Panama Canal will facilitate the transit of more than 200 cruises in the 2022-2023 season
Step of the “Carnival Spirit” of Carnival Cruise Line narcó the return of these ships to the interoceanic way.
The Panama Canal announced the successful transit of the “Carnival Spirit” of Carnival Cruise Line on October 3, which has marked the beginning of the 2022-2023 interoceanic cruise season.
The Canal will facilitate the transit of more than 200 cruises in the coming months, 44 of which will be Neopanamax. This figure is 17 more than expected in the 2019-2020 season that was truncated by the pandemic, and includes two transits of the “Norwegian Encore”, the twin ship of the “Norwegian Bliss”, the largest cruise ship to pass by the track.
“We anticipate a record number of Neopanamax ship transits this year, which will help boost Panama’s tourism sector,” said Albano Aguilar, Panama Canal International Trade Specialist. “Given our role in international trade, we are delighted to welcome visitors from around the world to experience the Panama Canal firsthand and discover what our country has to offer”.
The Panama Canal cruise season runs from October to May. This year’s expected season was inaugurated by the “Carnival Spirit”, which is on a 16-day trip from the port of Seattle, Washington state, to the port of New Orleans, Louisiana. Built in 2001, the Panamax-sized ship has a length of 292 meters, a beam of 32 meters and a capacity of approximately 2,680 passengers.
Shipping lines such as Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Cruises are expected to return to the interoceanic track this season, offering guests itineraries that include full or partial transit of the Panama Canal. Neopanamax vessels will be deployed as “Norwegian Joy”, “Celebrity Edge”, “Caribbean Princess”, “Emerald Princess”, “Carnival Freedom”, “Ruby Princess”, “Carnival Glory” and “Carnival Freedom”. They will be joined by the smaller cruises “Viking Star”, “Seabourn Quest”, “Star Legend”, “Windstar” and “National Geographic Quest”, among others.
At least 12 cruises are scheduled for inaugural transits this season. These new visiting ships are: “Fridtjof of Nansen”, “Seabourn Venture”, “World Navigator”, “Celebrity Edge”,” Sea Cloud Spirit”, “World Voyager”, “Evrima”, “Le Bellot”, “Spirit of Aventura”, “Viking Neptune”, “Viking Octantis” and “Viking Polaris”.
SOURCE: MUNDOMARITIMO.CL