Caribbean Cruise to Costa Rica & the Panama Canal with Miami Beach

Touch down on Florida’s East Coast today and meet your friendly local tour manager upon arrival. You’ll then transfer to your four-star hotel in Fort Lauderdale for check-in ahead of an afternoon at leisure to settle in.

Today, you’ll head south to cosmopolitan Miami, a city of art-deco skyscrapers and pristine white-sand beaches. 

Start with a visit to South Beach. The main thoroughfare, Collins Avenue, is famed for its high-end boutiques, lively bars and iconic architecture, which showcases over 800 art-deco buildings and hotels. You’ll have some time here to soak up the atmosphere, perhaps browsing the local stores or taking a stroll along the nearby seafront, before continuing to Little Havana.  

Here, amongst the neighbourhood’s bustling Latin bars and stores, you’ll enjoy an authentic introduction to South and Central American culture. Having become a cultural hub for thousands of Cuban exiles throughout the 1960s, this energetic corner of Miami remains a popular tourist hotspot, and you’ll have the rest of the afternoon to embrace its cultural highlights.

Your third day in Florida marks the start of your Caribbean cruise. Spend a final few hours ashore this morning before heading to the port to board your cruise ship.  

After checking into your cabin, you’ll have the rest of the day free and can get acquainted with the on-board amenities before watching the sun go down over the Atlantic as you cruise south.

Your first shore excursions await today in Half Moon Cay, a serene private island in the heart of the idyllic Bahamas. Known for its white-sand beaches, turquoise lagoons and the cabanas that dot its palm-lined beaches, the island is a popular port of call on any cruise itinerary, and you’ll be well-placed to enjoy its finest coastal vistas.  

While exploring this Bahamian island, you can also join a range of optional activities offered by Holland America Line, including boat snorkelling, horseback riding and a stingray feeding experience in a nearby cove.

Wake up to views of the glittering Caribbean Sea ahead of a full day at leisure as your ship travels south. Take advantage of the ship’s on-board amenities, from its live entertainment venues and sundeck cinemas to its fitness suites and swimming pools.  

You’ll also have access to a range of award-winning restaurants, whether you’re in the mood for casual street food or a more refined dining experience.

Another full-day's sailing awaits this morning and you’ll be free to spend it as you see fit. If you haven’t already, be sure to visit one of the ship’s entertainment areas for daily interactive shows, including sing-alongs and quiz evenings, or settle in for a seminar at The World Stage theatre.

Tropical Aruba, an island country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, will be yours to explore this morning with a call at colourful Oranjestad. Boasting a number of pristine white-sand beaches and rugged cactus-lined terrain in land, enjoy Aruba’s striking natural landscapes with a full day at leisure. Vibrant Oranjestad, with its pastel-coloured buildings also offer exciting opportunities to explore, and there will be a host of options available too.  

After an engaging day's exploration in Oranjestad, continue west to Colombia.

Relax with another full day at sea today, perhaps sipping a cocktail on the sundeck or catching some live entertainment in the Rolling Stone Lounge. If you haven’t already, you can also find a number of shops below deck, or try your luck at a few rounds of cards in the ship’s casino.

Today’s shore excursion will introduce you to Cartagena, one of South America’s oldest original settlements. With its convenient access to the Caribbean, and the string of defensible island forts that guarded its shores, Cartagena was one of the continent’s most affluent trading ports throughout the Age of Exploration. See the city’s maritime heritage reflected in the grand architecture and imposing walls of the city’s old town and explore its bustling street markets and historic landmarks at leisure.  

You can also join another range of optional activities, including guided walking tours of the city, a traditional jewellery-making class and a visit to the National Aviary of Colombia for sights of some of South America’s most exotic native birds.  

Later this afternoon, return to sea and continue your journey west.

One of your cruise’s unmissable highlights awaits today, sailing along the historic Panama Canal. You’ll arrive at the harbour town of Cristobal in the early morning before passing through the canal’s impressive series of locks - each one weighing over 750 tonnes! As you move through the Canal’s walls, your crew will be on hand to offer intriguing insights into the history, function and cultural importance of this engineering marvel. Built in the late 19th century, the canal is a symbol of modern engineering and has become one of the world’s most important shipping lanes, offering sailors a safer and more efficient route between the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean.   

After some time, you’ll enter the open waters of Gatun Lake, which was once the world’s largest man-made body of water, for the next leg of your voyage through Panama. As you pass along its banks, keep an eye out for Gatun’s intriguing local wildlife, from the American crocodiles that prowl its waters to the sloths and monkeys that reside in the nearby trees.  

Towards the end of today’s cruise, you’ll pass the national capital, Panama City, where towering modern skyscrapers seamlessly blend with the centuries-old architecture of Casco Viejo, the city’s historic Spanish old town. MS Rotterdam will then turn around and offer you more incredible views as she heads back to Cristobal for a brief evening’s visit to Colón. You’ll be free to see the city’s coastal landmarks under the setting sun.  

Later, settle back into your cabin for an overnight sailing north.

Wake up on Costa Rica’s delightful Caribbean coast in Puerto Limón, one of the country’s most popular cities. View the lush Balvanero Vargas Park, named after the city’s governor who ordered its construction, or soak up the sun on the city’s beachfront areas.  

Optional excursions today include an amazing opportunity to cruise through the biodiverse lagoons and turtle-rich nesting grounds of Tortuguero National Park with a short journey further up the coast. Elsewhere, a scenic drive past the stilted houses of Puerto Limón’s Cieneguita neighbourhood promises a taste of traditional Costa Rican and Afro-Caribbean culture, culminating in a live dance performance. For a more relaxing day’s activity, tours of Puerto Limón’s nearby plantations and haciendas are also available.

Another full day’s sailing includes more opportunities to enjoy the first-class onboard amenities and you’ll be free to do as much or as little as you like. If you haven’t already, you could try your hand at pickleball on the top deck or learn more about the Caribbean’s storied past with a talk at the World Stage auditorium.

Grand Cayman will be yours to explore this morning as you dock in the islands’ elegant capital, George Town. This exquisite seaside town boasts a remarkable collection of original 19th-century buildings, amongst the boutiques of Cardinall Avenue, and is renowned for the untouched natural beauty of its clear-water beaches. If you’d prefer a closer look at life in the Caribbean, the Cayman Islands National Museum promises an introduction to the islands’ settlement and modern history.  

Those looking to tick a few more experiences off their holiday wish-list can opt to board a semi-submersible for a boat tour of the island’s coral reefs or visit the Cayman Turtle Centre to meet the islands’ sea creatures. There will also be the opportunity to discover Grand Cayman’s rum-producing heritage with a tour and tasting at local distillery.

Rise to the sights and sounds of the Floridian coast as you return to Fort Lauderdale. After disembarking, return to your Fort Lauderdale Beach hotel for a further two nights.  

After checking back in, you’ll have the remainder of the day at leisure.

Join an optional venture into Florida’s wild Everglades today, the largest subtropical area in the United States, on an airboat excursion.  

Arriving at the Everglades National Park, step aboard a traditional airboat before heading deep into the heart of the reserve’s mangrove swamps. Amongst these wetland stretches, your expert guide will introduce you to the region’s local wildlife, offering up-close looks at the alligators, water snakes and various bird species.  

Next, head for the coast with a stop in Palm Beach, one of Florida’s most popular beachfront areas. Separated from the mainland, this artistic haven is a popular winter retreat for locals and snowbirds alike, showcasing a wide range of ornate 1920s architecture amongst its trendy boutiques and galleries. Here, you’ll have also the chance to view the striking Breakers Hotel with its impressive Renaissance-revival facades.  

Later, back in Fort Lauderdale, wind down on the seafront, and perhaps find dinner in one of the city’s local restaurants.