Cunard's cruise ship Queen Elizabeth has completed her northbound passage through the Panama Canal, marking the official commencement of the 2025–2026 season for the interoceanic waterway.
The transit was part of a 22-day repositioning voyage from Seattle, and represents the first of more than 195 planned cruise transits for the season.
According to Albano G. Aguilar, Market Analysis and Forecasting Specialist at the Panama Canal Authority, a modest reduction in overall transits is anticipated this fiscal year. This forecast reflects ongoing cost-efficiency measures by major cruise operators, including the adoption of shorter itineraries and the increased utilization of Caribbean homeports equipped with upgraded facilities. Despite this temporary adjustment, global passenger demand is projected to rise by approximately 5% by 2026, accompanied by the addition of 14 new vessels to the international cruise fleet, bringing the global total to 475 ships.
Throughout the current season, leading operators such as NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line, CCL-Carnival Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean Cruises will continue to include both full and partial Panama Canal transits in their itineraries. Smaller expedition and boutique vessels, including Insignia, Le Lyrial, Le Champlain, National Geographic Quest, Star Pride, and Viking Mars, are also expected to make appearances along the route.
Five vessels will make their inaugural Canal passages this year: AIDAdiva, Brilliant Lady, Celebrity Ascent, Disney Adventure, and Star Seeker. In total, 41 Neopanamax-class ships are scheduled to cross the Canal, among them some of the largest cruise vessels in operation—Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Joy, and Norwegian Encore—each displacing approximately 168,000 tons. Disney Adventure is expected to set a new record for cruise ship tonnage in the Canal at 201,000 tons.
Coinciding with the start of the cruise season, the Panama Canal Authority recognized a milestone in national tourism: the first Panamanian traveler to surpass one million visitors in a single fiscal year. A commemorative ceremony was held at the Miraflores Locks, where Mr. José González of Panamá Oeste and his family were honored with a plaque marking the occasion.
Since the transfer of the Canal to Panamanian administration, visitor interest has continued to expand, establishing the waterway as one of the country’s principal attractions. To accommodate increasing demand, the Miraflores Visitors Center was inaugurated in 2003 and now welcomes thousands of guests daily. Further enhancements followed with the opening of the Agua Clara Visitors Center in Colón Province in 2012, and, most recently, the inauguration of the Gatun Lookout in April of this year.
The new Gatun facility provides panoramic views of transiting vessels at the historic Gatun Locks, along with educational exhibits on Canal operations and their significance in global maritime trade. Admission to all Canal visitor centers remains free for residents under the age of eighteen, underscoring the Authority’s commitment to promoting family tourism and fostering public understanding of the Panama Canal’s continuing role in connecting the world’s oceans.