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If the Panama Canal is on your bucket list there is no better time to sail than on Saga Sapphire in 2017.

The 700-passenger ship will sail through the canal on January 30 and again on February 17 for the return leg of her 66-night Central American Discovery cruise.

The grand voyage to Latin America departs on January 11, 2017 and will offer guests the chance to view Mayan ruins, bask in Caribbean sunshine, stay overnight in Havana, Cuba, and board a restored Atlantic Railway train to see wildlife in Costa Rica.

Captain Philip Rentell will also steer Saga Sapphire to 18 new ports: Cartagena, Colombia; Oranjestad, Aruba; Colon, Panama; Caldera, Costa Rica; Acajutla, El Salvador; Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán and Acapulco, Mexico; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; Corinto, Nicaragua; Flamenco Marina, Panama; Puerto Limon, Costa Rica; Trujillo, Honduras; Belize; Havana and Santiago de Cuba, Cuba; Montego Bay, Jamaica and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Captain Rentell says he will be very proud to be at the helm for this momentous journey: He said: "In 2017 I will be celebrating my retirement and it promises to be an exciting year as I embark on a new chapter in my life.

“I am particularly looking forward to this extraordinary cruise, which features so many new ports for Saga Sapphire and I will be especially proud to be at the helm as she transits the Panama Canal for the first time!

“I look forward to welcoming many new and familiar faces on board for this voyage which will be one of my final cruises before I bid a fond farewell to Saga."

Further ports of call include Castries, St Lucia; Port of Spain, Trinidad; Bridgetown, Barbados; Horta, Azores and Funchal, Madeira.

Ends

Details at travel.saga.co.uk/cruises or call 0800 50 50 30

66 nights from £9,352 departing on January 11, 2017. Price includes VIP travel service to and from Southampton, all meals and entertainment, afternoon tea, 24-hour room service, welcome cocktail party, unlimited tea and coffee in selected venues, free Wi-Fi, all on-board gratuities, porterage, shuttle bus to nearest town centre (whenever possible and when the ship is berthed more than 500 yards away), tourist visa, optional travel insurance and additional cancellation rights, or a discount if passenger has own insurance.

Price based on two people sharing the lowest available Inside cabin and includes any relevant booking discount. Fare was correct at the time of sending and is subject to availability and change. Further terms and conditions apply. Please call for details.' For details call free on 0800 50 50 30 or visit travel.saga.co.uk/cruises