Yes, on select sailings
Royal Caribbean does offer Panama Canal cruises, but they are a small part of its schedule rather than a year-round staple. Which ships and dates are available changes from year to year, so the most reliable way to confirm is to check Royal Caribbean’s current listings for the time frame you want.
Which ships and itineraries
Royal Caribbean’s canal sailings have typically used mid-size ships rather than its largest. Travelers have reported full transits on Radiance of the Seas, for example a 14-day sailing between Tampa and Los Angeles, and listings have also shown Serenade of the Seas on one-way itineraries between Tampa or San Diego and the other coast. A ship like Radiance is small enough to use the canal’s original locks.
Common features of these cruises:
- Mostly one-way, ocean-to-ocean sailings. Full transits tend to be timed with seasonal ship repositioning, such as moving ships toward or away from Alaska in spring and fall.
- Length. 10 to 16 nights is common for Royal Caribbean’s Panama Canal routes.
- Ports of call. Typical stops on Panama Canal cruises generally include places such as Cartagena in Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico’s Pacific coast and other Central American ports, though each itinerary differs.
Why the biggest Royal Caribbean ships don’t go
The line’s largest vessels, such as the Oasis and Icon classes, are generally considered too large for the canal. Size limits come from the dimensions of the locks and also from overhead clearance. Our article on which cruise ships are too big for the Panama Canal explains the limits.
Full transit vs partial transit with Royal Caribbean
Most of the Royal Caribbean listings that travelers mention are full transits. Not every cruise line offers partial transits, in which the ship enters Gatun Lake and returns to its starting port, so if you want a round trip from Florida, confirm that your chosen sailing includes the locks rather than only a port call in Colon. Our comparison of full vs partial Panama Canal transit can help you choose.
Documents
Royal Caribbean allows some U.S. citizens to cruise with a birth certificate and photo ID on certain round trips (see closed-loop cruising without a passport), but its published list of exceptions excludes itineraries that include Panama or Colombia. Plan on a passport. Our guide to passports for a Panama Canal cruise has the details.
How Royal Caribbean compares with other lines
Cruise travelers commonly describe Royal Caribbean as strong on onboard activities, while lines such as Princess and Holland America are often mentioned for deep Panama Canal experience. Premium and luxury lines offer smaller ships. See our article on the best cruise line for the Panama Canal for a fuller comparison.
Finding current sailings
To see what is available:
- Look at Royal Caribbean’s Panama Canal pages or search tool for the months you are considering.
- Check the cruise’s start and end ports and the length of the sailing to see whether it is a full or partial transit.
- Read the itinerary for the transit day itself, since some listings show a port call rather than a canal passage.
- Compare fares across lines. See how much a Panama Canal cruise costs.
For background on what happens during the passage, read how cruise ships go through the Panama Canal.