With the Norwegian Encore from Norwegian Cruise Line, you can embark on a Panama Canal cruise in April 2026. The journey takes you from Miami to Seattle and includes stops in Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, and Canada. The current price of €85 per night is a bargain for an outside cabin on a canal crossing cruise.
You can currently book a 22-night cruise in an inside cabin from just €1,570 per person. However, the outside cabins from €1,860 and balcony cabins from €2,455 are significantly more appealing (prices per person based on double occupancy).
Do you have questions about the offer, need help, or are you looking for a cruise that suits you even better? Feel free to contact us via our inquiry form. We’re glad to help.
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The cruise price includes full board in the main and buffet restaurants, as well as coffee, water, tea, and iced tea during the buffet’s opening hours. Most onboard facilities and activities (e.g., use of sun loungers and pools on the outer deck, shows in the theatre, gym, etc.) are also included in the package.
Norwegian Cruise Line adds an automatic crew gratuity of approx. $20 USD per person, per day to your onboard account.
If you live in Europe, we recommend booking through Travel-Dealz, and if you live in the USA, book via CruiseDirect, as long as the price difference is not significant. If the difference is considerable, you can choose the cheaper option, but keep in mind that the consumer guarantees are different for Americans and Europeans.
Editor’s Note: A good opportunity if you have the time, I really like the overnight stays in Panama and San Francisco. If I had the time, I would do it myself. With Norwegian, if you need internet, you can purchase 24-hour passes instead of paying for the whole cruise.
Route
Your journey begins in Miami, Florida. After departure, you will have two relaxing days at sea to explore the ship before arriving in Cartagena, Colombia. This historic city is known for its stunning colonial architecture and vibrant culture.
The highlight of the early part of the trip is the transit through the Panama Canal. You will dock in Panama City for an overnight stay, giving you plenty of time to explore. After this, you will visit Puerto Caldera in Costa Rica and Puerto Quetzal in Guatemala.
Moving north along the Pacific coast, the ship makes several stops in Mexico, including Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, and Cabo San Lucas. After two more sea days, you arrive in San Francisco for an overnight stay, allowing you to see the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf.
The final leg of the cruise takes you to the Pacific Northwest. You will visit Astoria, Oregon, and the small city of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada, before disembarking in Seattle, Washington.
| Date | Port | Arrival | Departure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 11 | Miami (Florida), USA | 16:00 | |
| Apr 12 – 13 | At sea 🌊 | ||
| Apr 14 | Cartagena, Colombia | 06:00 | 14:00 |
| Apr 15 | Panama Canal / Panama City | 20:00 | |
| Apr 16 | Panama City, Panama | 20:00 | |
| Apr 17 | At sea 🌊 | ||
| Apr 18 | Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica | 07:00 | 18:00 |
| Apr 19 | At sea 🌊 | ||
| Apr 20 | Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala | 07:00 | 18:00 |
| Apr 21 | At sea 🌊 | ||
| Apr 22 | Acapulco, Mexico | 08:00 | 18:00 |
| Apr 23 | At sea 🌊 | ||
| Apr 24 | Puerto Vallarta, Mexico | 07:00 | 15:00 |
| Apr 25 | Cabo San Lucas, Mexico | 07:00 | 15:00 |
| Apr 26 – 27 | At sea 🌊 | ||
| Apr 28 | San Francisco, USA | 09:00 | |
| Apr 29 | San Francisco, USA | 18:00 | |
| Apr 30 | At sea 🌊 | ||
| May 1 | Astoria (Oregon), USA | 08:00 | 16:00 |
| May 2 | Victoria, Canada | 08:00 | 18:00 |
| May 3 | Seattle (Washington), USA | 07:00 |
Most Europeans need an electronic system for travel authorization (ESTA) to enter the USA for up to 90 days. This costs US$40 (~€34) and you should apply for it a couple of days before your trip, at the latest.
There are some cases where you cannot apply for an ESTA, e.g. if you’ve been to Cuba since 2021 or to Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, or North Korea since March 2011. In those cases, you’ll need to get a visa from a US embassy or consulate, which can take multiple weeks.
The Ship
The Norwegian Encore was built in 2019 and measures 334 meters in length with a width of 41 meters. The ship accommodates nearly 4,000 passengers and up to 1,735 crew members. It was constructed at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg. Along with its sister ships, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Joy, and Norwegian Escape, it belongs to the Breakaway-Plus class.
The ship offers an extensive entertainment program, including Broadway productions, various musicals, and shows in the onboard theatre. There is also an Observation Lounge, providing impressive views of the ocean or passing landscapes. Other highlights include a two-level go-kart track, a Laser Tag arena, a water park with various slides, and a Virtual Reality complex.
The Norwegian Encore has suitable cabins for all target groups. For the needs of solo travellers, special studio cabins have been developed, which also provide access to the Studio Lounge where you can meet other solo travellers. Even the most discerning guests will find something to suit them on board, as the exclusive area The Haven by Norwegian has been created for these customers. This area consists of spacious suites located on the ship’s upper decks.
The onboard language is English, so basic knowledge of English is definitely helpful. The onboard currency is the US dollar, and you can settle your onboard expenses at the end of the cruise either in cash or with major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard).
Below are some impressions of the ship:
Getting There & Back
The cruise starts in Miami and ends in Seattle, so you will need to book open-jaw flights. From London you can fly non-stop for £592 (~€682) with checked luggage.
To find the cheapest flights for your desired dates, you can use the form below and then proceed to Trip.com with a single click:
Cover Picture: © Norwegian Cruise Line