This fall cruise from Vancouver checks off several bucket list destinations before ending in sunny Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Holland America Line (HAL) takes passengers on an awe-inspiring journey down the Pacific coast before visiting Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica and transiting through the Panama Canal. Stops include Santa Barbara and San Diego in California, Puerto Vallarta and Huatulco in Mexico, and several others.
The Panama Canal is considered a marvel of engineering and a favourite voyage of cruise enthusiasts.
Before disembarking in Fort Lauderdale on Oct. 26, the cruise also makes a stop in picturesque Aruba.
Located in the southern Caribbean, the island of Aruba wows visitors with hypnotically turquoise waters, stunning shores with powdery-soft sand beaches, and a hot, tropical climate. A quick scroll through photos from the tropical gem shows palm tree-lined shores, glamorous high-rise buildings, and even elegant, coral-pink flamingos wading into its crystal clear waters.
The cruise line is known for its mid-size vessels that can navigate this trim terrain. Fans of HAL cruises typically enjoy sailing on ships they can become well acquainted with during the voyage and relish opportunities to speak with the captain and cruise director.
| Date | Port | Arrive | Depart |
| Sunday, Oct. 6 | Vancouver, B.C., Canada | 3 p.m. | |
| Monday, Oct 7 | At Sea | ||
| Tuesday, Oct. 8 | At Sea | ||
| Wednesday, Oct. 9 | Santa Barbara, CA | 8 a.m. | 4 p.m. |
| Thursday, Oct. 10 | San Diego, CA | 9 a.m. | 5 p.m. |
| Friday, Oct.11 | At Sea | ||
| Saturday, Oct.12 | At Sea | ||
| Sunday, Oct.13 | Puerto Vallarta, Mexico | 8 a.m. | 5 p.m. |
| Monday, Oct. 14 | At Sea | ||
| Tuesday, Oct. 15 | Huatulco, Mexico | 10 a.m. | 6 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Oct. 16 | Puerto Chiapas, Mexico | 8 a.m. | 5 p.m. |
| Thursday, Oct. 17 | Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala | 8 a.m. | 6 p.m. |
| Friday, Oct.18 | At Sea | ||
| Saturday, Oct.19 | Puntarenas, Costa Rica | 8 a.m. | 6 p.m. |
| Sunday, Oct. 20 | At Sea | ||
| Monday, Oct. 21 | Panama Canal (Full Transit) (Cruising) | ||
| Tuesday, Oct.22 | At Sea | ||
| Wednesday, Oct. 23 | Aruba | 8 a.m. | 5 p.m. |
| Thursday,Oct. 24 | At Sea | ||
| Friday, Oct. 25 | At Sea | ||
| Saturday, Oct. 26 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 7 a.m. |
Vancouver cruise to Fort Lauderdale, Florida includes full transit through the Panama Canal
All of HAL's room categories are still available for this sailing, including inside, ocean view, verandah, Signature suite, and Neptune suite.
An inside stateroom for two people costs $5,459.84 or $2,729.92 per person. The per-diem amount is roughly $136.50 per person (see slide three).
Not only does that cost include your transportation on a beautiful five-star vessel, but it also includes meals, entertainment, snacks, and lodging. The only thing it doesn’t factor in is alcohol, but you may opt to purchase a drink package that can reduce the cost of your overall spending.
HAL's Eurodam is the line's first Signature Class cruise ship. The five-star vessel has room for 2,104 passengers and features two swimming pools, a basketball court, a tennis court, a supervised youth program, a movie theatre, an arcade, a full-service spa, and a disco.
Travellers should spend at least one night in Florida post-cruise before flying in case of delays; it also allows them to enjoy the sun-drenched state before returning to Raincouver.
Flights returning to Vancouver a few days after the cruise disembarks start at just over $200 for a one-way ticket with one short stopover.
For example, WestJet has a flight that departs at noon on Oct. 29 for $212 and has one stop in Toronto for under three hours (see slide four).
WestJet's Basic fare includes a piece of carry-on luggage but travellers should check baggage allowance when they book tickets. The airline plans to introduce a new ultra-low-cost fare that won't include one.
