A Canal Day, a Late Aruba Stay, and 12 Nights on Caribbean Princess
A Panama Canal partial transit, Aruba until 10 p.m. and six sea days give this 12-night Caribbean Princess sailing its appeal. Here is what the itinerary—and the cabin prices—really mean.
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Why this sailing caught my eye
I picked this February 15 departure because its canal day gives a familiar Caribbean vacation a distinctive center. Aruba’s late departure adds flexibility, Cartagena brings a different kind of port experience, and six sea days leave room to enjoy the ship rather than simply sleep between excursions. The round-trip Fort Lauderdale routing also keeps both ends of the trip in one gateway. The appeal is the combination, not an unsupported bargain claim: the interior and balcony quotes are far apart, so the right cabin decision matters. This is a feature for travelers who want both interesting days and genuine downtime.
What Makes This Sailing Special
Great Itinerary
Scenic Cruising
Longer Voyage
Life Aboard the Ship
Caribbean Princess entered service in 2004. Princess lists a lower-berth guest capacity of 3,140, a gross tonnage of 112,894 and a length of 952 feet. Those numbers describe a substantial ship, not an intimate expedition vessel. I would choose it for the combination of the itinerary and its established cruise-ship amenities rather than for the excitement of sailing on a brand-new launch.
Included dining choices include the main dining rooms and World Fresh Marketplace. Crown Grill and Sabatini’s are specialty options that cost extra unless your booked package specifically covers them. My approach on a trip this length would be to enjoy the included choices first, then choose an extra dinner because it appeals—not because an add-on is presented as essential to having a good vacation.
Movies Under the Stars provides an outdoor entertainment option, while the ship also offers theater entertainment and public spaces such as the Piazza. Six full sea days give those amenities a real role in the holiday. You have two sea days before Aruba and two more before returning to Florida, so there is time to settle in and wind down rather than making every onboard evening a recovery period between excursions.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
| Day | Date | Port / Event | Arrival | Departure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Feb 15, 2027 | Ft. Lauderdale, Florida | — | 3:00 PM |
| 2 | Feb 16, 2027 | At Sea | — | — |
| 3 | Feb 17, 2027 | At Sea | — | — |
| 4 | Feb 18, 2027 | Aruba | 10:00 AM | 10:00 PM |
| 5 | Feb 19, 2027 | At Sea | — | — |
| 6 | Feb 20, 2027 | Cartagena, Colombia | 7:00 AM | 2:00 PM |
| 7 | Feb 21, 2027 | Panama Canal Partial Transit New Locks | 6:00 AM | 3:30 PM |
| 7 | Feb 21, 2027 | Colon, Panama | 5:30 PM | 8:00 PM |
| 8 | Feb 22, 2027 | Limon, Costa Rica | 7:00 AM | 6:00 PM |
| 9 | Feb 23, 2027 | At Sea | — | — |
| 10 | Feb 24, 2027 | Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands | 9:00 AM | 5:00 PM |
| 11 | Feb 25, 2027 | At Sea | — | — |
| 12 | Feb 26, 2027 | At Sea | — | — |
| 13 | Feb 27, 2027 | Ft. Lauderdale, Florida | 7:00 AM | — |
Staterooms and Starting Prices
Verified fare snapshots for this sailing. Pricing and availability can change.
Pros and Cons
- Strong points: A new-locks canal experience, Aruba until 22:00, varied destination styles and a round-trip Florida itinerary with substantial downtime.
- Tradeoffs: This is only a partial transit; Colón is a service call, not a bonus sightseeing stop; Grand Cayman involves a water shuttle; and the verified balcony premium is substantial.
Sam’s Tip
Decide what you want from the canal day before choosing a tour. Staying aboard prioritizes the ship’s transit experience; taking a Princess tour from Gatun Lake changes how you spend the rest of the day and involves rejoining later. Do not book an independent pickup at the lake or assume Colón supplies an unrestricted evening ashore. That small piece of itinerary reading prevents a very large planning mistake.
Who This Cruise Is Perfect For
I would put this in front of couples and experienced cruisers who want a recognizable Caribbean holiday with something more distinctive at its center. It also makes sense for travelers interested in historic cities and the canal who genuinely enjoy a slower onboard day between major outings.
Think twice if your goal is a full Panama Canal crossing, a different walk-off port every morning or the newest ship at sea. Travelers who cannot comfortably use water shuttles should discuss the specific ports and assistance limits with Princess before booking. An accessible cabin and an accessible day ashore are separate planning questions.
Before You Sail
My recommendation is to reach Fort Lauderdale by February 14 rather than rely on a same-day flight for the February 15 departure. That is planning advice, not a Princess-imposed hotel requirement. Equally, the scheduled 07:00 return on February 27 is not a promise that you will be off the ship at 07:00; build the trip home around realistic disembarkation arrangements.
Hotel to consider: Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina. The hotel is at 1881 SE 17th Street on the Intracoastal Waterway, with an outdoor pool and on-site dining. It makes a useful candidate for a pre-cruise night that can feel like the beginning of the holiday rather than an airport holding pattern. This is a recommendation based on its published facilities and location, not a claim that I have stayed there.
Explore Hilton hotel options and search for Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina for February 14–15, 2027. This is a general Hilton link, not a confirmed room offer. No rate or availability for that night was verified. Hilton’s published hotel information lists airport and Port Everglades shuttles for a fee; confirm the actual charge, schedule and any package inclusions directly. Do not assume the beach shuttle and the cruise-port shuttle have the same terms.
Before completing a booking, check the final fare conditions, travel-document requirements for your citizenship, cabin assignment terms and any mobility arrangements. The cabin price table is a research snapshot, not a reservation or a promise that the same inventory will remain available.
Final Thoughts
This is the Caribbean Princess sailing I would consider for someone who wants a canal experience without making the whole vacation a one-way crossing. The late Aruba stay and mixed destination styles give it personality; the six sea days give it room to breathe. Go in knowing that the transit is partial, Colón is operational rather than recreational, and your cabin choice can change the budget dramatically.
For the right traveler, that is a compelling combination: an interesting route and enough unhurried time to enjoy the ship carrying you through it. Browse more Cruise of the Day ideas to compare the pace and style with other featured trips.
