THE amazing Panama Canal considered one of the seven wonders of the modern world, was one of the largest and most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken.
The canal is a man-made 77 km waterway which connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean.
Cutting across Panama the canal is a major route for international shipping trade with between 13,000 and 14,000 ships transiting the canal every year.
The Panama Canal shortcut greatly reduced the time and danger for ship travel between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Ships can now avoid the hazardous seas around Cape Horn at the southernmost tip of South America and the Drake Passage or Strait of Magellan.
France commenced work on the canal in 1881, stopping construction due to the high worker mortality rate and engineering problems.
In 1904 the United States restarted the project with the canal finally opening in 1914. Due to the high volume of ships passing through the canal a third, wider lane of locks was constructed between 2007 and 2016. The new locks allow larger ships to now transit the canal.
After a period of joint American–Panamanian control, in 1999 the canal was taken over by the Panamanian government, and is now managed and operated by the government-owned Panama Canal Authority.
To transit the canal takes between 8-10 hours as the ships make their way through a system of locks that will raise the ship to 85 feet above sea level. Each ship moves into a section of the canal which is then sealed off by a gate. The water is drained from that section until the ship has been lowered to the appropriate level before the gates are opened and the boat exits the lock. The same occurs in the other direction, with the lock filling up with water instead.
To experience the transiting of the canal join us on board Celebrity cruises infinity as we cruise from Miami to San Diego via the Panama Canal visiting Colombia, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Mexico.
The fantastic 22 day cruise begins with a flight to Miami for a two night stay to explore the beaches, futuristic high rise and famed Art Deco district. We then board the magnificent Celebrity Cruises Infinity for a 15 magical night cruise to Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Mexico finishing in San Diego, California.
With our local guide we visit the Convent of La Popa built in the 1600’s on a hillside with magnificent views back to the city and bay of Cartagena, Columbia. In Colon, Panama we visit the large Gatun Lock one of the three locks we will pass through during our voyage - an impressive sight.
A highlight of the cruise will be transiting the canal before cruising into Puntarenas, Costa Rica situated on a long narrow peninsula in the Gulf of Nicoya. Enjoy a historic train ride through the countryside before a boat ride on the Tarcoles River to see the fascinating wildlife.
The following day we drive into the UNESCO world heritage city of Antigua, Guatemala home of several historical landmarks preserved from the 17th & 18th Century.
Next stop Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where we enjoy a wander along the board walk lined with fascinating shops and galleries, before learning about the manufacture of Tequilla... and having a taste test.
We have a scenic day in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with lots of beaches, shopping and its magnificent natural rock formations before disembarking in San Diego, California.
Our sightseeing tour today is to the USS Midway Museum, this enormous aircraft carrier has twenty nine restored aircraft and over sixty exhibits. After booking into our hotel there will be some free time to relax and enjoy the city before we fly home.
Departing on the 30th April 2017 this fantastic 22-day holiday is priced from $6,995 per person twin share which includes return airfares, taxes, four star accommodation in Miami and San Diego, 15 night cruise on Celebrity Infinity, private sightseeing tours... and so much more.
Call Travelrite International on 1800 630 343 for further information and a colour brochure.
