Panama Canal Westward 17 Nights • Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Los Angeles, California • CELEBRITY SUMMIT

In the 1800s, William Lauderdale built a fort. Today, 16 million visitors come each year for miles of broad white sandy beaches, dozens of lush green golf courses, and Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale. Stroll the famous beachfront promenade, just 15 minutes from the port, and plunge into the warm Atlantic.

Head downtown to Las Olas Boulevard, paralleling New River, to sip lattes in outdoor cafés, shop chic boutiques, and catch concerts at the performing arts center. Stop at Stranahan House, the city's oldest structure, built in 1901 as a trading post and preserved as a museum, or explore a whole village of historic buildings at History Fort Lauderdale. Join a Segway tour along the river or a waterborne cruise of Millionaire's Row.

During your cruise to Fort Lauderdale, head out to the Everglades and enjoy Flamingo Gardens, home to pink flamingos, snarling alligators, black bears, and Florida panthers—plus exotic trees, butterfly gardens, and native flowers.

You'll find great shopping on Fort Lauderdale cruises. Look for high fashion at Galleria Fort Lauderdale, north of the port and blocks from the ocean. Head west to Sawgrass Mills for 350 designer outlets, specialty shops, and eateries. Spend a relaxing day in downtown Hollywood, south of the port, for quaint shops, sidewalk cafés, and events in the park.

Discover Floribbean cuisine, a fusion of old Florida favorites with new Caribbean influences. Local seafood includes lobster, grouper, mahi-mahi, pompano, snapper, tuna, and stone crabs.

Florida dominates production of citrus fruits. Before you cruise from Fort Lauderdale, take advantage of anything orange—juices, sauces, marinades, marmalades, dressings, soups, and cakes. Try authentic key lime pie, which is sweet, tart, creamy, and yellow—not green—in a Graham cracker crust.

Your ship departs promptly at 4:00 pm, so we recommend arriving at least 2-3 hours early to smoothly navigate check-in and boarding. All ship amenities are open and ready, so kickstart your vacation with a refreshing drink or a delicious snack.

No destination blends global finance with the Caribbean lifestyle quite like the Cayman Islands. This upscale destination offers world-class restaurants, designer boutiques, and duty-free shopping, plus white sand beaches, brilliant blue waters, and teeming coral reefs. Enjoy postcard views of George Town, Seven Mile Beach, and West Bay from the custom-designed Cayman Explorer. You can step down easily into shallow waters to interact with the welcoming stingrays.

Launch your snorkeling adventure from a luxurious catamaran. Swim right through the World War II naval vessel USS Kittiwake, now a shallow artificial reef. Finish with leisurely sunbathing and cool cocktails. Swim with the denizens of Stingray City in the crystalline waters of Coral Reef Gardens. After snorkeling with the graceful rays, recharge with an island barbecue on Seven Mile Beach. You'll shop till you drop in the duty-free boutiques of George Town. Find gifts for everyone—including yourself—like china, crystal, jewelry, antiques, and resort wear by renowned designers.

Conch shells were the homes of tasty mollusks. Try Cayman conch in salads, chowders, and fritters. Cruises to Grand Cayman Islands are not complete without a sample of the rich Caribbean curries, and don't miss the fresh produce: coconut, cassava, and plantains. For dessert, have some rum cake.

Cobbled streets, balconies with blooming bougainvillea, and pastel plazas make Cartagena one of Latin America's most photogenic cities. But it's not just another pretty seaport. Founded in 1533, this Spanish-Colonial city is steeped in history. Its location made it a popular port for plunderers and pirates. Today thrill-seekers will find a perfect mix of old and new with a twist of island attitude.

As the world’s second largest duty-free port, Colón offers abundant shopping. It also represents the gateway to numerous sites of ecological interest, including Chagres National Park, a 3,000,000-acre rainforest preserve, and the Gamboa Rainforest Preserve, which lies within Soberania National Park.

The canal is a marvel of engineering, but the area is also a sanctuary for sloths, eagles, ocelots and toucans, thanks to a lush rainforest environment and tropical temperatures.

The world knows Costa Rica for its ecological biodiversity and national parks, and Puntarenas welcomes you to many of these treasures—Pacific beaches, renowned surfing, rainforests, and wildlife. Ride horseback through secluded tropical forests or along the wide open beach. Head down the coast to Playa Jaco, which draws surfers from around the world for international competitions. Plunge below the surface to discover reefs teeming with marine life. Spot monkeys, crocodiles, scarlet macaws, and other birds by cruising through the mangroves or up the Tárcoles River. Hike through the lush rainforest or fly over it by zip line. Launch out to Prison Island and learn about its haunting history before kicking back for lunch on Tortuga Beach. Duck into a family-run restaurant, called a soda, to find authentic Costa Rican cooking. Order the gallo pinto, Costa Rica’s national dish, or try the ceviche, made from the catch of the day "cooked" in lemon juice. Order a taco, called a tico, from a food truck. To find souvenirs, stroll the Paseo de los Turistas, a bustling beachfront promenade. While in Puntarenas, meet the local vendors selling hand-made crafts and score a fresh bag of rich Costa Rican coffee.

Guatemala's largest Pacific Ocean port, Puerto Quetzal offers a wealth of activities. Discover Lake Atitlan, the deepest lake in Central America, which is surrounded by three volcanoes. The area is rich in Mayan history, as well as a fertile ground for coffee growing.

Travel through the locks of historic Panama Canal, on a journey between the Atlantic and the Pacific. Venture through the virgin rain forests and bird sanctuaries of Puerto Limon. Then bask on the Mexican and Costa Rican beaches with a margarita.

Multiple ports will give your vacation a variety. Quaint villages one day. Mayan ruins the next. Peppered with relaxing beach trips and adventurous excursions both sailing above the trees and diving deep beneath the seas.

Mazatlán’s sandy beaches and colorful old town are just a few of the reasons why this idyllic city on Mexico’s Pacific Coast is known as the “Pearl of the Pacific.”Stroll through the cobblestone streets, past picturesque pastel buildings in the historic downtown. Lounge on golden beaches as the Pacific waves lap the shore, and taste some of the best shrimp in the country.

Los Angeles, California: There is so much to see and do in this entertainment capital. Before embarking on a cruise from Los Angeles make sure to pad in some time to explore the City of Angels. Shop on Rodeo Drive and sightsee as you keep your eyes open for Hollywood's famous heroes and villains in their off-screen persona. See the homes of the stars, or visit the Griffith Observatory and do some celestial stargazing at the landmark planetarium. If low-key activities are more your style, the Los Angeles Conservancy does wonderful walking tours to explore the historic and architectural gems of the city. And, from Wolfgang Puck’s Spago in Beverly Hills to The Grand Central Market, LA is a foodie’s paradise offering superb dining options. Los Angeles cruises have it all and then some.

Your cruise may have ended, but the adventure continues. Take advantage of the fantastic activities in the area. If you're flying out, please keep your departure flight time in mind and plan accordingly.