Panama Canal Cruise with Big Sur and San Francisco Tour

Day 1 - UK - Miami

Our nationwide shared chauffeur service collects you from home for your flight to Miami. On arrival, we transfer to our hotel for two-night stay.

Day 2 - Miami

We’ll take a guided city tour of Miami this morning. We’ll enjoy wandering Ocean Drive - famous for its 1930s art deco buildings - and soak in the buzzing atmosphere of cosmopolitan South Beach. The afternoon is at leisure. Perhaps head to Lincoln Road and take a bite out of freshly baked arepas (stuffed cornmeal cakes). Or relax by the sea and watch as teal waves lap endless sandy beaches.

Day 3 - Miami

The morning is free for further exploration. This afternoon we transfer to embark our ship. You’ll have time to settle into your cabin before we set sail this evening.

Day 4 - Half Moon Cay, Bahamas

All Bahamas islands are full of tropical wonders and sun-kissed beaches, but Half Moon Cay is Holland America Line’s private island in the Bahamas, so you’re really in for a special experience. Ship to shore tender service.

Days 5-6 - At sea

Two days to settle into ship life. Choose to relax, maybe in a comfortable coffee house or enjoy the superb facilities and wonderful live musical entertainment on board, as we sail southwards.

Day 7 - Cartagena, Colombia

Smell the scent of bougainvillea as you explore the beautifully preserved city of Cartagena. Get lost in the maze of cobblestoned streets in the Old Town. See the imposing fort, or people watch in leafy squares. This UNESCO Heritage Site is full of rainbow colours and charm.

Day 8 - Daytime Panama Canal Transit

Relax on board as we navigate ‘one of the seven wonders of the modern world’. As we sail, take in the sights of colonial towns and historic fortresses, and listen to the sounds of the rainforest. Hundreds of species of mammals, reptiles and birds thrive along the length of the canal.

Day 9 - At sea

A leisurely day at sea to enjoy the delights of the ship. Perhaps opt for a treatment at the Greenhouse Spa & Salon or sit on deck taking in the views.

Day 10 - Puerto Caldera (Puntarenas), Costa Rica

If you decide on one of many optional excursions, you could be keeping your eyes peeled for distinctive scarlet macaws as you walk on hanging bridges and through the stunning rainforests of Carara National Park. Or perhaps see Costa Rica’s most famous volcano, Arenal. You’ll get the chance to swim in natural hot springs, spot sloths and toucans, and feel the spray of cooling waterfalls.

Day 11 - At sea

A day to spend exploring the ship's facilities as we head towards Guatemala.

Day 12 - Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala

Your choice of optional excursion could take you on a journey past magnificent volcanoes, cattle farms and sugar cane plantations, or to savour one of the freshest cups of coffee you've ever had at a coffee estate. Visit the Jade Museum and Factory in Antigua, the colonial capital. Or explore the substantial ruins of Iximché, the capital of the Kaqchikel Maya kingdom, to learn of Mayan rituals and cosmology.

Day 13 - Huatulco, Mexico

Huatulco is known for its beautiful bays and beaches. Spend today relaxing on the sun-drenched coastline, with the jagged Sierra Madre Mountains as a striking backdrop; or maybe go in search for some of the 225 species of local birdlife that call this region home.

Day 14 - At sea

Another day to relax at sea. Maybe spend time watching recent-release films as we sail onwards.

Day 15 - Puerto Vallarta

Once a small fishing village, Puerto Vallarta became a popular destination for the artists, writers and Hollywood stars of the 1960s. Explore the old town’s quirky shops and open markets or maybe snorkel in Los Arcos National Marine Park.

Days 16-17 - At sea

A final two days at sea to make the most of the ship. As we sail to California, maybe take in the BBC’s Earth in Concert and experience the natural wonders of the sea on the big screen.

Day 18 - San Diego - Hollywood - Redondo Beach

We reach San Diego this morning and disembark. Our tour of the Californian coastline begins straightaway as we take in the glitz and glamour of Hollywood on a tour, walking in the footsteps of iconic movie stars. Afterwards, we’ll head to the sandy shores of Redondo Beach and our hotel for the night.

Day 19 - Santa Barbara - Pismo Beach

As we head along the Californian coast, following gorgeous beaches flanked by mountains, we’ll see the pretty harbour promenade and palm-fringed streets of Santa Barbara. Later, we’ll arrive at the classic beach town of Pismo Beach and our accommodation for the night.

Day 20 - Big Sur - Carmel - 17 Mile Drive - Monterey - San Francisco

Today we’ll drive along the breathtaking, curving Big Sur coastline (the inspiration behind Jack Kerouac’s autobiographical novel) and make a stop in delightful Carmel. Then we’ll make the epic drive from Carmel to the old Spanish and Mexican capital of upper California, Monterey - a route which takes through to one of the loveliest stretches of road in the world. 17 Mile Drive snakes along the coastline of the Monterey peninsula, passing pebbled bays, craggy coves and cypress forests. We’ll reach the City by the Bay, San Francisco, this afternoon. Please note: At the time of publication, Big Sur is temporarily closed due to rock slides. If it's still closed during your tour we'll take an alternative route - no other part of the day will be missed.

Day 21 - San Francisco

On a guided tour of this iconic city, you’ll have the chance to sample delicious street food in China Town, wander through Union Square and admire the city skyline as you cross the famed Golden Gate Bridge. The rest of the day is free - and there’s so much to see and do. There’s notorious Alcatraz (you’ll need to book this independently before leaving the UK); you could wander up and down the iconic streets, including zig-zagging Lombard Street; or maybe walk around the eclectic district of Haight-Ashbury (the heart of America’s ‘counterculture’ in the 1960s), so beloved of hippies, artists, writers and musicians.

Day 22 - San Francisco - In flight

You’ll have some free time for some last-minute shopping before we transfer to the airport for the return flight home.

Day 23 - UK

Upon arrival, your vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.