19-Day World Cruise: Panama Canal Crossing

Long Beach is a vibrant, sun-drenched coastal city located in Southern California, anchoring the southern portion of the massive Los Angeles metropolitan area. It serves as one of the world's most critical maritime gateways, housing the Port of Long Beach, which operates as the second-busiest container port in the entire United States. The city's scenic waterfront is permanently graced by the legendary ocean liner RMS Queen Mary, which now stands as a historic floating hotel, museum, and iconic tourist attraction. Just steps away, the world-renowned Aquarium of the Pacific showcases the incredible marine biodiversity of the Pacific Ocean across massive, interactive galleries. Along the coastline, miles of wide sandy beaches provide an ideal venue for breezy bike paths, beach volleyball, and a thriving local kitesurfing community. Culturally, Long Beach boasts an incredibly diverse population that fuels a dynamic arts scene, highlighted by the Museum of Latin American Art and vibrant street murals. Distinct, eclectic neighborhoods like Belmont Shore, the East Village Arts District, and Cambodia Town offer unique dining, vintage shopping, and lively nightlife options. Every spring, the city's coastal streets are transformed into a high-speed racetrack for the famous Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, drawing motorsport fans from around the globe. The picturesque Naples neighborhood features a network of scenic, man-made canals where visitors can enjoy authentic gondola rides reminiscent of Italy. Ultimately, Long Beach seamlessly blends a relaxed, classic Southern California beach vibe with the dynamic energy of a booming, culturally rich metropolis.

Puerto Vallarta is a resort town on Mexico’s Pacific coast, in Jalisco state. It is known for its beaches, water sports and nightlife scene. Its cobblestone center is home to the ornate Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe church, boutique shops and a range of restaurants and bars. El Malecón is a beachside promenade with contemporary sculptures, as well as bars, lounges and nightclubs.

Huatulco, officially known as Santa María Huatulco, is a premier, eco-focused resort destination beautifully situated along the rugged Pacific coast of Oaxaca, Mexico. Developed with a strict commitment to low-density sustainability, the region is highly unique for its strict environmental building codes that prevent high-rise hotels from obscuring the natural landscape. The jewel of the destination is the breathtaking Huatulco National Park, a massive protected reserve sheltering vibrant low-growth deciduous forests, rare wildlife, and untouched shorelines. Along its jagged coastline lie nine spectacular bays and thirty-six pristine beaches, offering an expansive playground of golden sands and hidden coves. The crystal-clear, emerald-tinted waters boast some of the finest coral reefs on the Mexican Pacific, drawing snorkelers and scuba divers to thriving marine communities. While the modern tourist zone centers around the beautiful marina of Bahía de Santa Cruz and the shopping hubs of Tangolunda, the authentic inland town of Santa María Huatulco preserves traditional Oaxacan charm. Visitors can easily indulge in world-class regional gastronomy, famously sampling authentic Oaxacan mole, fresh seafood dishes, and artisanal mezcal at lively open-air restaurants. The region's gentle ocean breezes and steady thermal winds create ideal conditions for eco-adventures like ocean kayaking, deep-sea fishing charters, and sailing. Travelers can seamlessly arrive via the modern Bahías de Huatulco International Airport, which links the tranquil paradise to major hubs across North America. Ultimately, Huatulco offers a sophisticated yet laid-back coastal escape that masterfully balances modern luxury travel with pristine tropical preservation.

Puerto Chiapas, formerly known as Puerto Madero, is a distinct commercial and cruise port situated on the southern Pacific coast of Mexico, just miles from the Guatemalan border. Operating as the only major maritime gateway for the state of Chiapas, it serves as a critical economic hub for exporting regional agricultural goods like coffee and bananas. The modern Puerto Chiapas Cruise Terminal welcomes international cruise lines with an impressive, palm-shaded palapa complex that features a swimming pool, artisan craft markets, and local food vendors. Upon arrival, travelers are traditionally greeted with lively, authentic marimba musical performances and colorful folkloric dances inside a unique sunken theater. The port sits roughly 30 kilometers south of Tapachula, a culturally diverse city known for its colonial-era plaza and traditional architecture. Positioned along a lush tropical coastline, the area provides a launching point for peaceful boat tours through nearby mangrove estuaries teeming with native birdlife. For history enthusiasts, it is the primary gateway to the ancient Izapa archaeological site, a pre-Columbian Mesoamerican center famous for its intricately carved stone stelae and pyramids. The surrounding volcanic highlands feature fertile soil that supports historic highland coffee and cacao estates established by European immigrants in the late 19th century. Culturally, visitors can take excursions to the nearby town of Tuxtla Chico to witness traditional Mayan-style chocolate-making demonstrations directly from raw cacao beans. Ultimately, Puerto Chiapas offers an immersive, less-crowded alternative to standard cruise stops, beautifully bridging ancient history, coastal nature, and deep-rooted agricultural heritage

Puerto Quetzal is Guatemala's largest Pacific Ocean port. It is important for both cargo traffic and as a stop-off point for cruise liners

This town is not on the Nicoya Peninsula, but rather on Costa Rica's mainland. It is best known as a cruise-ship port and launching pad for ferries heading southeast to the coast of the Nicoya Peninsula and for cruises sailing out on the Gulf of Nicoya. Puntarenas is also a major fishing port with a lively fish market. The town’s reputation suffers from the unimpressive parts you see from your car as you roll through town on the way to the ferry dock. But the town has a lot of character off the main drag, thanks to its illustrious past as an affluent port town and principal vacation spot for San José's wealthy, who arrived by train in the last century. Once the port was moved and roads opened to other beaches, Puntarenas's economy crashed, but it's making a comeback. Sitting on a narrow spit of sand—punta de arenas literally means "point of sand"—that protrudes into the Gulf of Nicoya, the town boasts a beautifully groomed, wide Blue Flag beach with views of the Nicoya Peninsula and spectacular sunsets, along with a public swimming pool, the San Lucas Beach Club, and a marine-life museum. Ticos arrive by bus and car to enjoy the beach and stroll the Paseo de los Turistas, a beachfront promenade lined with tree-shaded concrete benches and seafood restaurants. Crowds of locals, called porteños, cruise by on bicycles, the town’s most popular form of transport.

Cartagena's magnificent city walls and fortresses, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, enclose a well-restored historic center (the Cuidad Amurallada, or walled city) with plazas, churches, museums, and shops that have made it a lively coastal vacation spot for South Americans and others. New hotels and restaurants make the walled city a desirable place to stay, and the formerly down-at-the-heels Getsemaní neighborhood attracts those seeking a bohemian buzz. The historic center is a small section of Cartagena; many hotels are in the Bocagrande district, an elongated peninsula where high-rise hotels overlook a long, gray-sand beach.When it was founded in 1533 by Spanish conquistador Pedro de Heredia, Cartagena was the only port on the South American mainland. Gold and silver looted from indigenous peoples passed through here en route to Spain and attracted pirates, including Sir Francis Drake, who in 1586 torched 200 buildings. Cartagena's walls protected the city's riches as well as the New World's most important African slave market.

Miami is one of the world’s most popular holiday spots. It has so much to offer; from its countless beach areas, to culture and museums, from spa and shopping days out, to endless cuban restaurants and cafes. Miami is a multicultural city that has something to offer to everyone.