Completed in 1914 and recently extended, the Panama Canal has long been a key trading route, allowing ships to avoid the long, costly (and at one time dangerous) voyage around the tip of South America. We think it's one of the seven wonders of the cruising world.

There are various Panama Canal cruise options, with some lines featuring a transit at the beginning or end of the Caribbean season, and others featuring a series of dedicated voyages. Usually starting and finishing in Florida and California, the full journey takes around two weeks and will feature a selection of calls along the way, such as Colombia's Cartagena, one of South America's most magnificent colonial cities; the beautiful forests of Costa Rica; Guatemala; and the paradise beaches of Mexico.

When selecting your Panama Canal cruise, we recommend a daylight transit of the Panama Canal so that you can fully enjoy the experience (Hot Mundy tip - Watch out for this, as some ships sail it at night, which may not be what you want at all). You should also select a cruise that travels all the way to the Pacific, rather than one which simply enters the Canal and cruises as far as the Gatun Lake.