2024 Panama Quilting Cruise

Los Angeles, CA

Known as the City of Angels, Los Angeles could more accurately be dubbed the City of Endless Adventures. This West Coast capital has something for every kind of traveler — interesting history, a mind-blowing food scene, beautiful landscapes, and a unique mix of glitz, glamour and metropolitan grit. You’ll find it all here — sprawling mansions in star-studded neighborhoods like Beverly Hills, Bel-Air and Calabasas, hanging red lanterns and sculpted dragons in Chinatown, traditional Mexican shopping stalls selling handmade crafts along Olvera Street — the list goes on and on. If you’re a film buff, wander down Sunset Boulevard and keep your eyes on the ground — the sidewalk is covered in stars dedicated to famous actors, actresses and celebrities. Head to the Santa Monica Pier for a sun-soaked beach day and a ride on the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel. Even if you only have a single day to spare ahead of your cruise from Los Angeles, it’s worth setting aside some time to get to know the best of LA.

Cruising

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Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

As Baja California's most electrifying destination and a playground for the rich and famous, Cabo San Lucas delivers a dreamy set of tropical wonders. Unspoiled shores like Lover's Beach paint the town in brushes of turquoise and white. Fertile ocean waters supply the seafood for fish tacos with adobo sauce. Cruise to Cabo San Lucas and head to Desert Park Natural Reserve to behold expansive cream-colored desert scenery. See soaring natural rock formations plunge into the Sea of Cortez at Land's End, only reachable by boat — the spot is also known for throwing the best beachside parties. Stride along a happy crowd while sipping on a margarita, taking in the impressive views and doing a little dancing while you're at it.

Mazatlan, Mexico

Cradled by mountains and lapped by the cerulean waters of the Pacific, Mazatlán is one of the most interesting resort towns on Mexico’s wild western coast. If you’re planning a cruise to Mazatlán, you’re in for a real treat. You’ll find it all here — stately plazas and shaded streets lined with restored landmarks in the city’s Centro Historico. Beautiful white-sand beaches dotted with lively cafes, bars and plenty of space to sunbathe. And endless ways to dive into the region’s unique history, which is filled with Spanish conquistadors, buccaneer battles, and Gold Rush-era prospectors.

Cruising

Quilting Classes in the Conference Center!

Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala

Puerto Quetzal is the ideal starting point to discover some of Guatemala's most iconic attractions. After a short ride outside of this port city, roam the Spanish Colonial streets of Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the colossal Volcan de Agua in the background. Cruise to Puerto Quetzal and learn how to weave using the back-strap loom technique or how to grind coffee by hand from the Maya women of San Antonio Aguascalientes. Then, reach Guatemela's highlands, and get happily lost in the town of Panajachel, with its pastel-colored houses that face idyllic Lake Atitlan.

Cruising

Quilting Classes in the Conference Center!

Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Situated on the long Nicoya Peninsula, Puntarenas is a great jumping-off point for the eco-adventures that have made Costa Rica famous. Trek lush rainforests in San Luis Park. Discover tropical flora and fauna in Pos Volcano National Park, and shower under Costa Rica's tallest waterfall at Pura Vida Gardens and Waterfalls. Looking for oceanside adventure? Take the short drive from Puntarenas to the Nicoya Peninsula, where there's a wide array of beaches — relax on family-friendly Playa Guiones, or check out dramatic Playa Ostional, with its volcanic black sands and vibrant sea turtle population. Puntarenas cruises give you access to Playa Tamarindo, where you can find some of the best surf and food in the country.

Cruising

Quilting Classes in the Conference Center!

Panama Canal (Cruising)

The Panama Canal is one of the most astonishing human-made wonders, a sliver of ingenuity that allows ships to move from one ocean to another. Cruise from the Pacific to the Atlantic, or vice versa, and take in the scenery as you move through this engineering marvel built in 1914. Along with the tropical views and modern design of the canal, there's also great opportunity for adventures on land and by the shore, where you can get in touch with the indigenous culture at the Museum of Oaxacan Art in Huatulco, Mexico, or go kayaking in Nicoya Bay at Puntarenas, Costa Rica.

Colon, Panama

Home to the Panama Canal's Atlantic Ocean entryway, Colón is the second-largest city in Panama. Start your adventure at the Gatun locks, where you can watch ships being raised by water lifts to the higher elevation of the canal. Then, visit the Portobelo Natural Park and take in the beauty of its 16th century forts. Or head to the beach at Playa Maria Chiquita for clear Caribbean Sea waters and white sands. Cruise to Colón, Panama and check out Portobelo National Park, where you can see 17th-century Fort San Lorenzo or go bird-watching along the Achiote Trail in San Lorenzo Protected Forest. Or take the one-hour trek to Panama City, the Caribbean's urban heartbeat.

Cartagena, Columbia

Cartagena de Indias boasts romantic colonial architecture and a Caribbean coast glittering in shades of bright white and aquamarine. Saunter through the leafy Plaza de Bolivar, photographing multicolored streets like Calle Segunda de Badillo. Cruise to Cartagena to dance to the beat of merengue, salsa and Colombia's very own cumbia at places like Bazurto Social Club. Discover Proclamation Square, where the town people gathered in 1811 in support of the declaration of independence from Spain, and walk the 16th-century fortifications of Castillo San Felipe de Barajas. Enjoy Cartagena's natural grandeur on its many beaches, like Bocagrande, Playa Blanca and placid Rosario Islands National Park, just 45 minutes away from the city.

Cruising

Quilting Classes in the Conference Center!

George Town, Grand Cayman

Grand Cayman is where the high life meets island life. This international banking haven is as much known for award-winning beaches as for the flocks of celebrities and high rollers that frequent them. You can sip Cayman Mama’s while rubbing shoulders with the global glitterati. During your Grand Cayman cruise, you can snorkel with stingrays in Stingray City. Treat your inner foodie at eateries established by acclaimed top chefs like Michael Schwartz, or chow down on conch fritters by the seashore. You can even soak up some rays at one of the beaches voted best in the world, Seven Mile Beach. And do it all in the same day.

Cruising

Quilting Classes in the Conference Center!

Tampa, FL

When it comes to seaside cities in Florida, Miami and Fort Lauderdale often steal the spotlight. But nestled along Florida’s beautiful western coast sits Tampa, a metropolitan oasis that’s been on the up and up for years now. Lapped by the calm, jade waters of the Gulf of Mexico, this sunny Florida city offers plenty of wonders to fill a few days ahead of your cruise from Tampa. Mornings here are best spent savoring a steaming mug of café con leche in the historic Cuban-Spanish neighborhood of Ybor City. After you’ve had your pick-me-up, hop on the TECO Line Streetcar and ride into the Channel District, where you can explore the SS American Victory, a World War II ship that’s been transformed into a museum. Among the best of Tampa’s attractions are its many art and culture exhibits — head to the Tampa Riverwalk for some educational fun at the Tampa Bay History Center, or try the Tampa Museum of Art, home to both ancient and modern masterpieces.