15 nights · California · Departs San Diego (USA) · Visiting Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco, Puerto Chiapas, Puerto Quetzal, Panama City, Panama Canal, Cartagena Colombia, Half Moon Cay, Miami · Aboard Holland America on the ms Zuiderdam
Image courtesy of Holland America ©
| Cruise line | Holland America |
|---|---|
| Ship | ms Zuiderdam |
| Duration | 15 nights |
| Port calls | 10 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $1,924 per person |
| Year built | 2002 |
| Guests | 2364 |
| Cabins | 985 |
| Crew | 817 |
| Length | 285 m |
| Beam | 32 m |
| Cruising speed | 22.0 kn |
San Diego makes an easy first impression: a working harbor, sunlit waterfront and Pacific air. From the cruise terminal, the USS Midway Museum and lively Embarcadero are close at hand. Balboa Park brings world-class museums, gardens and the San Diego Zoo together in one grand setting. In the Gaslamp Quarter, Victorian façades frame restaurants and bars. Nearby neighborhoods reveal Mexican heritage and coastal ease.
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 Chiapas opens onto Mexico’s Pacific south, close to Tapachula and the Guatemalan border. In the fertile Soconusco region, coffee farms and tropical orchards flourish in volcanic soil. The archaeological site of Izapa offers a quieter encounter with Mexico’s ancient past, among carved stone monuments. For a broader view, Tapachula brings lively markets and everyday southern Mexican life.
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.
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.
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.
Half Moon Cay is Carnival Corporation’s private island on Little San Salvador in the southern Bahamas. Ships anchor offshore, and tenders bring guests to a long sweep of pale sand beside clear, shallow water. Horseback riding, nature trails, stingray encounters, and private cabanas offer alternatives to a day on the beach. Check your tender schedule before exploring; the island is designed for a relaxed day ashore, not independent town wandering.
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.
Published September 28, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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