Crossing coastlines via the Panama Canal

Enjoy a day at your own leisure in Laguna Beach. We can highly recommend breakfast to start the day at one of the cafés overlooking the main beach. Spend the afternoon hiking at Heisler Park, which offers ocean views, beautifully maintained gardens, and access to some of the best beaches in Laguna.

Laguna Beach is known for its art scene, so take some time under your own steam to explore the galleries downtown. The Laguna Art Museum is a great starting point, showcasing the best in Californian art. If you're looking for something more nature-filled, head to Crystal Cove State Park for a scenic hike. There are several trails that offer panoramic views over the Pacific Ocean. If the tide is low, visit Shaw’s Cove to explore the tide pools where there's a chance to spot native marine life up close, like starfish, anemones, and crabs.

Continue your Southern California exploration with a drive down to San Diego, passing through the small coastal town of Oceanside — a perfect spot for brunch! When you arrive in La Jolla, enjoy a walk around the coast admiring the beaches and sweeping landscapes. If you're an avid golfer, the nearby Lodge at Torrey Pines offers one of the best links courses in the USA.

Head out on the water today to spot native whales and dolphins. This isn’t just any whale-watching trip — you’ll sail on the classic schooner 'America', which inspired the name of the world’s most highly regarded sailing competition, the America’s Cup, while looking for humpback whales breaching on the horizon.

For your final day in San Diego before your cruise, there's time to explore the local beaches or head to Balboa Park for a day visiting the copious museums and galleries there. We can highly recommend taking a drive to the Coronado, which is a small strip of land in downtown San Diego, that offers a wide sweeping beach and views over the San Diego skyline.

San Diego enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine per year, so before you embark on your cruise, take time this morning to soak up the last of the sun at your hotel. Embark after lunch and settle in your home-from-home for the next 18 days.

As your ship meanders down the coastline of the Baja Peninsula, you’ll have a chance to get acquainted with all the amenities on board. By day, you may wish to indulge yourself with a wellbeing package at the Greenhouse Spa & Salon, where naturally sourced ingredients form the basis of everything from massage treatments to facials. By night, relax by the Lido Pool to watch a film alfresco under the stars on a giant LED cinema screen.

You’re nearing mainland Mexico, but before making landfall you have another day to enjoy the leisurely life on board. Curl up with a good book on your balcony or pay a visit to the Explorer’s Lounge for panoramic views of the wavy world passing by. For dinner, sample one of the ship’s premium restaurants, such as Nami Sushi, with its modern take on Japanese cuisine, or the French brasserie-inspired cuisine at Rudi’s Sel De Mer.

Step ashore in Puerto Vallarta, a seaside town where colonial-era architecture is juxtaposed by a laid-back surfer atmosphere. Take a tour of the cobblestoned Old Town, including the massive Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Add in a visit to a tequila distillery on an extended tour, and you’ll get a true taste for this Mexican port by sampling its liquor of choice. Or, board a motor catamaran and cruise out to Banderas Bay, looking out for the spray of humpback whales.

As you travel further south along Mexico’s coastline, this is the prime time to learn more about the places you’ll be visiting on your trip. Make a beeline to the World Stage, where you can listen to local experts share regional stories. By night, this venue welcomes talented performers, from dance companies to vocal quartets and even a steel band hailing from Trinidad and Tobago.

Docking in Huatulco, you’ll be well-positioned to explore its vast array of bays and beaches. The food here is some of the best in Mexico, with Oaxaca state being the source of many classic Mexican dishes. You may want to head out on a bird-watching trip — Huatulco is famed for its rainbow of endemic birdlife — or there are a plethora of archaeological sites to visit. Meanwhile, river rafting and swimming in pristine waterfall pools offer some freshwater refreshment.

Today you reach the most southerly port on the Pacific coast of Mexico, Puerto Chiapas. While here, you may wish to add a visit to the vast estates that produce the highly prized exports of bananas, cacao, and coffee for which the Chiapas region is well known. The region is also home to some extensive Maya sites, including Izapa, which sits in the shadow of the sixth-tallest mountain in Mexico — the volcano of Tacaná.

Guatemala’s largest Pacific port is today’s docking, and a great springboard for explorations into the Guatemalan hinterland. You may choose to add a day trip to the colonial-style capital city, Antigua, stopping off to visit a volcano-ringed coffee plantation or the jade museum along the way. Alternatively, you might wish to get closer to the dramatic scenery with a guided three-hour trek through the forests and meadows of Pacaya National Park, climbing close to the summit of the Pacaya volcano.

Another day to recharge and relax on board today. You may wish to sit back and enjoy some of the entertainment — B.B. King’s Blues Club offers some Memphis-style rhythm and blues live music — or you can test your music trivia knowledge at the Billboard singalong quiz sessions. Alternatively, enjoy the choreography and passion of the Step One Dance Company or get your own toes tapping along to the live seven-piece band in the Rolling Stone Lounge.

Puntarenas is a launchpad for adventure, either seeing you head deep into the Costa Rican jungle or out to its pristine Pacific beaches. You may wish to take a river cruise up the Guacalillo Estuary here, drifting through the mangrove forests that are home to many endemic species, from tiny hummingbirds to giant crocodiles. Alternatively, you can choose to skim the treetops of the rainforest canopy, riding the open-air gondolas of the Aerial Tram, or walk along the forest’s Sky Walk trail.

A day at sea need not mean a day of rest. The onboard fitness facilities here are well-equipped and offer a myriad of opportunities to start, improve, or continue your health and well-being regime. You may choose to join a class in the Fitness Center, choosing between indoor cycling, Pilates, and more, or use the state-of-the-art cardio and weights machines, with expert support from the professional staff. On deck, there are fresh-air exercise options to play basketball, volleyball, or Pickleball.

Today you reach the gateway of the Panama Canal. Starting in the town of Balboa on the Pacific coast, this 77 km (40 miles) artificial canal route stretches right across the continent, ending on the Atlantic coast in the Caribbean and saving sailors the arduous trip around the tip of South America. It cuts a path through Panama, passing through rich rainforest, verdant valleys, colonial towns, remarkable garrisons, and silken reservoirs and is the result of an impressive decade of arduous construction. Along your voyage, you may see the variety of wildlife that’s thriving here again, from sloths to capuchin monkeys and caiman.

Relaxing by the on-deck pool can be an easy way to drift away a day at sea. The poolside pizzeria serves thin-crust pizzas and Italian salads throughout the day, which can be complemented with drinks or sandwiches from the Lido Bar. The pool is also the venue for outdoor evening movie screenings, or you may simply wish to swim some lengths, unwind in a deckchair with a book, or bubble away in the adjacent whirlpools.

Today you dock at the tiny Caribbean island of Aruba, nestled between the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia. You’ll be surrounded by the archetypal golden sands and palm-fringed bays of the Caribbean, but Aruba also offers wild cliffs and a landscape peppered with a dazzling array of succulents. You may choose to enhance your trip here by scuba diving the coral reefs in the translucent sea, heading to the seabed on a submarine, or sipping sundowners on a marine sunset cruise.

With an entire day at sea, you’ll have plenty of time to explore the dining options on board. There are a total of 15 different eateries, ranging from the ultimate ‘steakhouse at sea’, the Pinnacle Grill, to the Southeast Asian, Chinese, and Japanese highlights at Tamarind. For marine-themed indulgences, you may wish to try the pop-up Morimoto By Sea or indulge in Nami Sushi. For a cabin-based treat, there’s the onboard Lido Market, or 24-hour room service in every suite.

This is your last full day at sea, and you may want to toast your travels in style at one of the many onboard bars. You can choose between the background of live music at the Ocean Bar, where the enticing views are matched only by the rainbow cocktails, or tingle your tastebuds with some exotic sakétinis in the Tamarind Bar, relax poolside in the Sea View Bar, or head to the Crow’s Nest for cocktails and sunsets alongside panoramic views.

Widely regarded as “the best private island” in the Bahamas, Half Moon Cay is undeniably beautiful. The water is crystal clear, warm, and teeming with marine life, while the beach is of the sugary-soft kind that cocoons your every step. You can add to your experience here by heading out on a glass-bottomed boat or snorkel trip, horse riding both alongside and in the sea, e-biking around the cay, joining a historic nature walk, or kayaking the lagoons.

Welcome back to the USA. On arrival in Fort Lauderdale, you'll be collected by your driver and transferred to Miami's vibrant South Beach. In the evening, walk along the beach and enjoy one of the delicious restaurants that dot the shoreline.

Start your day in Miami early with a sunrise at South Beach. The iconic beach is perfect for a morning walk or a refreshing swim. In the afternoon, head to the Wynwood Arts District to see the Wynwood Walls, an outdoor museum featuring large-scale works by some of the world’s best-known street artists. The area is filled with murals, galleries, and boutique shops.

If you have time before your flight home, we really recommend a visit to Little Havana to experience Miami's Cuban culture. Walk down Calle Ocho, enjoying the lively atmosphere, and stop by Domino Park to watch the locals play dominoes.

Arrive home today to complete your journey.