The movement of cruise passengers in Panama experienced a dynamic activity in the last five months of this year as they grew by 15.6% according to data published by the Panama Maritime Authority at the end of May.
Between January and May 2026 a total of 460,156 cruise passengers were mobilized as against 397,975 passengers at an equal period of 2025, an increase of 62,181 additional passengers amounting to 15.6%.
The conduct contrasts with that registered a year earlier.
Between January and May 2024, an account of 396,054 passengers was entered and an additional 1.921 passengers had been increased by 2025.
Comparing 2026 with 2024, the movement accumulates an increase of about 16.2%, equivalent to 64.102 additional passengers.
The arrival of more cruises that have established their base port in Panama as the case of Royal Caribbean that from October 2025 arrived with the Serenade of the Seas, that covered itineraries to the ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curazao) up to April 2026 and between the route with Grandeur of the Seas, that operates between May 2026 and April 2027, is one of the drivers of the movement of passengers by this way.
Like other cruise routes across the Pacific and the Atlantic that also attract tourists through that path.
Preliminary figures from the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) reported that the main cruise ports received 220,813 passengers between January and April 2026, amounting to 22.727 more than the 198,086 counted in the same period of 2025, for an increase of 11.5%.
Both statistics have an acceleration of activity from March and with two-digit increases during March and April.
The Canal’s interoceanic route, as well as the people that come to the country and leave through the cruises, is one of the most used by these ships to ride.
Reports from the Panama Canal Authority indicates that between October 2025 and June 2026, 9 months of fiscal year, the traffic of 179 passenger ships, mainly cruises, was registered.
