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Touring Panama & Costa Rica on a smaller ship gets you up close and personal

With only 36 passengers, the Safari Explorer carries travelers to adventures that include kayaking, taking Zodiacs through forests, learning how to snorkel, or just a peaceful afternoon sitting on the water.
Sitting and relaxing can be part of your itinerary on the Uncruise.

Once named one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by The American Society of Civil Engineers, the Panama Canal offers beautiful sights and adventurous excursions that make it a great vacation destination. With Costa Rica on one side, Colombia on the other, the Canal is 50 miles of history and scenery.

Multiple cruise lines sail through the Panama Canal, including those departing from the Pacific Northwest. A unique cruise experience called Uncruise is perfect for travelers looking to explore the area with a slightly different itinerary and one of a kind activities. "You're not starting in Los Angeles or Miami, so it's giving you more concentration in to Costa Rica and Panama," says AAA Washington travel expert Lisa Anciaux.

Credit: RICH PATTERSON 860 388 6006
Take your kayak to an island off the Pearl Islands and have an afternoon to explore and relax.

With only 36 passengers, Uncruise's Safari Explorer carries travelers to adventures that include kayaking, taking Zodiacs through forests, learning how to snorkel, or just a peaceful afternoon sitting on the water. The ship also passes by the gorgeous San Blas Islands on its 12-night Pure Panama and Costa Rica itinerary.

While the Panama Canal offers plenty of adventures, it's also a prime destination for relaxing and taking in your surroundings. "Leave the tuxedo, leave the dresses, leave the heels at home," Anciaux assures, "It is that soft adventure. You don't have to be in the perfect shape. You don't have to know how to do all this."

Sitting and relaxing can be part of your itinerary on the Uncruise.

The advantages of Uncruise's smaller ships is getting to know other passengers better and enjoying the camaraderie during your trip's duration. "Your evenings are spent talking about the stories, about what you saw," Anciaux describes. A casual cruise experience allows you to be yourself and truly enjoy your vacation.

If the Panama Canal is a little too far, Uncruise also sails to other locations, including Alaska and the Pacific Northwest's San Juan Islands on ships that hold a range of 22 to 90 passengers.

AAA can get you started on planning your dream vacation by finding what travel plans fit your wants and needs. You don't even have to be a member to take advantage of AAA's travel services, just the motivation to go out and explore.

This segment is sponsored by AAA Washington. Watch New Day Northwest 11:00 weekdays on KING-TV Ch.5 or streaming live on KING5.com. Connect with New Day via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

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