Emerald Princess
Ship Facts
Length: 951 feet
Beam: 195 feet
Draft: 26 feet
Cruising Speed: 21.5 knots
Guests: 3,078
Crew: 1,200
Ships Registry: Bermuda
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Panama Canal, Costa Rica & Caribbean Gay Bears Cruise 2025
12 nights from/to Fort Lauderdale, Florida
March 12 – 24, 2025
Princess Cruises Emerald Princess
 Join us on gay bbears group cruise as we sail through the Panama Canal, Costa Rica & Caribbean! Even more exciting! We will be sailing through the brand new Panama Canal locks! The Panama Canal is one of the most amazing engineering marvels in the world. Its presence has had a huge impact on the natural world,and serves as a vast wildlife sanctuary whose many inhabitants pay no mind to the ships that quietly pass through. Life flourishes along the canal, allowing the jungle to make inroads all the way down to the shoreline. Enjoy the many unique and exotic ports of call in the Caribbean and be pampered with incredible service, gourmet dining, and world-class entertainment on the impressive, and fabulous luxury ship, Emerald Princess!
Princess Cruises are the number one cruise line sailing to this bucket list destination, and as awe-inspiring as it is to travel through one of Condé Nast Traveler’s 7 Cruise Wonders of the World, we’ll help you explore equally fascinating places along the way. So stretch out on a Caribbean beach, admire the pristine rainforests, stroll the cobbled streets of colonial towns and journey through the fabled Panama Canal with Princess.
On a Panama Canal cruise, experience the lush rainforests of Costa Rica, teeming with scarlet macaws and slow-moving sloths. Wander through the flower-filled streets of enchanting Cartagena, Colombia, bask on Caribbean golden beaches, and swim in the aquamarine waters surrounding Aruba, and Curaçao as you discover this fascinating region with us.
There’s no shortage of beach time on this 12-night cruise, with blissful, sun-soaked days on the dazzling white sands that fringe Aruba, and Curaçao, and a day to explore Grand Cayman’s glorious Seven Mile Beach. 
Your Ship - Emerald Princess
Emerald Princess is a modern and lavish cruise ship, with so many choices that you'll be amazed when you walk on board! Choose from different dining options, choose from spa treatments, and choose which swimming pool you want to relax by! This ship has 900 balcony staterooms, as well as endless options for entertainment! So make the right choice, and choose to take a vacation aboard Emerald Princess!
Your culinary journey at sea reaches new heights with an abundance of fresh restaurant choices and dining options aboard Emerald Princess. From revitalized top deck venues like Salty Dog Grill, Slice Pizzeria and Coffee & Cones to brand new casual restaurants Steamers Seafood and Planks BBQ there’s something for every palate.
Activities on Emerald Princess
Emerald Princess has great amenities, and they're so diverse there's something for everyone to enjoy! The ship will keep you on the run - there's basketball, paddle tennis, a jogging track, shuffleboard, a gym and fitness area, and more! Check out the Lotus Spa® for an all-day pampering, or take a dip and swim against the current in the special pool! There's a nine-hole putting course, and even a virtual golf simulator so you can practice your swing! Once you've worked up a sweat, cool off poolside at the Calypso Reef, or Neptune's Reef - both of these pool areas feature two hot tubs, as does the Lotus Spa pool! There's also the Terrace pool or the Sanctuary, which is adults-only!
Head over to the boutiques on this wonderful ship, and enjoy duty-free shopping and great deals on designer clothing and gifts! There's an art gallery that features an auction, a library, a wedding chapel, conference center, and a 24-hour Internet Café with wireless accessibility! The ScholarShip@Sea makes learning fun with cooking classes, seminars about your destination, and other interesting lectures! So get ready to explore what this great ship has to offer!
Dining / Food on Emerald Princess
Speaking of choices, dining on Emerald Princess is all personal, and all your choice! Choose the traditional dining and enjoy your meal at the same time each day in a formal dining room like the Boticelli! Anytime dining is offered in the Michelangelo Dining Room, and in the Da Vinci Dining Room. The ship even has two specialty restaurants and a very special program that serves you your meal with a breathtaking view on the balcony - Ultimate Balcony Dining! Sabatini's is an Italian restaurant with amazing food, and the Crown Grill serves steak and seafood!
There are also other options for good eats - head over to the Horizon Court Buffet and Bistro, or check out the Café Caribe! Vines is a wine and seafood bar, and there's also the Trident Grill, which serves burgers and hot dogs. The International Café is open 24-hours a day! Afternoon tea is available, and there's a pizza and ice cream bar too! Don't forget, the ship has 24-hour room service!
Entertainment on Emerald Princess
Emerald Princess has lots of onboard entertainment, and there's something for everyone! Get ready for a great time, featuring professional performances of musicals, live music, and comedy acts! Head to the Princess Theater to catch a show, or see a first-run movie at the Movies Under the Stars® poolside movie theater! Gatbsy's Casino has all of your favorite casino games - poker, roulette, slots, and more! The Explorers Lounge features a nightclub-style performance, while the Skywalkers Nightclub makes you feel like you're dancing in the stars - it's 15 decks above the ocean! Don't forget to check out Club Fusion!
For something a little more laidback, head over to the bars and lounges - the Wheelhouse Bar, the Adagio Bar, and the Crooners Bar are all great places to relax, enjoy a cocktail, and reminisce about the day! The Speakeasy Lounge also lets you smoke cigars, so grab a good stogie and start a great conversation!
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Panama Canal, Costa Rica & Caribbean
Gay Bears Cruise 2025
Itinerary
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Date |
Port |
Arrive |
Depart |
| 12 Mar |
Fort Lauderdale, Florida |
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3 PM |
| 13 Mar |
Fun Day at Sea! |
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| 14 Mar |
Fun Day at Sea! |
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| 15 Mar |
Oranjestad, Aruba |
9 AM |
10 PM |
| 16 Mar |
Willemstad, Curacao |
8 AM |
6 PM |
| 17 Mar |
Fun Day at Sea! |
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| 18 Mar |
Cartagena, Colombia |
7 AM |
3 PM |
| 19 Mar |
Panama Canal Transit |
6 AM |
3:30 PM |
| 19 Mar |
Colon, Panama |
5:30 PM |
8 PM |
| 20 Mar |
Limon, Costa Rica |
7 AM |
6 PM |
| 21 Mar |
Fun Day at Sea! |
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| 22 Mar |
George Town, Grand Cayman |
8 AM |
5 PM |
| 23 Mar |
Fun Day at Sea! |
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| 24 Mar |
Fort Lauderdale, Florida |
7 AM |
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Day 1 - Fort Lauderdale, Florida
According to the popular 1960 beach movie, Fort Lauderdale is "where the boys are." The city's reputation as America's Spring Break capital, however, has been replaced with the more favorable image of a prime family tourist destination, attracting more than 10 million visitors annually. The most popular beach resort in Florida is even more rightly famed as the "Yachting Capital of the World," with more than 40,000 registered crafts calling its waters home. The city also prides itself on being the "Venice of America" with more than 300 miles of navigable waterways. Fort Lauderdale boasts world-class theaters, museums, sightseeing, and shopping.
Day 4 - Oranjestad, Aruba
Dutch influence still lingers on this balmy Caribbean island, part of the former Netherlands Antilles until its independence in 1986. Aruba is a contrast: the island's arid interior is dotted with cactus and windswept divi-divi trees while secluded coves and sandy beaches make up its coast. Aruba's long and colorful heritage is reflected in its dialect. Called Papiamento, it is a tongue that combines elements of Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch, African and English.
Day 5 - Willemstad, Curacao
Historians still contend over which European adventurer first spied the largest island in the former Netherlands Antilles. Some historians claim the honor for Alonzo de Ojeda; other historians champion Amerigo Vespucci. Little does it matter; today's travelers are content to bask beneath sunny skies cooled by the trade winds. Lying some 40 miles off Venezuela, Curaçao boasts a landscape that is dramatic, stark, and volcanic. In contrast, Willemstad, the capital, seems a cozy Dutch haven with its neat row houses. And while those gabled and tiled roofs illustrate the island's heritage, the bright, pastel houses speak pure Caribbean. Islanders themselves reflect this same colorful contrast: over 50 different nationalities have come to call Curaçao their home.
Day 7 - Cartagena, Colombia
One of the more interesting cities on your itinerary steeped in history. This was the transit port for all the wealth Spain derived from South America. The famous "Old City" is comprised of 12 square blocks filled with attractions, boutiques and restaurants. Throughout Colombia, the Spanish Empire's influence in the New World is self-evident. Its fortress walls, quaint narrow streets, and balconied houses are all vivid reminders of Spain's hold on Cartagena and throughout the Caribbean and South America. This is the land of El Dorado and flamboyant adventurers in search of the ever-elusive gold. Cartagena's well-constructed fortifications defended its borders against seafaring pirates whose attacks lasted for more than 200 years. Today this modern and bustling city, seaport, and commercial center still boasts much of its original colonial architecture. Your journey here will provide you with a significant link to the region's grand past.
Day 8 - Panama Canal Partial Transit New Locks
The narrow isthmus separating the Atlantic from the Pacific Ocean had a colorful and turbulent history long before Ferdinand de Lesseps first dreamed of building a transcontinental canal. Spanish conquistadors hauled Incan gold through the dense rainforest to ports on the Atlantic. English freebooters sought to ransack those ports and attack the treasure ships that sailed from Portobelo. And 49ers braved mosquitoes and yellow fever to get to the California gold fields. While the Panama Canal remains one of the great American engineering feats of the 20th century, visitors to Panama will discover a whole range of scenic wonders. Hike into the dense rainforest, home to over 1,000 species of animals. Or pay a visit to an Embera Indigenous village in the heart of Chagres National Park.
Day 8 - Colon, Panama
As the world’s second largest duty-free port, Colón offers abundant shopping. It also represents the gateway to numerous sites of ecological interest, including Chagres National Park, a 3,000,000-acre rainforest preserve, and the Gamboa Rainforest Preserve, which lies within Soberania National Park.
Day 9 - Limon, Costa Rica
Costa Rica's Limon Province boasts a lush tropical climate, sprawling banana plantations and dense rainforest. These Caribbean lowlands are still sparsely populated--nearly a third of the province's population lives around Puerto Limon--and conservation efforts have led to growing eco-tourism. Limon Province offers other charms as well. Afro-Caribbean influences abound, from the lilting speech and reggae rhythms brought by Jamaican settlers to the colorful bungalows lining small fishing villages. Limon is a zesty little slice of heaven.
Day 11 - George Town, Grand Cayman
When Columbus made his landfall in the Caymans in 1503, he found tortoises and sea turtles in such profusion that he promptly named the islands Las Tortugas. But the name that stuck for the islands was the Carib word "Caimanas." Fitting, since the caiman is a New World crocodilian and the islands were long the lair of pirates, buccaneers, and assorted freebooters. Despite their past, the Caymans are a Caribbean demi-paradise of white-sand beaches, coral gardens, and offshore waters harboring spectacular shipwrecks. Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman also boast the highest standard of living in the entire Caribbean. This union of natural beauty and cosmopolitan style makes Grand Cayman a spectacular port of call for today's adventurers.
Day 13 - Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is tropical paradise for gay city dwellers. The city offers gay beaches, naked beaches, sultry swimming pools at exclusively gay resorts, and gay bars and clubs that cater to everyone from bears to softball players to singles looking for a quiet lounge atmosphere for a date.
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