A journey through the Panama Canal is on MANY bucket lists. And with good reason! The world changed when the world’s greatest shortcut was completed between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Over the course of a decade a little more than a century ago, tens of thousands of workers drilled dynamite holes, drove belching steam shovels and labored with pickaxes, all the while fighting off malaria. It changed the course of history. It is a fascinating place to experience.
We will fly to San Diego and board Holland America’s luxurious Zaandam and set sail for our 14 day journey. We’ll make stops along the Pacific in Puerto Vallarta and Huatulco before continuing on to stops in Guatemala before entering the canal. After a full day transit of the Panama Canal from the Pacific to the Atlantic, we’ll sail through the Caribbean (stopping in Cartagena, Columbia and Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas) and making our way into Fort Lauderdale where the cruise ends. We transfer to the airport for flights home.
We’ll travel in February when it’s cold back home and 80 degrees (on average) in the places that we will be visiting. It’s a perfect time to be in the region. It has always been among our most popular tours. We pledge to do all we can to make it the trip of a lifetime… We hope you can join us.
Prices include cruise, taxes, port charges, government fees
Airfare and Shore Excursions are additional – Air prices available in the summer of 2022. Air will be arranged for our group flying Salt Lake City. Airfare can also be arranged from any other gateway city upon request.
This is a popular cruise any time. And there is additional “pent up demand” for travel in 2023. We have noticed that people are moving quickly to book for 2022 and 2023. As such, we highly recommend that you BOOK EARLY for best stateroom locations. Deposits are fully refundable until November 1, 2022.
Prices vary depending on stateroom category and are included in this brochure.
February 18: Late morning flight to San Diego today. Transfer to the cruise ship terminal to board Holland America’s Zaandam to begin our 14 day cruise. A wonderful journey awaits!
February 19-20: Days at sea to enjoy our floating resort. Holland America is famous for its unparalleled service. The food is excellent. The entertainment is among the best in the industry and there are unique, enriching activities on board – including the BBC Earth Experience which is included in this cruise.
February 21: Port of call in Puerto Vallarta: This coastal town on the Pacific Ocean, retains quite a bit of its colonial-era charm. Unlike other famous Mexico resorts (like Cancun or Acapulco) that were built for tourists, this is a town with centuries of history that sits on a lovely part of the coast. We suggest a visit to San Sebastion del Oeste which is our featured excursion.
February 22: At sea today in the dark blue waters of the Pacific Ocean.
February 23: Port of call in Huatulco, Mexico. Huatulco, situated on Mexico’s Pacific Coast in the state of Oaxaca, has nine bays and 36 beaches, offering more than enough opportunities for fun in the sun. If you are thinking of getting in the water somewhere, this would be a good place to do it. Lots of other options are available to explore the natural beauty. The region is also home to more than 225 bird species, including many rare ones that are endemic to Mexico.
February 24: Port of call in Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala. We dock in an industrial port today so it’s important to have an excursion today. Puerto Quetzal is an ideal point of departure for exploring several corners of the country. Take an excursion to Lake Atitlan or visit colonial Antigua. Guatemala is known for its mountains and volcanoes and spectacular landscapes. It’s an interesting part of our itinerary.
February 25-26 At sea as we make our way toward the Panama Canal.
February 27: Full day transit of the Panama Canal. The construction of the Panama Canal is one of those epic tales from the past, an old-school feat of engineering, ambition and courage. A cruise along it today is a journey through the centuries and it’s a day you won’t soon forget. As David McCullough recounts in his sweeping history The Path Between the Seas, it was a combination of sheer human might and engineering prowess. We’ll transit through three massive locks lifting us up to the man-made Gatun Lake as we make our way to the Miraflores Locks that lower us back down into the Atlantic Ocean. A naturalist is on board to describe the details. It is a day to remember!
February 28: After exiting the canal at Colon in Panama, we’ll continue on to the tip of South America and make an interesting stop in Cartagena, Columbia. This was an important stop for the Spanish ships that carried gold from Peru and Mexico back to Spain. It is a colonial gem with its imposing fort. Several excursions available today.
March 1-2: At sea in the beautiful waters of the Caribbean Sea
March 3: Port of Call in Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas. This is Holland America’s private island – and it has been rated the best of the private islands in the Bahamas for the last 20 years. The sugar-white sand is perfect and the calm waters of the blue lagoon make this a very nice place to visit. We’ll be in port from 8;00 AM to 3:00 PM.
March 4: Fort Lauderdale: Our cruise ends today in Fort Lauderdale and we disembark with lots of new friends and memories. We are honored to be your hosts. We’ll transfer to the airport for our flight home. If our flight is a bit later, you’ll have the option to see the Everglades before going to the airport.
Registration Information:
To make a reservation, simply fill out the attached reservation form and send it to us with a deposit of $400 per person. When we receive your deposit, we will mail you a receipt confirming that you are registered for the tour. A letter with instructions, hotel itinerary flight information (if applicable) and luggage tags will be sent 90 days prior to departure at which time the balance will be due. You do not need to pay the balance until after you receive that packet. We require final payments in the form of a check. If that is not possible, arrangements can be made to use a credit card. Webb Tours accepts Visa, Amex, Mastercard and Discover. A 2.5% surcharge will be added for final payments made by credit card. There is no additional charge for original deposits made with credit cards.
Cancellation Penalties
We understand that you may need to cancel your trip for whatever reason. If it is 95 days or more before departure, all money will be refunded. If it is within 95 days, the following schedule applies:
|
94 – 76 days prior |
$400 per person + insurance + any applicable airline fees |
|
75 – 46 days prior |
$700 per person + insurance + any applicable airline fees |
|
45 – 31 days prior |
50% of total cost + insurance + any applicable airline fees |
|
30 – 7 days prior |
85% of total cost + insurance + any applicable airline fees |
|
Less than 7 days prior |
100% of total cost + insurance + any applicable airline fees |
For airlines, specifically, tickets are generally non refundable when purchased. However, most airlines will allow the value of the canceled tickets to be reused for future travel, though a penalty may be assessed to reuse the tickets. If you have to cancel, Webb Tours will work with other providers to obtain as much refund as possible for our travelers. Our travelers know us to be very fair in this regard.
Cancellation Insurance:
To avoid cancellation penalties, cancellation insurance may be purchased. Insurance will reimburse you for the non-refundable cancellation penalties imposed if you must cancel your trip for a covered reason like illness, injury or death to you, a traveling companion or an immediate family member. Other reasons for cancellation include Common Carrier-caused delays due to inclement weather, jury duty, or a documented traffic accident en route to departure. Price of the insurance depends on your stateroom category as follows:
Categories M, L, I, J, K (Inside Staterooms): $169 per person
Categories HH (Obstructed Ocean View): $189 per person
Categories D/F (Ocean View): $219 per person
Categories B/BB Balcony (upper decks): $359 per person
Insurance is purchased through the cruise line and may be purchased any time up to the point you make your final payment. Insurance cannot be purchased after your final payment is made. Webb Tours is not the insurer and acts as agent for the insurance company. To activate your insurance, we need your premium and your birth date.
Mail deposit and enclosed reservation form to:
WEBB TOURS
2378 Evergreen Avenue
Salt Lake City, UT 84109
Tel. (801) 278-3101
or Toll Free 1-800-658-8519
