Panama Canal: One of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by Winny Lin

I have always wanted to see the Panama Canal in person, though traveling to that region is not easy — and can be quite expensive. This time, however, Viking Mars carried us through the canal on Sunday, January 4th. Kenny and I were deeply grateful and felt incredibly fortunate to witness one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, as designated by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The day before our transit, Viking’s resident historian, Dr. Kathy Stearne, delivered an enlightening lecture that provided valuable historical context about the canal’s construction. Long before this modern marvel existed, the Suez Canal — approximately 120 miles long — was completed in 1869 under the visionary leadership of French diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps.

Its purpose was to significantly reduce shipping time and costs between Europe and Asia. Encouraged by the success of the Suez Canal, de Lesseps began work on a sea-level canal in Panama in 1881. Unfortunately, the project failed due to devastating tropical diseases such as malaria and yellow fever, frequent landslides, and severe financial challenges. The effort ended tragically, with an estimated 22,000 lives lost. Meanwhile, during the mid-19th century, Americans were searching for faster ways to transport gold discovered during the California Gold Rush back to the East Coast. Instead of enduring a grueling six-month wagon journey, they envisioned a quicker sea route through the Isthmus of Panama.

About a decade after the French abandoned their attempt, the United States — working with the Panamanian government — began constructing a canal to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Learning from earlier failures, engineers chose not to cut through mountains at sea level. Instead, they designed a system of massive steel gates and water-filled chambers that would raise and lower ships through the terrain. This ingenious lock system includes five locks in total: three on the Atlantic side and two on the Pacific side. On the morning of January 4th, Kenny and I stood on Deck 2 as our ship approached the first gate of the Panama Canal. Watching our enormous vessel glide through the narrow waterway — sometimes just inches from the concrete walls — was astonishing.

Highly skilled canal pilots guided the ship using powerful engine-driven carts, a modern replacement for the mule teams once used for this task. Along the way, we also watched several massive cargo ships transit the canal alongside us. Our Viking cruise director, Patricia, explained that Viking pays approximately $200,000 for a partial canal transit. Other vessels pay a wide range of tolls —from just a few thousand dollars for small boats to more than $1 million for large container ships. We even learned that a Japanese cargo ship once paid over $4 million to pass through, likely due to the urgency and value of its cargo.

At the other extreme, the lowest toll ever paid was just 36 cents, by American adventurer Richard Halliburton in 1928, when he swam the entire length of the canal. Because tolls were based on tonnage, he became the lightest “vessel” ever to make the journey. It took the United States approximately ten years to complete the Panama Canal. Construction began on May 4, 1904, and the canal officially opened on Aug. 15, 1914. The SS Ancon was the first ship to make an official transit on the opening day, marking the canal’s debut. However, because World War I began in 1914, the inauguration received little fanfare. The first American president to visit the Panama Canal was Theodore Roosevelt, who traveled there in November 1906.

His visit made him the first sitting U.S. president to travel abroad to inspect a major construction project of national importance. During the visit, Roosevelt famously wore a light straw hat that later became known as the “Panama hat.” Ironically, these hats are actually hand-woven in Ecuador. Several of our passengers took the opportunity to purchase one during the trip. Today, the Panama Canal generates billions of dollars annually for the country. Revenues have reached approximately $5.7 billion, contributing an estimated 4-6% of Panama’s GDP and government income. Stretching 48 miles long, the canal crosses the narrowest part of the Isthmus of Panama.

At both the Caribbean and Pacific ends, a series of locks lifted and lowered our ship a total of 85 feet above sea level. Throughout the journey, we were surrounded by lush green forests, with black pelicans and turkey vultures soaring overhead. The entire transit lasted from 8 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Now I am thrilled that I have crossed this off my bucket list. My dream finally came true — to witness firsthand the remarkable operation of this world-famous engineering miracle. Each year, approximately 13,000 to 14,000 vessels pass through the Panama Canal. And on Jan. 4, 2026, Kenny and I were proudly among them.