The Panama Canal has opened its 2026–2027 cruise season, with more than 220 vessel transits scheduled between October and May.
The season began on 7 October with the passage of Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Miracle. The vessel entered the Miraflores Locks on a northbound transit from the Pacific to the Atlantic as part of a 16-day repositioning voyage from Seattle.
The Panama Canal Authority expects cruise activity to remain strong during the current fiscal year, supported by growing passenger demand and continued fleet expansion across the global cruise industry.
Neopanamax vessels feature in seasonal schedule
Of the more than 220 scheduled cruise transits, 39 are expected to involve Neopanamax vessels.
These include three large cruise ships, Star Princess, Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Joy, each listed at 177,882 tons.
Meanwhile, five cruise ships are scheduled to make their first transit through the Panama Canal during the season: L’Austral, Le Laperouse, Seven Seas Prestige, Spirit of Adventure and Explora III.
Major cruise operators, including Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean, will operate itineraries featuring full or partial canal transits.
Smaller vessels, including Le Bellot, Star Legend, National Geographic Quest and Wind Star, are also expected to use the waterway.
According to projections cited by the Panama Canal Authority, global cruise passenger demand is expected to increase by 5% in 2027. The worldwide cruise fleet is also projected to expand by 16 vessels, reaching 490 ships.
The Panama Canal’s cruise season traditionally runs from October through May, connecting itineraries across North America, the Caribbean and the Pacific coast.
