My First Time Through the Panama Canal: A Riviera Adventure I'll Never Forget

I'll be honest—I almost didn't book this cruise. When my travel agent mentioned the Panama Canal itinerary on Oceania's Riviera, my first thought was that it sounded touristy and overhyped. But my husband kept nudging me, saying it was a bucket-list thing, and after watching some YouTube videos, I figured, why not? Now, three weeks later, I'm sitting in my ocean-view cabin typing this, and I genuinely can't believe I almost passed up what might be the most incredible maritime experience of my life. The Riviera itself deserves a mention before I even get to the Canal. This ship is elegant in a way that doesn't scream luxury—it whispers it. With only around 750 passengers, it feels intimate compared to the mega-ships I've sailed on before. My cabin on Deck 7 is spacious, with a real balcony that's large enough to actually sit on with a drink. The design is sophisticated without being pretentious, all soft neutrals and modern touches. Oceania clearly knows their demographic—people who want comfort and elegance, not slot machines and screaming kids. That might sound snobby, but honestly, it made a huge difference in how I experienced the entire journey. We boarded in Cartagena, Colomb…