Pristine islands of the Bahamas & the Panama Canal

Nassau's sheltered harbor bustles with cruise-ship activity, while a block away Bay Street's sidewalks are crowded with shoppers who duck into air-conditioned boutiques and relax on benches in the shade of mahogany and lignum vitae trees. Shops angle for tourist dollars with fine imported goods at duty-free prices, yet you'll find a handful of stores overflowing with authentic Bahamian crafts, food supplies, and other delights. With a revitalization of downtown ongoing—the revamped British Colonial Hilton leading the way—Nassau is recapturing some of its past glamour. Nevertheless, modern influences are completely apparent: fancy restaurants, suave clubs, and trendy coffeehouses have popped up everywhere. These changes have come partly in response to the growing number of upper-crust crowds that now supplement the spring breakers and cruise passengers who have traditionally flocked to Nassau. Of course, you can still find a wild club or a rowdy bar, but you can also sip cappuccino while viewing contemporary Bahamian art or dine by candlelight beneath prints of old Nassau, serenaded by soft, island-inspired calypso music. A trip to Nassau wouldn't be complete without a stop at some of the island's well-preserved historic buildings. The large, pink colonial-style edifices house Parliament and some of the courts, while others, like Fort Charlotte, date back to the days when pirates ruled the town. Take a tour via horse-drawn carriage for the full effect.

Welcome to Nassau, the capital city of the Bahamas. Once a haven for pirates, Nassau is a city of history and colour. Downtown is brimming with colonial-era architecture and rainbow-hued buildings and vibrant murals bring the streets to life. This popular island playground has many world-class resorts and casinos and is much-loved for its white sand beaches lapped by crystal-clear water.

Your journey into wonder begins with a warm greeting by the Captain and crew as you step on board Scenic Eclipse. Sip on a glass of Champagne as you explore your luxurious suite, then join your fellow guests at the Sky Bar to toast the start of an unforgettable voyage.

Please book your flight to arrive into Nassau prior to 02:00 PM.

Docked: 18:00

Part of Exuma Cays, Staniel Cay is a hidden gem in The Bahamas, south of Nassau. It is home to a small village, a yacht club and is famous for the swimming pigs, who have become an attraction paddling in the translucent water of nearby Pig Beach. On Staniel Cay guests can enjoy sun-kissed beaches and a rustic and authentic Bahamian lifestyle.   

Tonight, settle in at the spacious Scenic Lounge Bar to enjoy your beverage of choice, whether it be aged whiskey- there are over 130 varieties, or a glass of wine, while reflecting on the day's discoveries.

Scenic Freechoice:
Nurse Sharks & Swimming Pigs: Visit the Exuma Cays and meet the famous swimming pigs on Pigs Beach, where you can feed, swim and interact with them. Then head to Compass Cay to encounter friendly Nurse Sharks, and finish with shell hunting and beachcombing on a picturesque sandbar.

Thunderball Grotto: Enjoy a boat adventure from Staniel Cay, meeting iguanas on Bitter Guana Cay, spotting stingrays at a plane wreck, and snorkelling through the stunning Thunderball Grotto.

Iguana Island & Staniel Cay Nature Walk: Explore Bitter Guana Cay (Iguana Island) by private boat to observe endangered Bahamian rock iguanas with a naturalist guide, then take a nature walk on Staniel Cay and pause for a refreshing drink at a scenic overlook.

Anchored: 08:00 - 18:00

You’ll spend the day at San Salvador Island today, an island rich in history, including its significance as the first landfall of Christopher Columbus in the New World. The island is an aquatic wonderland, fringed by pristine sand beaches, with a series of inland lakes and some 50 dive sites to explore reefs and wrecks, as well as a medley of marine life. You can also wander through charming coastal villages and fall into the island’s languid pace.

Scenic Discovery:
Today, experience the charm of an idyllic Bahamas beach, where kayaks, paddleboards, and the possibility of a Zodiac cruise along the sparkling coastline await, all thoughtfully arranged by our Discovery Team.

Anchored: 8:00 - 18:00

Embark on a cultural odyssey at Cabo de La Vela, where the indigenous Wayuu people welcome you to their ancestral lands. Learn about their rich traditions, from vibrant handicrafts to ancient rituals. Engage with locals and share stories during a visit to the local school. Cabo de La Vela is a place of striking beauty where the rugged desert landscape is adorned with windswept dunes and lapped by crystalline waters.

Scenic Discovery:
Today, the Discovery Team may offer exciting watersports activities, including stand-up paddleboarding, perfect for enjoying the beautiful waters of Cabo de la Vela.

Anchored: 7:00 - 14:00

Cartagena's magnificent city walls and fortresses, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, enclose a well-restored historic center (the Cuidad Amurallada, or walled city) with plazas, churches, museums, and shops that have made it a lively coastal vacation spot for South Americans and others. New hotels and restaurants make the walled city a desirable place to stay, and the formerly down-at-the-heels Getsemaní neighborhood attracts those seeking a bohemian buzz. The historic center is a small section of Cartagena; many hotels are in the Bocagrande district, an elongated peninsula where high-rise hotels overlook a long, gray-sand beach.When it was founded in 1533 by Spanish conquistador Pedro de Heredia, Cartagena was the only port on the South American mainland. Gold and silver looted from indigenous peoples passed through here en route to Spain and attracted pirates, including Sir Francis Drake, who in 1586 torched 200 buildings. Cartagena's walls protected the city's riches as well as the New World's most important African slave market.

Cartagena is a beautifully preserved and colourful city oozing colonial charm. This World Heritage-listed walled city is looked over by a great 17th century hilltop fortress, and is crammed with churches and monasteries, bustling plazas where traditional musicians and dancers entertain and candy-coloured buildings with balconies draped in bougainvillea. 

Renowned for vibrant festivals and exquisite cuisine, Cartagena is a treasure trove of Latin American culture and history. Wander its Old Town, with cobblestone streets that are frequented by artisans, hawkers and food vendors touting tropical fruits. The surrounding landscape of pristine beaches and tropical forests adds to its allure.

Scenic Freechoice:
Colombian Coffee Experience with Honey Pairing & Touch of Gold: Discover Cartagena’s historic walled city, then enjoy a hands-on Colombian coffee tasting led by a local expert. Learn about roasting, cupping and honey pairings before visiting the Gold Museum and ending with a relaxing café refreshment stop.

Cartagena Walking Tour: Explore La Popa Monastery, Castillo de San Felipe, vibrant Getsemaní, the walled city, and the Gold Museum, ending with a local ice cream.

Old Cartagena by Vintage Car: Tour Cartagena’s old town in classic vintage cars, discovering its beautiful colonial streets. End with a delicious meal at a trendy historic restaurant and some free time to explore.

Docked: 12:00 - 18:00

The San Blas archipelago is located off the Caribbean coast, east of Colon, and is made up of 365 islands that range in size from tiny ones with a few coconut palms to islands on which hundreds of Kuna Indians live. Only about fifty are inhabited. The Kuna rule the San Blas Territory with internal autonomy, and have tightly preserved their language and cultural traditions over the centuries despite influences from European colonies. In addition to their own language, Spanish is widely spoken and many men work on the mainland, but live on the islands. Women wear costumes with unique designs based on local themes, geometric patterns, and stylised fauna and flora. The island of El Porvenir is one of the main seats of government for the Kuna Indians. Many Kunas from the other islands came to settle on El Porvenir, bringing with them their traditional arts and crafts, including the famous molas. These intricately hand-sewn designs are made by the women of the tribes as part of their blouses and dresses. With the increased tourism, molas are now a favoured souvenir and craft item for visitors.

Welcome to Lemon Cay, a hidden paradise in the San Blas Islands of Panama, which is home to the indigenous Guna people and one of the biggest coconut plantations in the world. Immerse yourself in the beauty of these pristine isles dotted with swaying palm trees and surrounded by crystal-clear waters that are mottled by thriving underwater coral gardens.

Take a short zodiac ride to Lemon Cay, where the Guna people greet you with music, dance and vibrant traditions. Explore handcrafted mola textiles, sample local cuisine and browse artisan goods. Relax on the beach and soak in the natural beauty — this unique cultural experience is open to everyone on this day.

Scenic Discovery:
Get active with the Discovery Team today, explore the crystal-clear waters of Lemon Cay through snorkelling, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding.

Anchored: 11:00 - 18:00

Translated as Mouths of the Bull, Bocas del Toro is both a province and an archipelago in the northwest Caribbean Sea in Panama. The archipelago contains 10 larger islands (including the main Isla Colon, where the town of Bocas del Toro is situated), 50 cays and 200 tiny islets. The region contains Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park, Panama’s first national marine park that covers over 32,000 acres and protects forests, mangroves, monkeys, sloths, caiman, crocodile and 28 species of amphibians and reptiles. The park also contains Playa Larga, an important nesting site for sea turtles. With all there is to see in this region, visitors should also pause to enjoy the pristine white beaches lined with palm trees that lie all along the surrounding clear waters of the Chiriqui Lagoon

Discover the enchanting beauty of Bocas del Toro, a destination with lush forests and mountains on one side and pristine beaches on the other. It has an Afro-Caribbean culture with a very distinctive language that blends English, French and Spanish, where calypso and reggae music fills the streets and dishes are created with seafood, coconuts and spices.

Spend the day exploring colourful reefs, unwinding on white sandy beaches or discovering the picturesque villages.

Scenic Freechoice:
Wildlife Adventure Bastimentos: Discover the wildlife and culture of Bocas del Toro on this relaxed boat adventure, spot dolphins in Bahia Honda, see starfish at Hollywood Cove, visit Sloth Island, glide through mangrove channels, and finish with a guided stroll through the vibrant village of Old Bank.

Bird Island & Starfish Beach: Experience Bocas del Toro’s natural wonders on a scenic boat adventure to Bird Island, a limestone islet home to tropical seabirds including the rare, red-billed tropicbird. Then head to Boca del Drago and Starfish Beach to relax, swim and enjoy the calm waters and colourful sea stars.

Zapatilla`s Paradise Cayes: Explore Bocas del Toro’s Zapatilla Cayes, spot dolphins at Bahia Honda, snorkel vibrant coral at Coral Cay, and relax on the pristine sands of Zapatilla Cay.

Bahia Honda Adventure: Venture through Bastimentos Island on an eco-adventure through mangroves and jungle. Spot sloths, monkeys and exotic birds, hike a tropical trail to see tiny red frogs, and wade through the mysterious Batcave.

Anchored: 11:00 - 18:00

Expect incredible morning views as you arrive into the port for Panama City. Tinged with a silver pre-dawn light, the city will metamorphosise into a golden glow as the sun rises above it. And from then on expect one stunning view after another. Very interesting in its own right, Fuerte Amador is obviously overshadowed by its proximity to Panama City. So should the Miraflores museum of the Canal, which offers a comprehensive and immersive tour of the Canal including a 3-D experience, four exhibition halls, an observation deck, and a surprisingly good restaurant not interest you then there is always the option of lovely Casco Viejo – literally the old quartier of Panama. The grand old colonial houses, cobbled streets, independent boutiques and buzzing street scene make this a must stop on your itinerary. And if you like seafood, you will not want miss the many restaurants and market stalls serving different variations of so-fresh-it’s-still-practically-swimming ceviche. Best eaten like the Panamanians do, with salty crackers and a cold beer on the beach. And if money is no object, a cup of geisha coffee – supposedly the world’s best and definitely the world’s most expensive at $7 a shot is definitely a pick me up! Cool cosmopolitan capital aside, Panama has a skyscraper filled skyline that is worthy of some of its North American counterparts. But if urban utopia is not your scene then fear not, the sandy beaches and lush rainforests are never more than a short cab ride away.

Expect incredible morning views as you arrive into the port for Panama City. Tinged with a silver pre-dawn light, the city will metamorphosise into a golden glow as the sun rises above it. And from then on expect one stunning view after another. Very interesting in its own right, Fuerte Amador is obviously overshadowed by its proximity to Panama City. So should the Miraflores museum of the Canal, which offers a comprehensive and immersive tour of the Canal including a 3-D experience, four exhibition halls, an observation deck, and a surprisingly good restaurant not interest you then there is always the option of lovely Casco Viejo – literally the old quartier of Panama. The grand old colonial houses, cobbled streets, independent boutiques and buzzing street scene make this a must stop on your itinerary. And if you like seafood, you will not want miss the many restaurants and market stalls serving different variations of so-fresh-it’s-still-practically-swimming ceviche. Best eaten like the Panamanians do, with salty crackers and a cold beer on the beach. And if money is no object, a cup of geisha coffee – supposedly the world’s best and definitely the world’s most expensive at $7 a shot is definitely a pick me up! Cool cosmopolitan capital aside, Panama has a skyscraper filled skyline that is worthy of some of its North American counterparts. But if urban utopia is not your scene then fear not, the sandy beaches and lush rainforests are never more than a short cab ride away.

Your Signature Yacht Cruise will come to an end in the capital of Panama, Panama City. This cosmopolitan city, which comprises a juxtaposing skyline of skyscrapers, 17th century churches and colonial-style buildings, is steeped in history and boasts a happening culinary scene.  

Savour one last luxurious breakfast on board your 6-star Discovery Yacht before saying farewell to the crew and new friends who have shared this remarkable journey with you. As you disembark, know you have created unforgettable memories. 

Please book your flight to depart out of Panama City after 12:00 PM.

+All drinks on board, including those stocked in your mini bar, are included, except for a very small number of rare, fine and vintage wines, Champagnes and spirits. #Spa treatments at additional cost. ~Kayak and stand-up paddleboard may not operate in all locations.

Helicopter not operational in Columbia or Panama.

Please note the itinerary is a guide and may be subject to changes for operational reasons. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.