The Panama Canal opened in 1914 after a decade of extraordinary construction effort that cost over 25,000 lives and shifted more earth than any previous human project. Today it handles approximately 14,000 ships per year — about 5% of global sea trade — and a transit through its famous Miraflores, Pedro Miguel and Gatun locks remains one of the most fascinating engineering spectacles in the world. The scale of the locks, the precision of the ship’s passage and the gradual rise and fall of the vessel between the Atlantic and Pacific create a genuinely memorable experience. Full transits of the Canal are typically included in Panama Canal cruise itineraries that cross between the Caribbean and Pacific, often forming part of a longer repositioning cruise or world voyage. Partial transits — entering the locks and returning without completing the crossing — are offered on some itineraries that do not continue across the Pacific. Both are remarkable. Beyond the Canal itself, Panama offers considerable appeal. Panama City is a fascinating city of striking contrasts: the UNESCO-listed Casco Viejo historic district of crumbling Spanish colonial buildings is just minutes from the gleaming glass towers of the modern financial district. The Miraflores Visitors Center and Museum, overlooking the lock operations, is one of the Canal Zone’s best visitor experiences. The Darien Gap jungle on the Colombian border and the San Blas Islands — home to the indigenous Kuna people and some of the least-developed beaches in the Caribbean — are accessible from Panama City for those with extra time. Panama Canal cruises typically operate October to April and are among the most popular itineraries for those who have completed multiple Caribbean or Mediterranean voyages and are seeking something genuinely different and historically significant.