Norwegian Cruise sets sail from Miami, Los Angeles or Seattle for cruises through the Panama Canal. Along the way are stops in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Columbia.

 

The Panama Canal is truly a technological marvel. Built in 1914, the canal has three sets of locks. They are Gatun, Pedro Miguel and Miraflores. The construction of the canal was started by France and abandoned mainly due to malaria and yellow fever. Then it was discovered that these diseases were transmitted by mosquitoes. Health controls were put into place when the United States took over the work and the canal was finished.

 

As the ships pull up to each lock, it looks as though the cruise ship won’t fit, but it does with only a few feet clearance on each side. Electric locomotives called mules carefully maneuver the ship through. The rest of the trip across the isthmus is along rivers and lakes. There is such beauty to be found along these waterways. Sailing among the islands of Lake Gatun – under the marvelously designed Puente Centenario Bridge – through rainforests.

 

The Panama Canal transit takes only nine hours and the memories will last a lifetime.