Also visits United States, Aruba, Costa Rica
Island Princess
9 Days One-Way from Oranjestad Aruba to Panama City
Ends in Panama. Also visits Aruba, Colombia
Star Legend
17 Days One-Way from Oranjestad Aruba to Puntarenas
Visits Panama. Also visits Aruba, Colombia, Costa Rica
Star Legend
8 Days One-Way from Puntarenas to Colon
Ends in Panama. Also visits Costa Rica
Wind Star
8 Days One-Way from Panama City to Colon
Starts and ends in Panama
National Geographic Quest
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!