The Panama Canal cruise ship season has officially begun with the transit of the Coral Princess, in a repositioning voyage from Los Angeles, California to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Panama Canal said in its press release.
Approximately 200 cruise ships are expected to transit through the Panama Canal during this season that spans from October 2014 to April 2015.
According to Felix Ayarza, international trade specialist of the Vice Presidency for Planning and Business Development, the number of cruise ships transiting through the waterway is similar to past seasons.
The main cruise lines including Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line offer itineraries of 10 or more days, which include the Panama Canal as part of the experience.
Other cruise ships transiting through the Panama Canal include the Tere Moana and the Wind Spirit, which have shorter seven-day itineraries along the west coast of Central America.
During this season, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and Costa Cruises will have ships transiting in new itineraries through the Canal. Hapag-Lloyd's Europa 2 will transit on January 20, 2015 and Costa Atlantica on April 24, 2015.
With a capacity of 500 passengers, cruise ship Europa 2 will conduct a 75-day journey, starting in Miami, Florida and going around South America.
About the Panama Canal Authority (ACP)
The ACP is the autonomous agency of the Government of Panama in charge of managing, operating and maintaining the Panama Canal. The operation of the ACP is based on its organic law and the regulations approved by its Board of Directors.