The price for a 20-night cruise departing from Vancouver this fall that makes a full transit through the Panama Canal has dropped by hundreds of dollars.
Holland America Line (HAL) is known for its mid-size vessels that can navigate this trim terrain. Fans of the cruise line 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.
The cruise line is ideal for folks looking to see the Panama Canal, widely considered a marvel of engineering and a favourite voyage of cruise enthusiasts.
The ship departs Vancouver on October 6 and sails 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.
Before disembarking in Fort Lauderdale on Oct. 26, the cruise stops 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.
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.
| Date | Port | Arrive | Depart |
| Sun., Oct. 6 | Vancouver | 3 p.m. | |
| Mon., Oct. 7 | At Sea | ||
| Tue., Oct. 8 | At Sea | ||
| Wed., Oct. 9 | Santa Barbara, CA | 8 a.m. | 4 p.m. |
| Thur., Oct. 10 | San Diego, CA | 9 a.m. | 5 p.m. |
| .Fri., Oct. 11 | At Sea | ||
| Sat., Oct. 12 | At Sea | ||
| Sun., Oct. 13 | Puerto Vallarta, Mexico | 8 a.m. | 5 p.m. |
| Mon., Oct. 14 | At Sea | ||
| Tue., Oct. 15 | Huatulco, Mexico | 10 a.m. | 6 p.m. |
| Wed., Oct. 16 | Puerto Chiapas, Mexico | 8 a.m. | 5 p.m. |
| Thurs., Oct. 17 | Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala | 8 a.m. | 6 p.m. |
| Fri., Oct. 18 | At Sea | ||
| Sat., Oct. 19 | Puntarenas, Costa Rica | 8 a.m. | 6 p.m. |
| Sun., Oct. 20 | At Sea | ||
| Mon., Oct. 21 | Panama Canal (Full Transit) | ||
| Tue., Oct. 22 | At Sea | ||
| Wed., Oct. 23 | Aruba | 8 a.m. | 5 p.m. |
| Thurs., Oct. 24 | At Sea | ||
| Fri., Oct. 25 | At Sea | ||
| Sat., Oct. 26 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 7 a.m. |
Cruise from Vancouver through the Panama Canal to Aruba
Previously, the cost for an inside stateroom for two people was $5,459.84 or $2,729.92 per person. The per-diem amount was roughly $136.50 per person.
The updated cost for two people for the lead-in stateroom is $4,982.88 or $2,491.44 per person. The per-diem amount is roughly $124.572 per person for the 20-night sailing (see slide two).
The total price drop for the stateroom since this spring is $476.96.
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.
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.
Prices on flights departing on Sunday, Oct. 27 (one night after the cruise) start at $237 with WestJet making one stop in Calgary (see slide three).
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With files from The Associated Press.
