Disney Adventure Becomes Largest Cruise Ship To Transit The Panama Canal

The Disney Adventure became the largest cruise ship ever to transit the Panama Canal, according to the canal authority.

The vessel is now the biggest passenger ship by both gross tonnage and capacity to pass through the canal.

The Neopanamax cruise ship, operated by Disney Cruise Line, crossed the canal during a positioning voyage.

The ship has a gross tonnage of 208,000 and can carry around 6,700 passengers, making it the largest of its kind to use the canal.

The transit took place through the Agua Clara Locks in Colón province, part of the canal’s expanded infrastructure.

During the passage, Panama Canal Administrator Ricaurte Vásquez Morales presented a commemorative plaque to mark the ship’s first-ever transit.

Canal officials said the event was significant for both the waterway and the cruise industry.

At 342 metres long with a beam of 46.4 metres, the Disney Adventure required detailed planning and coordination to complete the transit.

The canal authority stated that the operation showed the canal’s ability to safely and efficiently manage very large cruise ships.

The Disney Adventure broke the previous record held by Norwegian Bliss, which had a capacity of 5,000 passengers and a gross tonnage of 168,000.

Canal officials indicated that the new vessel exceeds the earlier record by about 40,000 gross tons, or roughly 24%.

The ship is one of five cruise vessels making their inaugural transits during the 2025-2026 cruise season, along with AIDAdiva, Brilliant Lady, Celebrity Ascent, and Star Seeker.

For fiscal year 2026, the Panama Canal expects more than 40 Neopanamax cruise ship transits.

Built at Germany’s Meyer Werft shipyards, the Disney Adventure joined the Disney Cruise Line fleet in 2025.

The ship is homeported in Singapore, where it operates three- and four-night cruises with days spent at sea.

The vessel carries around 6,700 passengers, supported by a crew of about 2,500, and has 2,111 staterooms.

Onboard features include bow artwork of Captain Mickey, Marvel Landing, described as the longest roller coaster at sea, and the Disney Imagination Garden, which includes a three-deck castle installation.

Reference: Panama Canal

Source: Maritime Shipping News