Viking Oceans Cruises – Panama Canal & Central America (United States, Jamaica, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, Belize, Mexico) 15 Days

Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, United States
Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom. A beloved leisure destination for Floridians and visitors alike, the Ft. Lauderdale area exudes the carefree attitude of South Florida’s coast. In Miami, a thriving Cuban culture infuses Old Havana and gleaming high-rises overlook Biscayne Bay. On the outlying barrier islands, South Beach is an intoxicating blend of seaside glamour and art deco pastel brilliance. Farther north, the seven-mile-long Ft. Lauderdale Beach provides a more leisurely ambience. Along Las Olas Boulevard, cafés and boutiques invite lingering and endless browsing.

Sail the Caribbean Sea
Sail through turquoise waters where legends of marauding pirates, swashbucklers and tales of hidden treasures were born. As you sail, take advantage of the array of delicious cuisine offered on board. You may visit Mamsen’s, our casual gourmet deli, any time from early morning to late at night for a taste of traditional Norwegian fare. Or, dine at Manfredi’s and savor an authentic Italian meal, with options ranging from Milanese risotto to Tuscan inspired classics.  

Montego Bay, Jamaica
Jamaica is renowned for its relaxed island atmosphere and lively rhythms. Its main port of Montego Bay is home to lively resorts and soft-sand beaches. The birthplace of reggae, the island still celebrates its most famous native son, Bob Marley. Jamaica’s plantation past is on display at the Rose Hall Great House, an elegant, late 18th-century Georgian mansion. The fascinating house chronicles life during a turbulent time in Jamaica’s history and tells the story of the “White Witch,” whose voodoo practices gave rise to the legend of the White Witch of Rose Hall.

Shore Excursions – Jamaican History & Culture
Duration: 4 hours
Discover the history of Jamaica’s sugar industry and the cultural importance of reggae. Enjoy a scenic drive down the coastline to the Tryall Property, where you will see the ruins of a waterwheel that operated during the time when sugar was king and manufactured here from sugarcane. Stop to learn about Jamaica’s sugar industry and its effect on the country’s economy and culture, then continue to the Blue Hole Estate. Gain insight into the island’s history, from its original inhabitants—the Taino—to Spanish and English rule, as well as the intriguing story of the Maroons. Finally, cap your tour with a reggae music session, where you will experience the harmony of Europe melded to the beat of Africa. Witness Jamaican dances and singing while learning about reggae’s important cultural significance in Jamaica. Afterward, you will return to your ship.

Shore Excursions – Rose Hall Great House
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Glimpse a rich past at the Rose Hall Great House, an elegant Georgian mansion from the British colonial period. Take a scenic drive with your guide to the plantation, then set out on your tour and gain insight into its mansion’s intriguing history. This fascinating Georgian-style house chronicles life during a turbulent time. Its wealthy owner John Palmer and his wife hosted the island’s most gala parties here. In 1831, slaves ransacked the house during the Christmas Rebellion. It was left in decay until 1966, when preservationists brought back its luster. Mahogany staircases, silk-covered walls fashioned after those designed for Marie Antoinette and other lush touches have made this the most important Great House in Jamaica. The house is also known for the legend of the White Witch of Rose Hall, whose ghost is said to haunt the halls. After your tour, you will return to your ship.

Shore Excursions – Old Fort Craft Market
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Immerse yourself in an authentic local shopping experience during a visit to the Old Fort Craft Market. Embark on a scenic drive through Montego Bay en route to the market, home to vendors selling an array of handicrafts and memorabilia. You will find the market at the Old Fort Montego, an early 17th-century fortress that still showcases its well-preserved colonial-era cannons as well as other features that highlight the beauty and history of Jamaica. Upon arrival, meet your guide, who will provide you with recommendations. Then, enjoy free time to explore on your own. Soak up the market’s lively atmosphere as you search for the perfect mementos or clothing, admire the works of local artists, or take the opportunity to sample the local cuisine on offer (at your own expense). At the end of your tour, you will board your motor coach and return to your awaiting ship.

Scenic Sailing: Panama Canal Partial Transit
Forty-eight miles long, the Panama Canal crosses the narrowest stretch of the Isthmus of Panama. Witnessing this engineering marvel at work is truly memorable. A partial crossing to the Gatun Lake transits through a series of three locks that lift and lower ships 85 feet from sea level, guided by electric locomotives known as mulas. Far from the mechanics of the locks’ chambers, the canal is embraced by the lush beauty of the surrounding countryside.

Colón, Panama
Colón lies near the Panama Canal’s Atlantic entrance. During the California gold rush, prospectors from the eastern United States sailed here, trekked across the narrow isthmus of Panama, then sailed up the Pacific coast, believing the journey easier than traversing the entire United States. Indigenous tribes maintain a strong presence in this northern corner of Panama. In the city’s rural reaches, the Emberá people—descended from ancient tribes—live in thatched-roof huts, travel by dugout canoe and weave traditional baskets.

Shore Excursions – Panoramic Colón & Panama City by Foot
Duration: 6 hours
Discover Panama’s most exciting city on this excursion to the capital, Panama City. Discover Panama’s most exciting city on this excursion to the capital. A 90-minute drive from Colón brings you across the isthmus to the gleaming waterfront of Panama City, lined with modern glass skyscrapers that are reminiscent of Miami. Enjoy the sights of this vibrant cosmopolitan city, which has been likened to Singapore for its booming city skyline, and Dubai for its aspirations of becoming an economic powerhouse. Continue to Casco Viejo (Old Town), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Accompanied by your guide, stroll the old cobblestone lanes past pastel-colored colonial buildings, stopping to admire the stately cathedral. Later, enjoy free time to explore on your own; along with its antique charm, the Casco offers some of the city’s most stylish hotels, bars and boutiques.

Shore Excursions – A Leisurely Exploration of Panama City
Duration: 6 hours
Enjoy a panoramic excursion to discover the captivating history of Panama City, Panama Viejo and Amador. Meet your guide and journey to Panama’s capital to explore its rich history and breathtaking views. Appreciate the city’s beauty while delving into its heritage as you glimpse the remnants of churches, colonial palaces, bridges and military structures in Panama Viejo. Enjoy intriguing stories shared by your guide, who will recount legends and Panama’s maritime heritage. Relax in comfort as you enjoy a scenic tour of Panama City, navigating the Cinta Costera 3 and the waterfront boulevard. Admire panoramic views of the Bay of Panama and the historic Casco Viejo, Panama’s colonial district. Finally, take a moment to capture the scenery in Amador, an area formed by the four small islands, marking the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal.

San Jose (Puerto Limón), Costa Rica
Puerto Limón is the gateway to one of the world’s most biodiverse countries. In 1502, Christopher Columbus landed on the nearby island of Isla Uvita. Puerto Limón boasts a diversity of its own. Italian, Jamaican and Chinese residents descended from immigrants who came here to lay the railroad to San José in the late 19th century. Coffee exports from the highlands, and the later arrival of the United Fruit Company, helped to bolster the local economy. Today, a rich Afro-Caribbean heritage is prevalent, with many speaking a creole form of English, Limonese Creole.

Shore Excursions – Tortuguero Canals
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Explore a lush network of natural waterways and manmade canals in one of Costa Rica’s unique coastal environments. The Tortuguero Canals, considered the second-largest wetland in Costa Rica, is part of an effort to preserve the nesting sites of the green turtle. Today, its maze of watery passageways connects lagoons, deltas and even small villages. The canals’ many ecozones support an array of wildlife, from manatees to howler monkeys, making it one of Costa Rica’s most rewarding nature experiences. You will drive with your guide to our dock. While you cruise, silently drifting along canals often affords close-up wildlife viewing since all manner of birds—such as toucans and jacamars—dot the shoreside trees. As you traverse narrower canals overgrown with jungle, keep your eyes and ears open for white-faced monkeys.

Sail the Caribbean Sea
Fed by the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean covers nearly 1.1 million square miles and boasts a depth of approximately 25,000 feet below sea level at its deepest point in the Cayman Trench. Admire the views as you sail today and enjoy an al fresco dining experience. The Aquavit Terrace serves a range of International fare and casual dining favorites, as well as a range of superb cocktails inspired by our destinations.

Shore Excursions – Carambola Gardens & Panoramic City Tour
Duration: 2 hours
Enjoy a guided walk along the lush Carambola Botanical Gardens pathways, 40 acres of impeccably maintained trails. Transfer to your motor coach, then take a drive with your local host to the gardens in Sandy Bay. Upon arrival, you will set out on foot through a protected forest that hugs the hillside of Carambola Mountain. As you explore along its pathways, admire dozens of native plant types, from orchids and fruit trees to spice and medicinal plants, plus the popular “chocolate tree” and the famous Honduran mahogany tree. Gain insight into the local flora from your knowledgeable guide as you cross charming bridges over babbling brooks and relax in the tranquility of your idyllic tropical surroundings. At the end of your time at the gardens, you will board your coach and return to your awaiting ship. En route back to your ship, enjoy a brief tour of Roatán.

Shore Excursions – Gumbalimba Park
Duration: 4 hours
Relax on our half day tour to the beautiful Gumbalimba Park. Nature lovers will delight in the unspoiled surroundings during a stroll around the park to admire the flowers, see the wildlife and take in the stunning attractions and features. Cross over the Gumbalimba pond via a scenic rope bridge, and befriend the brightly colored parrots and macaws. Observe the resident monkeys in the Monkey Refugio zone and admire the collections of insects and butterflies at the Insectarium. Trace the steps of the real pirates of the Caribbean inside Coxen’s Cave where you will encounter the infamous Captain Coxen and his stolen treasure. After the tour you will enjoy free time to explore the botanical gardens, or alternatively, relax and enjoy the sunshine or take a dip in the cool turquoise waters. A café offers snacks and refreshments.

Belize City, Belize
Inhabited by the Maya for more than 5,000 years, Belize is home to more than a dozen remarkable ruins. At the ancient site of Altun Ha, one of Central America’s most accessible archaeological treasures, several Mesoamerican temple-pyramids stand as testaments to an advanced civilization. Its most famous, the Temple of the Masonry Altars, is 54 feet tall. Offshore, Belize boasts another spectacular wonder: the famous Great Blue Hole. Just off Ambergris Caye, this natural phenomenon is a breathtaking chute in the middle of a shallow lagoon and paradise for diving enthusiasts.

Shore Excursions – Old Belize City & Altun Ha
Duration: 4 hours
Tour Old Belize, then journey to the mysterious Mayan ruins of Altun Ha, one of Central America’s ancient temples. Tender ashore and meet your guide for a panoramic tour of Belize’s Old Town, city of contrasts where Caribbean culture meets a rich British heritage. Drive past St. John’s Cathedral, built in the early 1800s from bricks used as ballast in ships that brought British settlers here, and pass by an array of colonial-era buildings. Later, head north along winding roads to the fascinating ruins of Altun Ha, where five square miles of Mayan history emerge from the thick jungle. Here, several Mesoamerican temple-pyramids stand as testament to an advanced civilization that dates back as far as 900 BC. Its most famous, the Temple of the Masonry Altars, is 54 feet tall. After a guided walking tour and free time to explore, return to your ship.

Cozumel, Mexico
The island of Cozumel holds the keys to many of the most intriguing secrets of Mexico’s ancient civilizations. At San Gervasio, pre-Columbian women made offerings to Ix Chel, goddess of the moon and fertility. More recently, the Spanish left marks of their early presence in the colorful colonial architecture and lively traditions of San Miguel and at the scenic lighthouse at Punta Sur. Today, this island off Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula attracts as many snorkelers as it does history buffs; the Cozumel Reefs National Marine Park is the world’s second-largest coral reef system.

Shore Excursions – The Ruins of San Gervasio
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Discover the ruins of a pre-Columbian Mayan religious site during a visit to San Gervasio. Located on the northeastern side of the island of Cozumel, San Gervasio is a Mayan site dedicated to Ix Chel, goddess of the moon and fertility. Mayan women would make the pilgrimage to this site and present offerings to the goddess. Take a tour of the remains of this expansive complex; today, the stone structures are missing their roofs and upper walls; and view Las Manitas (“Little Hands”), which was the residence of the Mayan ruler of Cozumel. On your way back to San Miguel, see the many coves and strands that make Cozumel a beach-lover’s paradise. Back in town, enjoy some free time to shop and explore at your leisure, or transfer directly to your ship.

Shore Excursions – El Pueblo del Maiz: A Mayan Village
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
Discover the traditions of the Indigenous Mayan people of the Yucatán during an immersive cultural experience. Transfer to Pueblo del Maíz, a cultural park dedicated to preserving the traditions of the Yucatán’s pre-Hispanic cultures. Join your guide for a walk among the traditional huts of a reconstructed village, uncovering rich layers of heritage as you explore. Try your hand at seeding corn, revered in this region, and listen as your hosts share the story of the village’s creation. Next, observe the process of turning cocoa beans into chocolate—a sacred food in Mayan culture—and join a music workshop to discover ancestral music and use ancient instruments to create rhythms inspired by heritage and nature. Learn about the Mayan writing system during a painting activity and cap your day by watching a dance performance that honors ancestral rituals, accompanied by ceremonial music.

Sail the Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea has been recognized the world over for its rich biodiversity. More than 10,000 marine species thrive in its waters, which are also home to approximately 10 percent of the Earth’s coral reefs. Admire the views as you sail today and enjoy an al fresco dining experience. The Aquavit Terrace serves a range of International fare and casual dining favorites, as well as a range of superb cocktails inspired by our destinations.

Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, United States
Bid farewell to your fellow guests and journey home. Or spend more time exploring, perhaps joining one of our extensions.