Costa Rica & the Panama Canal

The Costa Rica & the Panama Canal is a 11-night Panama Canal cruise aboard Greg Mortimer, operated by Aurora Expeditions. Departing San Jose, Costa Rica on October 2, 2027, the voyage visits 6 ports.

Length: 11 nights
Departs: Oct 2, 2027
Returns: Oct 13, 2027
Ports of call: 6

Itinerary

Day 1 Oct 2, 2027 San Jose, Costa Rica San Jose is a large city surrounded by rolling hills in Silicon Valley, a major technology hub in California's Bay Area. Architectural landmarks, from the 1883 Italianate-style Oddfellows building to Spanish Colonial Revival structures, make up the downtown historic district. The downtown area is also home to the Tech Museum of Innovation, devoted to the exploration of science and technology.

Day 10 Oct 11, 2027 Panama City You probably can’t think of Panama City without conjuring images of the Panama Canal. But nearly 400 years before the Panama Canal opened its locks, Panama City was making its mark. From the vestiges of the original settlement to the modern skyscrapers, experience the history and culture of one of the Pacific Coast’s oldest continuously inhabited European settlements. After exploring the bustling local markets in search of fresh fish or artisan handicrafts, admire the restored Spanish Colonial architecture in Casco Viejo. Or you can head to the Miraflores Locks and watch one of the modern world’s most heroic feats of engineering in action. Panama City port guide Search cruises visiting Panama City

Panama City photo — Day 10 Oct 11, 2027 Panama City You probably can’t think of Panama City without conjuring images of the Panama Canal. But nearly 400 years before the Panama Canal opened its locks, Panama City was making its mark. From the vestiges of the original settlement to the modern skyscrapers, experience the history and culture of one of the Pacific Coast’s oldest continuously inhabited European settlements. After exploring the bustling local markets in search of fresh fish or artisan handicrafts, admire the restored Spanish Colonial architecture in Casco Viejo. Or you can head to the Miraflores Locks and watch one of the modern world’s most heroic feats of engineering in action. Panama City port guide Search cruises visiting Panama City

Day 11 Oct 12, 2027 Panama Canal Panama is synonymous with the Panama Canal. While Panama connects Central America to South America, the Panama Canal, which opened in 1914, connects the Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean. The channel reduces shipping time and currently connects 160 countries and 1,700 ports around the world. Hailed as an engineering marvel, the artificial waterway with its elaborate lock system is one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century. Arriving on an MSC Caribbean and Antilles cruise into Colón, Panama’s gateway city, you’ll encounter the irresistible juxtaposition of the ancient and modern, the artificial and natural, as enormous computerized container ships transiting the canal slice through primeval rainforests teeming with fluorescent frogs and elusive wild cats. Book an MSC excursion to hop on a ferry that will take you along the length of the Panama Canal, through lakes and locks and past the Centennial and Americas bridges. Finally, you will arrive at Pacific port at the entrance to the Panama Canal, and then enjoy a 90-minute bus ride back to your ship. Panama Canal port guide Search cruises visiting Panama Canal

Day 12 Oct 13, 2027 Colon, Panama Panama is synonymous with the Panama Canal. While Panama connects Central America to South America, the Panama Canal, which opened in 1914, connects the Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean. The channel reduces shipping time and currently connects 160 countries and 1,700 ports around the world. Hailed as an engineering marvel, the artificial waterway with its elaborate lock system is one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century. Arriving on an MSC Caribbean and Antilles cruise into Colón, Panama’s gateway city, you’ll encounter the irresistible juxtaposition of the ancient and modern, the artificial and natural, as enormous computerized container ships transiting the canal slice through primeval rainforests teeming with fluorescent frogs and elusive wild cats. Book an MSC excursion to hop on a ferry that will take you along the length of the Panama Canal, through lakes and locks and past the Centennial and Americas bridges. Finally, you will arrive at Pacific port at the entrance to the Panama Canal, and then enjoy a 90-minute bus ride back to your ship. Not far from the ceaseless activity on the canal lies untamed nature. Take a guided eco-cruise on Gatún Lake, surrounded by rainforest. Gatún, created in 1913 to fill the fertile valley of the Chagres River, is the world's largest artificial lake, and an integral part of the dam and canal. Catch glimpses of exotic birds, monkeys, sloths, iguanas, crocodiles and more. Following your lake cruise, go on a rainforest walk and follow the eco-trail that surrounds the lake. Head off the beaten path on an MSC excursion to explore the world of the Emberá people, located only half an hour by dugout up the Chagres River. Emberá villagers, who live much as they did when the Spanish arrived in the 1500s, will welcome you in traditional dress, with dances, music and their artefacts: baskets, jewellery and the cocobolo, a small sculpture made from a special kind of wood. The Colón cruise also gives you the opportunity to discover bustling Panama City, the country’s capital, with its pleasant blend of modern and colonial architecture. Enjoy a scenic visit to Panama City’s cobblestoned historic centre, Casco Viejo, or the Colonial City, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Founded in 1673, the Casco Viejo, or Casco Antiguo as it is also called, was built following the near-total destruction of the original Panama City two years earlier, when it was attacked by an Englishman, Captain Henry Morgan. The Casco Antiguo brims with historical buildings, including a cathedral and national theatre, a French monument to the 22,000 workers who died building the Panama Canal, and the fabulous Las Bóvedas walkway. The tour also includes a quick visit to Agua Claras Locks (Expansion Centre) to see how the Panama Canal operates. Colon, Panama port guide Search cruises visiting Colon, Panama

Pricing

Current prices

Per person · 2 guests · incl. taxes & fees

Price information is not available.

Show all 40 cabin grades

Cabin grades and pricing
Name	Supplier code	Type
Balcony Stateroom Category A Single	BA1D	Balcony
Balcony Stateroom Category A Single	BA1G	Balcony
Balcony Stateroom Category A Single	BA1S	Balcony
Balcony Stateroom Category B Single	BB1G	Balcony
Balcony Stateroom Category B Single	BB1S	Balcony
Balcony Stateroom Category C Single	BC1G	Balcony
Balcony Stateroom Category C Single	BC1S	Balcony
Balcony Stateroom Category A	BSAD	Balcony
Balcony Stateroom Category A	BSAG	Balcony
Balcony Stateroom Category A	BSAS	Balcony
Balcony Stateroom Category B	BSBD	Balcony
Balcony Stateroom Category B	BSBG	Balcony
Balcony Stateroom Category B	BSBS	Balcony
Balcony Stateroom Category C	BSCD	Balcony
Balcony Stateroom Category C	BSCG	Balcony
Balcony Stateroom Category C	BSCS	Balcony
Balcony Stateroom Superior	SBSD	Balcony
Balcony Stateroom Superior	SBSS	Balcony
Aurora Stateroom Single	AS1D	Oceanview
Aurora Stateroom Twin	AS2D	Oceanview
Aurora Stateroom Twin	AS2G	Oceanview
Aurora Stateroom Twin	AS2S	Oceanview
Aurora Stateroom Triple	AS3D	Oceanview
Aurora Stateroom Triple	AS3G	Oceanview
Aurora Stateroom Triple	AS3S	Oceanview
ETeam Single	E1D	Oceanview
ETeam Single	E1G	Oceanview
E Team Share	E2D	Oceanview
Twin Share	E2G	Oceanview
ETeam Twin Share	E2S	Oceanview
Aurora Stateroom Superior Single	SA1D	Oceanview
Aurora Stateroom Superior	SASD	Oceanview
Captain’s Suite	CSD	Suite
Captain Suite	CSG	Suite
Captain Suite	CSS	Suite
Junior Suite	JSD	Suite
Junior Suite	JSG	Suite
Junior Suite	JSS	Suite
Aurora Stateroom Superior	SASS	Suite
Balcony Stateroom Superior	SBSG	Suite