Holland America is offering a cruise from Vancouver with stops in several bucket-list destinations, including the awe-inspiring Panama Canal.
Best of all, the dream itinerary has dropped slightly in price since earlier this year.
Maybe not so ideal is that it's leaving soon.
The cruise departs from Canada Place on Oct. 5 at 7 a.m.; however, it officially commences in Seattle on Oct. 4. To book the cruise starting from Vancouver, travellers may need to contact the cruise line by telephone (it may not show up on search, but is available).
After two days at sea, the ship stops in Santa Barbara and San Diego in California (each stop allows about eight hours in port). Travellers who aren't keen on spending their travel funds in the U.S. right now can stay on the ship. There are only two U.S. stops on the itinerary, excluding the disembarkation port of Fort Lauderdale.
After another pair of sea days, passengers wake up in sunny Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where they'll spend a day exploring the vibrant resort town.
Up next, the cruise includes one day at sea followed by stops in the Mexican cities of Huatalco and Puerto Chiapas.
The itinerary includes a day in Guatemala's Puerto Quetzal before visiting Acajutla in El Salvador. After one day at sea, the ship stops in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, where passengers can explore the tropical rainforest.
The cruise makes a full transit through the Panama Canal after a day at sea, and then sails to dreamy Aruba. The island is famous for its palm tree-lined shores, glamorous high-rise buildings, and coral-pink flamingos that wade into its crystal-clear waters.
Passengers disembark the ship in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Oct. 26.
The cruise is 22 days long, but is only 21 if you depart from Vancouver.
If you can't swing a three-week holiday this fall, you may want to start planning now for next year's travels.
| Date | Port | Arrive | Depart |
| Sun., Oct. 5 | Vancouver | 3 p.m. | |
| Mon., Oct. 6 | At Sea | ||
| Tues., Oct. 7 | At Sea | ||
| Wed., Oct. 8 | Santa Barbara | 8 a.m. | 4 p.m. |
| Thurs., Oct. 9 | San Diego | 9 a.m. | 5 p.m. |
| Fri., Oct. 10 | At Sea | ||
| Sat., Oct. 11 | At Sea | ||
| Sun., Oct.12 | Puerto Vallarta | 8 a.m. | 5 p.m. |
| .Mon., Oct. 13 | At Sea | ||
| Tues., Oct. 14 | Huatulco | 10 a.m. | 6 p.m. |
| Wed. Oct. 15 | Puerto Chiapas | 8 a.m. | 5 p.m. |
| Thurs., Oct.16 | Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala | 8 a.m. | 6 p.m. |
| Friday, Oct. 17 | Acajutla, El Salvador | 7 a.m. | 6 p.m. |
| Sat., Oct. 18 | At Sea | ||
| Sunday, Oct.19 | Puntarenas, Costa Rica | 8 a.m. | 6 p.m. |
| Mon., Oct. 20 | At Sea | ||
| Tues., Oct. 21 | Panama Canal (Cruising) | ||
| Wed., Oct. 22 | At Sea | ||
| Thurs., Oct. 23 | Aruba | 8 a.m. | 5 p.m. |
| Fri., Oct. 24 | At Sea | ||
| Sat., Oct. 25 | At Sea | ||
| Sun., Oct. 26 | Fort Lauderdale | 7 a.m. |
Pricing: Cruise from Vancouver through the Panama Canal
The cost of an interior cabin for two passengers is $6,376.62 or $3,188.31 per person. The total cost per person, per diem, works out to $144.91 (see slide two).
The cost of the cruise includes meals, entertainment, transportation, and accommodation. It doesn't include specialty dining, alcohol, excursions, WiFi, or tips.
Previously, the cost for an interior cabin was $6,843.58 or $3,421.79 per person. That price worked out to roughly $162.94 per diem, per person.
The cost of the cabin may drop further in the weeks leading up to the cruise. However, space may also fill up in the interior rooms, and oceanview options start at $200 per person (see slide three).
Flights from Florida to Vancouver have also dropped in price. Trips from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) to Vancouver International Airport (YVR) start at $190 departing at 2 p.m. with JetBlue or $191 with Porter and include one stop. To be on the safe side, you may want to book an evening flight (see slide four).
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