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February 26 - March 8, 2013
With tour leader Audrey Voth Petkau and Terry Petkau
Join TourMagination's Audrey Voth Petkau and her husband, Terry Petkau, as they lead a new Panama Canal Cruise. Our previous Panama Canal cruises have been very popular - this 11-day cruise aboard the Island Princess offers new ports of call in Aruba, Columbia, Panama, and Costa Rica, as well as a special stop in Jamaica, where we will be greeted by TourMagination’s favorite Jamaican tour guide/bus driver Audley Nugent. You will enjoy getting to know fellow tour members on board this ship specially designed to offer an up-close view of the feat of engineering that is the Panama Canal. Together you will share fellowship, meals, activities and worship. In ports of call, you can purchase tour excursions or explore the destinations on your own or with other group members. Join Audrey and Terry on this winter adventure cruise tour and find out why TourMagination cruises are so popular.
Click here to view past blog posts from Panama.
You will fly from your departure city to Fort Lauderdale where you will transfer to the pier and embark our ship, the Island Princess. There you will be welcomed by Audrey and Terry, your tour leaders, who will introduce you to the other tour members. You will have time to settle into your cabin before enjoying a welcome dinner together as the tour departs for the Caribbean.
We will spend today at sea, traveling through the warm waters of the Caribbean. You will have time to get acquainted with the ship and its amenities, as well as get to know your fellow travelers.
Today at sea you will have opportunity to participate in shipboard activities, rest, read, or visit with fellow tour members and other persons onboard.
This morning, we will enjoy our first port of call: Aruba. Located off the coast of Venezuela, Aruba is actually a Dutch country, known as one of the few dry Caribbean islands. You can expect warm, sunny weather as you explore its sheltered, white sand beaches, local markets or historical attractions. One of your optional excursions today is to explore a large WWII sunken shipwreck off the coast by boat or snorkelling.
After traveling through the night, this morning we will find ourselves in the Colombian resort town of Cartagena, today’s port of call. Cartagena’s colonial walled city and fortress have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites, but there is also evidence of a pre-Columbian era settlement in this area. The city's numerous monasteries, plazas and noble mansions are significant links to this region's grand past.
Today you will see what you joined the tour to see as we cruise through the Panama Canal! The best way to experience every mile of the Panama Canal is, of course, from the deck of the Island Princess. From this vantage point, you’ll have an amazing perspective on the canal’s mighty locks and picturesque Gatun Lake. Late this afternoon we will dock for a short time in Colón, a seaport near the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal. It was made a duty-free port in 1953 and is the world's largest Free Trade Zone outside Hong Kong. We will gather together this evening for worship and to reflect on our experiences today.
 Tour members zip-lining in Costa Rica
Our port of call today is the lush area of Limòn, Costa Rica, which was discovered by Christopher Columbus and which, today, offers appeal to travelers who visit its coconut-tree-lined white beaches, tropical landscape of rainforests, volcanoes, mangroves, waterfalls, turtle nesting areas and more, all set against the backdrop of majestic mountains. Optional excursions today include a pontoon boat ride, an aerial tram, or a visit to one of the world’s largest tropical gardens.
We will spend today at sea. Relax and take time to further learn to know your new friends. You can enjoy onboard ship amenities and fellowship with tour members as we cruise toward Jamaica.
Explore the colorful island of Jamaica
Our final port of call is Ocho Rios, Jamaica. As we dock in Jamaica, we will be greeted by Audley Nugent, our favorite Jamaican driver/guide, who will take us on a tour of the Ochos Rios area, which is rich in natural beauty and interesting sites. We may visit Fern Gully – a rainforest that is home to more than 550 varieties of ferns – or the birthplace of Jamaica’s national hero, Marcus Garvey, or even the straw market.
Today is our final day at sea. This evening we will enjoy a farewell dinner together and reflect on our experiences in a variety of ports.
All too soon our ship will arrive in Fort Lauderdale, where we will take our leave of one another, returning home filled with happy memories of interesting sites, beautiful locations and dear friendships.
For further information regarding the complete tour fare, please
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