<p>Since its debut nearly a century ago, the Panama Canal  has been considered one of the world's most important engineering  marvels.  This 51-mile passageway between oceans can save a ship more  than 7,000 transit miles around South America, and never ceases to amaze  cruise passengers.  Princess Cruises'   ships have long offered a front-row view of the Panama Canal, and in  2011-12 the line will offer 38 cruises to this signature destination,  with five different itinerary options.</p>
<p>The Panama Canal's history adds to its status as a "must see"  destination.  The single most expensive construction project in United  States history at the time, "big ditch" took more than 30 years to build  at a cost of about $375 million.  The Canal's lengthy history included  construction efforts by two different nations and the creation of an  independent Panama.  In total, Canal construction involved as many as  80,000 workers and the excavation of around 268,000,000 cubic yards of  earth.</p>
<p>Today the Canal offers passage to approximately 14,000 ships a year.   Princess passengers sailing the Canal will enjoy the amenities of two  vessels specifically built for Panama Canal cruising -- <a> Coral Princess</a> and  Island Princess.   The sides of these ships just clear the massive locks that use an  average of 52 million gallons of water in each chamber as they  eventually lift and lower vessels a total of 170 feet as they pass from  the Caribbean to the Pacific during the nine-hour transit.</p>
<p>"Our ships have been transiting the Panama Canal for more than 40 years  and, in fact, we even christened Coral Princess as it moved through the  Canal," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president.   "There really is no better way to watch the fascinating process as the  ship transits each lock than from the decks of our ships -- it's an  exceptional way to experience this wonder of engineering."</p>
<p>Princess' unique <strong>Two-day Canal Experience</strong>, available on many  longer sailings, combines a full transit of the Canal, including the  Miraflores, Pedro Miguel and Gatun Locks, with a second day in Panama at  Fuerte Amador.  This extra day gives travelers time to explore Panama  further with excursions such as riding the Panama Canal Railway,  exploring a rainforest, visiting an authentic Embera Indian village or  touring bustling Panama City.</p>
<p>Beyond the Panama Canal, these itineraries offer calls in Caribbean  Islands, Mexican Riviera resort towns, and a number of intriguing ports  in Central America.  In <strong>Costa Rica</strong>, passengers will discover a  land of tropical rain forests, lush coffee plantations and white sand  coastlines set against a backdrop of majestic mountains.  In San Juan  del Sur,<strong> Nicaragua</strong>, this scenic fishing village offers beautiful  white-sand beaches and ecological richness, while the nearby city of  Granada is the oldest city in Central America.</p>
<p>Panama Canal itineraries include:</p>
<p><strong>Panama Canal Two-Day Experience Cruises </strong>-- Coral Princess and  Island Princess will feature three itineraries offering Princess'  Two-Day Canal Experience -- a full Panama Canal transit combined with a  full day at Fuerte Amador on the Pacific side of Panama.  The 14-day  itinerary sails between Ft. Lauderdale and Los Angeles with calls at  Aruba, Cartagena, and Puntarenas (Costa Rica) in addition to the Two-Day  Canal Experience.  A 15-day option offers an additional call in Puerto  Quetzal (Guatemala).  And another 15-day option sails from San Francisco  to Ft. Lauderdale with calls at Cabo San Lucas, Puntarenas (Costa  Rica), Cartagena, and Aruba.  Sailings on these itineraries depart  between September 25, 2011 and April 27, 2012.  Coral Princess and  Island Princess also offer longer Grand Adventures of 17, 18 and 19  days, sailing to and from Vancouver.</p>
<p><strong>Full Panama Canal Transit Sailings </strong>-- A new 14-day itinerary  between Los Angeles and Ft Lauderdale, offering a full Panama Canal  transit plus visits to Cabo San Lucas, San Juan del Sur (Nicaragua),  Puntarenas (Costa Rica), Cartagena and Aruba.  Coral Princess offers  four sailings on this route, with departures on October 25, November 8,  2011, February 28, and March 13, 2012.</p>
<p><strong> Roundtrip Panama Canal Cruises </strong>-- Island Princess will sail on  this classic 10-day roundtrip itinerary from Ft. Lauderdale, which  offers a partial Panama Canal transit to Gatun Lake followed by a call  in Colon, plus calls in the Caribbean ports of Aruba, Cartagena, Limon  (Costa Rica), and Grand Cayman or Ocho Rios.  The ship offers 20  departures between October 10, 2011 and April 17, 2012.</p>