Panama Canal's Cruise Season from October 3

The Panama Canal cruise ship season 2015-2016 will officially begin on October 3 with the transit of Costa Luminosa, on a voyage from Italy around the world.

“Approximately 220 cruise ships are expected to transit through the Panama Canal during this season that spans from October 2015 to April 2016,” said international trade specialist Albano G. Aguilar of the Vice Presidency for Planning and Business Development. “The number of cruise ships transiting through the waterway is similar to past seasons.”

Just like previous years, the main cruise lines including Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line will offer itineraries of 10 or more days, including the Panama Canal as part of the experience.

In addition, smaller cruise ships will also transit through the waterway, including the National Geographic Sea Lion and Star Breeze, with shorter seven- and eight-day itineraries, respectively, along the west coast of Central America.

During this season, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and Holland America Line will have ships transiting in new itineraries through the Canal. Hapag-Lloyd's Pearl Mist will transit on January 16, 2016 and Holland America Line's Nieuw Amsterdam on April 14, 2015.