16 nights · Long Beach-San Pedro, California · Departs Los Angeles (USA) · Visiting Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco, Puerto Quetzal, Puntarenas, Panama City, Panama Canal, Oranjestad Aruba, Fort Lauderdale · Aboard Princess Cruises on the Emerald Princess
Image courtesy of Princess Cruises ©
| Cruise line | Princess Cruises |
|---|---|
| Ship | Emerald Princess |
| Duration | 16 nights |
| Port calls | 9 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $1,484 per person |
| Year built | 2007 |
| Guests | 3679 |
| Cabins | 1533 |
| Crew | 1200 |
| Length | 288 m |
| Beam | 48 m |
| Cruising speed | 22.0 kn |
San Pedro is Los Angeles’s maritime gateway, home to one of the world’s busiest container ports. See the Battleship Iowa, explore San Pedro’s waterfront, or visit the Korean Bell of Friendship for coastal views. Downtown’s museums and architecture sit roughly 20 miles north, while Hollywood and the beaches call for longer excursions. Choose a district and give it time; this vast city is best explored with a clear plan.
Puerto Vallarta sits between the Sierra Madre mountains and Banderas Bay. That setting brings jungle-clad slopes, broad beaches and memorable Pacific views. Begin in the historic center, where cobbled streets lead to the landmark Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Follow the Malecón, a seafront promenade lined with sculptures, cafés and galleries. For a taste of the coast, settle in for fresh seafood and watch the bay.
On Oaxaca’s Pacific coast, Huatulco offers nine bays, forested hills and clear water. The protected national park shelters coral reefs, mangroves and dry tropical forest. Boat trips and snorkeling reveal the coast’s richer side. Start in Santa Cruz, where cruise ships dock, then visit La Crucecita for its church, market and cafés. For a quieter day, choose a beach reached by boat.
Puerto Quetzal is Guatemala’s Pacific gateway, a working port backed by volcanic highlands. Most visitors head inland to Antigua, where cobbled streets, pastel façades and church ruins preserve a distinctive colonial setting. The drive takes roughly 90 minutes, depending on traffic. Closer to the coast, excursions visit fishing villages and black-sand beaches. Choose Antigua for architecture and history, or stay coastal for a closer look at everyday life in Guatemala.
Step ashore in Puntarenas, Costa Rica’s long, narrow port city on the Pacific coast. From here, rainforest reserves, coffee country and the Nicoya Peninsula lie within reach. Walk the waterfront promenade for seafood and views across the Gulf of Nicoya. Or head inland to Monteverde’s cloud forest. Plan one excursion and allow time for the road; Puntarenas is best enjoyed at an unhurried pace.
Balboa sits at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, where ocean-going ships begin their passage between continents. From the port, Panama City’s skyline rises beyond the canal’s working waters. Visit Casco Viejo for restored colonial streets, independent cafés and views across the bay. Or follow the Amador Causeway toward the Biomuseo and sweeping views of ships awaiting transit. Balboa rewards travelers who look beyond the canal to a capital shaped by trade, history and the sea.
Few journeys change your sense of scale like a passage through the Panama Canal. This 50-mile waterway links the Atlantic and Pacific, lifting ships through locks and across Gatun Lake. Watch the gates close, water rise, and a vast vessel move within inches of concrete walls. On deck, the engineering is the spectacle; beyond it, rainforest edges the route. Bring binoculars, and stay outside for the crossing.
Oranjestad makes a striking first impression: Dutch gables in Caribbean colors line streets beside a busy harbor. Beyond the waterfront, the capital’s compact center rewards a walk, with shops, cafés and landmarks including Fort Zoutman. Aruba’s dry, sunlit landscape feels close at hand, while beaches and clear water are an easy ride away. Come ashore for a relaxed city stroll, then choose whether to linger over lunch or head for the coast.
Port Everglades puts Fort Lauderdale within easy reach of the city’s waterways, beaches and cultural attractions. A short drive brings you to Las Olas Boulevard, where galleries, restaurants and boutiques line a walkable stretch. Visit the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens for a glimpse of old Florida, or head west toward the Everglades. Fort Lauderdale’s broad Atlantic beaches offer an easy counterpoint to the city’s lively dining scene.
Published August 19, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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