Los Angeles to New Orleans Panama cruise

16-night Panama cruise on the Norwegian Cruise Line Sun. Cruises from Los Angeles with stops in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa, Mexico; Acapulco, Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; the Panama Canal; and Oranjestad, Aruba. Ending in New Orleans.

Departs September 30, 2005. The Norwegian Sun is the first ship designed specifically for freestyle cruising. A casual attitude is perfect for Panama cruises.

Cruise Deal Timing

An article in the Washington Post explains that the right timing can get you a better deal on a cruise. There's no real off-season for cruises because the cruise lines reposition their ships to follow warm weather around the globe. But price fluctuations do parallel holidays, school vacations and seasons. Caribbean rates drop between mid-August and Thanksgiving, early January and mid-March, and post-Easter and the end of the school year. The highest rates are in holiday season of Christmas to New Year's.

Otherwise, cruise deals go to those who book very early or gamble and try to get a last minute cruise special. Booking early gives you the most choice, but you have to be able to plan well ahead.

Tag: cruise deals

Panama cruise from Los Angeles

18-night Panama cruise on the Norwegian Cruise Line Dream. Starting in Los Angeles with stops in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Acapulco, Mexico; Huatulco, Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; the Panama Canal; Colon, Panama; and Oranjestad, Aruba. This Panama Canal cruise ends in Houston, Texas.

Departs September 27, 2005.

Panama Canal and Amazon River cruise

33-night Panama Canal and Amazon River cruise on the Holland America Veendam. Starting in Seattle with stops in Los Angeles, Cabo San Lucas (Mexico), Acapulco (Mexico), Santa Cruz Huatulco (Mexico), Puerto Caldera (Costa Rica), the Panama Canal, Oranjestad (Aruba), St Georges (Grenada), Santarem (Brazil), Boca Da Valeria (Brazil), Manaus (Brazil), Parintins (Brazil), Bridgetown (Barbados), Half Moon Cay (Bahamas) and ending in Tampa, Florida.

Departs September 26, 2005. Sail through the Panama Canal, cross the Equator twice, and see the Amazon all on this one cruise.

Panama cruise from Los Angeles

15-night Panama cruise on the Coral Princess. Starting in Los Angeles with stops in Mexico, Costa Rica, the Panama Canal, Panama, Aruba, Jamaica and ending in Ft Lauderdale.

Departs September 20, 2005. The Princess Cruises Coral Princess will also make this Panama cruise on September 28, 2006.

San Francisco Panama Canal cruise

15-night Panama cruise on the Princess Cruises Sun Princess. Starting in San Francisco with stops in Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, Huatulco, Puntarenas (Costa Rica), the Panama Canal, Cristobal (Panama), Oranjestad (Aruba), and ending in Ft Lauderdale.

Departs September 14, 2005. Discover the wonders of the Pacific while sportfishing in Cabo San Lucas and watching daredevil cliff divers in Acapulco. Cruise the Panama Canal and witness the mighty locks in action. Then explore the coral gardens under the crystal waters of Aruba.