California Cruise from San Francisco to Miami — 25 Days

24 nights · California · Departs San Francisco (USA) · Visiting Santa Barbara CA, Cabo San Lucas, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Puerto Quetzal, Puntarenas, Panama Canal, San Blas Islands Panama, Cartagena Colombia, Puerto Limon, Belize City, Cozumel, Miami · Aboard Hapag-Lloyd Cruises on the ms Europa

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ms Europa
San Francisco Cruise Port historic courtyard fountain building Cabo San Lucas Cruise Port: Shore Excursions & Expert Guide beachside building palm trees courtyard
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Image courtesy of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises ©

Cruise lineHapag-Lloyd Cruises
Shipms Europa
Duration24 nights
Port calls13
Departures1 sailings
Year built1999
Guests408
Cabins204
Crew285
Length198 m
Beam24 m
Cruising speed21.0 kn
  1. Day 1

    San Francisco, USA

    San Francisco rewards visitors who look beyond the postcard. Ride a cable car over steep streets, then explore Chinatown, North Beach, or the Ferry Building’s stalls. The Golden Gate Bridge frames the bay, while Alcatraz offers a stark look at the city’s past. For a quieter hour, walk the waterfront or cross to Sausalito by ferry. Few ports make a day ashore feel so varied—and so distinctly Californian.

  2. Day 3

    Santa Barbara CA, USA

    Santa Barbara pairs a handsome Pacific waterfront with the Spanish-influenced architecture that gives the city its distinctive character. Ships anchor offshore, and tenders bring you to Stearns Wharf, steps from the harbor and downtown. Visit the 1786 Santa Barbara Mission, explore State Street, or climb the courthouse tower for mountain and ocean views. With the Santa Ynez Mountains at its back, this compact city rewards an unhurried day on foot.

  3. Day 6

    Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

    Cabo San Lucas sits at the tip of Baja California Sur, where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez. Cruise ships anchor offshore, and tenders bring you to a lively marina lined with cafés, fishing boats and shops. From the marina, water taxis reach El Arco, the sculpted granite landmark at Land’s End. Beyond it, beaches and desert trails reveal a quieter side of Cabo. Choose a boat trip, fresh seafood or a day in the sun.

  4. Day 8

    Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Mexico

    Zihuatanejo’s crescent bay is still a working harbor, with fishing boats beside visiting yachts. Walk the waterfront, browse the market and order the day’s catch at a table facing the Pacific. Nearby beaches offer an easy place to swim or linger; Ixtapa’s purpose-built resort strip is about six miles north. Those seeking history can travel inland to Xihuacan, an archaeological site near La Soledad de Maciel.

  5. Day 11

    Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala

    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.

  6. Day 13

    Puntarenas

    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.

  7. Day 15

    Panama Canal, Panama

    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.

  8. Day 16

    San Blas Islands Panama, Panama

    San Blas is no conventional cruise port. More than 300 islands and cays fringe Panama’s Caribbean coast. Here, clear water and white-sand beaches meet Guna Yala, an Indigenous territory with a distinct culture. Choose a boat outing for reef snorkeling, or visit a Guna community and discover mola textiles, sewn by Guna women. Access and transport require advance planning, typically through a local operator or community.

  9. Day 17

    Cartagena Colombia, Colombia

    A short ride from Cartagena’s cruise port brings you to its UNESCO-listed historic centre and handsome colonial streets. Inside the old walls, flower-draped balconies, shaded plazas and broad stone lanes lead to cafés, churches and lively markets. Visit Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, the great fortress built to defend the harbor, then explore colorful Getsemaní. Come early, before the midday heat settles over the plazas, and save time for a cool drink beside the Caribbean.

  10. Day 19

    Puerto Limon

    Puerto Limón is Costa Rica’s Caribbean gateway, where Afro-Caribbean heritage meets a lush tropical coast. Visit Cahuita National Park for coral reefs and rainforest trails, or travel inland through banana country toward the jungle. Limón’s markets and waterfront offer a closer look at the region’s food, music and daily life. For a longer excursion, explore Tortuguero’s canals by boat and watch for wildlife in the Caribbean lowlands.

  11. Day 21

    Belize City, Belize

    Belize City is the country’s largest city and maritime gateway, set on the Caribbean coast. It stands at the mouth of Haulover Creek, where cruise ships anchor offshore. Tenders bring visitors to the Fort Street Tourism Village. From here, explore colonial-era landmarks and local markets, or travel inland to Maya sites and cave systems. Belize’s barrier reef offers excellent options for snorkelling and diving.

  12. Day 22

    Cozumel, Mexico

    Cozumel, off Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, pairs clear Caribbean water with a lively island town. San Miguel de Cozumel offers cafés, shops and a waterfront promenade within easy reach of the cruise piers. Beyond town, reef excursions reveal why divers travel here, while San Gervasio preserves the island’s Mayan history. Choose a beach day, a guided snorkel or a drive around the coast; each shows a different side of Cozumel.

  13. Day 25

    Miami, USA

    Miami rewards travelers who look beyond its cruise terminals. South Beach pairs pastel Art Deco hotels with Ocean Drive; Little Havana serves Cuban coffee and music along Calle Ocho. The Pérez Art Museum Miami and nearby Design District reveal the city’s creative ambition. For a change of pace, Biscayne Bay and the Everglades place vivid natural landscapes within reach.

ms Europa Cruises

Published August 16, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard

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.

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