Much has been written about this cruise, its itinerary, etc... My comments are few and pointed.

The Panama Canal is all that it is made out to be. I am so glad to have made the trip for this reason alone. TIP: if you go on this cruise, book an Aft Balcony stateroom on the 4th, 5th or 6th level. You will be able to look right off your balcony at the entire operation and NOT have to contend with the hundreds of other passengers assembled on the bow for a view of the canal.

Excursions - disappointing. We love to snorkel. The Catamaran Snorkeling trip out of Aruba was the worst snorkeling excursion we have experienced in our cruising. One mediocre site and a crew that talked way too much. No food. Not a good value. There was no other snorkeling available through HAL. We booked our own trip in Curacao - it was excellent. Panama, the country, was terribly unkempt. Not unusual for a developing country, but, if a country wants to promote tourism, and cruises are bringing people ashore, then there should be attempts to clean up the roadways that cruisers are taken down. I travel a lot, and the Panama I saw was among the dirtiest and unattractive places I have seen. Read more