11 DAYS • 29 MEALS Come discover the Caribbean and the Panama Canal. From Holland America’s Private island of Half Moon Cay to the unspoiled charms of Costa Rica. From the Dutch Antilles of Aruba and Curacao  to the unforgettable Panama Canal and Costa Rica.

The dream to cut a path across Panama to shorten the dangerous journey around South America's Cape Horn began with the Spanish explorers in the 16th-century.  The Frenchman Ferdinand de Lesseps began the effort after his triumphant completion of the Suez Canal in 1879.  His plan collapsed into bankruptcy in 1889, and President Theodore Roosevelt took up the cause in 1902.

A river was dammed to create what was then the world's largest artificial lake.  An eight-mile channel was cut through a mountain range and more than 200 million cubic yards of earth and stone were cleared. Six immense locks, with walls 1,000 feet long and 81 feet high, took four years to build. The massive doors on the locks each weigh nearly 750 tons.
Working conditions for the more than 35,000 laborers were excruciatingly difficult.  Typhoid, malaria and other tropical diseases were a constant threat, and temperatures often rose to 130 degrees.Even with all the travails, this marvel of human ingenuity was finally completed in 1913, a year ahead of schedule and $23 million under budget.  The first vessel through the Canal was the tugboat, Gatun, which fulfilled a dream hundreds of years in the making.

Panama Canal
The highlight of your cruise will be a daylight journey through one of the major locks and lakes of the Panama Canal. This engineering marvel of the modern world today links oceans, continents and cultures. The MS Zuiderdam rises 85 feet above sea level while transiting three steps at Gatun Locks and then enters Gatun Lake which is key to supplying the water necessary to operate the lock system. It will take about 52 million gallons of water to float the MS Zuiderdam through the locks. On board lectures will describe the history of the Canal – a history that shapes global events even today.

Cristobal, Panama
Cristobal lies on the stunning Caribbean coast of Panama, where unparalleled beaches and lush tropical scenery are de rigueur. In nearby Portobello, discover the ruins of Spanish forts, watch the colorful yachts sailing in the bay or hunt for treasures in the local markets.

Puerto Limon, Costa Rica
Enchanting Costa Rica is a small country with a big heart. Named the “Rich Coast” by Columbus, it is imbued with natural treasures. You’ll find breathtaking beaches, lush rain forests, volcanoes, and jagged mountains. Its rain forests are home to ten percent of the world's bird species and more than a thousand varieties of orchids.  This peaceful country, the oldest democracy in Latin America, has dedicated 25 percent of its land to national parks and wildlife refuges.  Take an optional guided tour under the canopy of the trees and enter the world of exotic animals and unusual foliage.