Panama-Costa-Rica-2026: Panama Canal and Costa Rica Cruise on Windstar Star Seeker Ship

Steve and I took another Windstar cruise in April of 2026. We were gone from April 10th to the morning of April 23rd (2 weeks). Our flights were on American Airlines from Salt Lake City to Miami to Panama City.

We had our good friends, Shannon and Steven Monson come take care of our house, Sadie and Mittens. We love them and wouldn't feel good about leaving them with anyone else. They are the best.

Itinerary for our trip

April 10th - drive to Salt Lake City airport for midnight flight.

Panama City - 2 days, bus across the country (50 miles), to Colon

Monday, April 13th - Colon Panama - board the ship in the port

Tuesday, April 14th - Transit through Panama Canal

Wednesday, April 15th - Balboa Panama

Thursday, April 16th - At Sea

Friday, - April 17th - Isla Parida, Panama

Saturday, April 18th - Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica

Sunday, April 19th - Quepos, Costa Rica

Monday, April 20th - Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica

April 20th & 21st - Stay 2 nights in hotel in San Jose Costa Rica

April 21st - noon flight to Miami, then to SLC airport, drive home and get home about 4am in the morning.

About our ship, The Star Seeker
Windstar’s newest yacht, during her first-ever sailing season beginning December 2025!

Our room was #632
CAPACITY: 224 Guests
STATEROOMS: 112 SUITES
HORIZON OWNERS SUITES: 2
STAR SUITES: 4
CLASSIC SUITES: 2
DELUXE SUITES: 4
VISTA VERANDA SUITES: 10
TRIPLE PREMIER VERANDA SUITES: 2
PREMIER VERANDA SUITES: 32
VERANDA SUITES: 16
TRIPLE INFINITY SUITES: 2
VISTA INFINITY SUITES: 4
INFINITY SUITES: 24
OCEANVIEW SUITES: 10
CREW: 130 international staff
SHIP'S REGISTRY: Bahamas
LENGTH: 431 feet (131.5 meters) at waterline;
DRAFT: 16 feet (4.75 meters)
TONNAGE: 9,315 gross registered tons (grt)
BEAM: 62.3 feet (19 meters)
PROPULSION: Geared diesel
SPEED: Cruising speed 16 knots

The drive to SLC airport was nice. We can stop so I can walk around a bit to relieve some of my back pain. The scenery was green and beautiful.

Always take a picture of your car in the long term parking lot before you leave so you will know what bus to get on when you return.

Flying from SLC airport about midnight means there are very few people in the airport. NICE!

This is the book I read on the trip. It was well written and I recommend it highly if you are someone you know someone that has a long term illness. Christina recommended it to me.

I do like some of the art in the SLC airport. This giant chandelier thing was made of glass birds.

Our hotel in Panama City, recommend by Windstar was very nice. Many of the people staying at the hotel are on our cruise.

The food in the restaurant hotel was so delicious and very nicely presented.

More food in the hotel

We asked for a taxi to take us to the Panama Canal Locks and Museum. He didn't understand and took us to downtown to a Museum. It wasn't in the area of the Canal at all but we decided to see the museum he let us off at and we enjoyed walking around a bit. We then took another taxi to the Canal Locks which we would actually go through on the ship within the next couple of days. The museum at the Locks was under remodeling construction so it was just meant to be to go to the other museum by mistake to see much of the history of the Locks.

The old town of Panama City reminds me a lot of the old town of Lima Peru.