Panama Cruises

The dry season, from December to April, is the best time for a Panama holiday. During these months, you can expect pleasant weather with sunny days and lower chances of rain.

MSC Cruises will be offering an unmissable MSC Grand Voyage to Panama in April 2026 with MSC Poesia. This repositioning cruise will start in Miami on April 23rd, arriving in Colón, Panama on the 28th. Therefore, you'll navigate the Panama Canal during one of the year's most pleasant periods. After crossing the Panama Canal, MSC Poesia will sail to Costa Rica, Baja California in Mexico, and the US West Coast, stopping in San Diego and Los Angeles before concluding in Seattle on May 1st.

In Panama, the dry season extends from December to April. These months are characterized by dry, sunny weather with few rainfalls and temperatures ranging between 28 and 30 degrees Celsius. The rainy season, instead, lasts from May to November.

Throughout the year, you can take advantage of Panama cruise deals and visit this fantastic region at the best price. Additionally, cruises sailing to the Panama Canal are MSC Grand Voyages, which are repositioning cruises generally offered at more competitive prices compared to standard itineraries.

For the dry season, from December to April, characterized by hot weather and sunny days, your suitcase should include lightweight clothing such as linen shirts, t-shirts, lightweight pants, and summer dresses. We suggest also bringing a light sweatshirt for cooler evenings. As for footwear, comfortable shoes suitable for your excursions along the Panama Canal are recommended.

For the rainy season, from May to November, lightweight clothing is again recommended, as temperatures remain warm, but with the addition of some long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and sweatshirts for cooler evenings. Regardless of the time of year you choose to embark on your Panama Canal cruise, don't forget to bring a camera to capture unforgettable moments as you traverse this magnificent region.

Our Panama Canal cruises set sail on select itineraries operated by MSC Magnifica and MSC Poesia.

On MSC Magnifica, you’ll experience the Panama Canal as part of the unforgettable World Cruise 2027 and World Cruise 2028, our around‑the‑world experiences that include transiting this legendary engineering marvel.

Meanwhile, MSC Poesia offers a series of immersive itineraries that trace the length of the Americas between Miami and Seattle. Depending on the sailing, your cruise may begin in the glamorous buzz of Miami or the vibrant waterfront of Seattle, before leading you on a spectacular route through: Cartagena (Colombia), Colón (Panama), Puntarenas (Costa Rica), Huatulco (Mexico), Cabo San Lucas, San Diego and Los Angeles.

MSC Cruises itineraries traverse the Panama Canal in two days and one night. Therefore, you'll have plenty of time to soak up the ever-changing tropical scenery and spectacular landscapes of this region. The Panama Canal crossing is currently available in April 2026 with one MSC Grand Voyages itinerary of 18-nights. This repositioning cruise sets sail from Miami on April 23rd, hits Panama on the 27th and 28th, and ends in Seattle on May 1st.

Yes, MSC Cruises sail through the Panama Canal. The next Panama Canal cruise will sail in April 2026 with an unmissable MSC Grand Voyages route.

The Panama Canal is 81 kilometres long and connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. While The width of the canal varies along its course. Gatun Lake, with its 350 meters, is the widest part of the canal, while the Culebra Cut is the narrowest part, measuring only 90 meters. You can cruise through the Panama Canal in 2026 with MSC Grand Voyages

Panama uses Eastern Standard Time (EST). This means that Panama is five hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and four behind British Summer Time (BST) in the UK.

The official currency of Panama is the Panamanian Balboa, however, the US dollar is widely accepted and used.