One of the most popular cruise itineraries is the transit of the Panama Canal on a journey between Los Angeles or San Francisco, California and either Miami or Fort Lauderdale, Florida. For many a transit through the Panama Canal fulfills a lifetime dream, as there is no other canal on earth as famous or that symbolizes as much as does this manmade wonder, opened in 1914. Other cruise itineraries include a transit through the canal, especially on the route between the west coast of South America and Florida or as part of an around the world cruise. Some cruise lines also offer an end of season repositioning cruise between Vancouver, Canada and Florida at the start of the fall season to prepare for the Caribbean itineraries or in mid spring to be ready for the Alaska cruise experience. The Panama Canal is a masterpiece of engineering at a time when such a project was more dream than reality. Since its completion in 1914, the canal has a been a vital link between both American class and a strategic part of national security. To traverse the canal is considered to be one of those ultimate journeys that every global traveler must make. This book details the journey seen both from east to west and west to east. And it includes details on the journey through the newly created enlarged locks, which most cruise ships will not take, as the new sets of locks are for what are known as mega size cruise and passenger ships.