Going through the Panama Canal has been on my "bucket list." I couldn't think of a better way to cross than onboard Azamara Quest.
I boarded Quest in San Diego. The ports we visited were great, including an overnight in Cabo San Lucas, where the AzAmazing Evening was a performance of the "Dance of the Dead" in the Mexican desert. We then went to Zhijuatanejo (Mexico), San Juan del Sur (Nicaragua), Puntarenas (Costa Rico), and then Fuerte Amador in Panama.
The passage through the canal took about 8 hours, during which a retired history professor hired by Azamara gave a running commentary about the canal.
Spacious and well-appointed. The cabin attendants were always attentive and polite.
A beautiful fishing village. I had lunch ashore. My meal was a delicious grilled red snapper, rice, and vegetables. Along with the meal I had 3 Dos Equis beers. My total bill came to $14.