Ship: Swan Hellenic - SH Diana
Itinerary: 11-Night Puntarenas to Cartagena

This morning, SH Diana is scheduled to make her very first transit through the Panama Canal. Guests begin to gather at the bow as the ship makes her way under the Bridge of the Americas on the Pacific side of the canal.

As SH Diana enters the Miraflores Locks, locals are on hand to cheer us on.

After we enter Miraflores Locks we, wait for water levels to rise to the level of the next lock.

Four powerful electric “mules” are used keep the ship centered in the lock.

Transiting the Panama Canal should be on every cruiser’s bucket list. It truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

A few hours later, we are entering the final lock on the Atlantic side of the canal. A transit through the canal takes only hours, while navigating around the horn of South America can take several weeks.