Jungle Locks – Panama Canal & Cartagena

About this cruise

A trip this long changes your rhythm entirely, and that's very much the point. 15 nights from San Diego on December 19, 2026, visiting Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Huatulco, with additional stops along the Mexican Riviera & Central America. You finish in Fort Lauderdale. The final stretch is open ocean, which gives you time to process everything you've seen and use the ship one last time. Crossing 6 borders through the Mexican Riviera & Central America: Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and United States. You'll notice the culture shift at every stop. You get around 8 hours in each port, which is enough for an excursion, lunch, and some wandering around on your own. When you're not ashore, Zaandam takes the food seriously, with 6 restaurants to choose from. 4 are included, and the rest are worth the splurge. One of the underrated parts of a longer cruise: you actually get to know people. The couple from dinner, the group at trivia, the bartender who remembers your drink. Suits retirees, remote workers, or anyone who doesn't need to be anywhere else for a while. Pro tip: fly in the day before. San Diego has plenty to offer, and you'll board relaxed instead of rushed. While everyone else deals with the December cold, you'll be somewhere warmer. And floating. You'll probably start planning the next one before this one's even over.