The Panama Canal marked a significant milestone on Monday with the inaugural transit of the Neopanamax cruise ship, Disney Adventure. This historic passage marks an important achievement for the interoceanic waterway as it welcomes its largest passenger vessel to date.
The Disney Adventure is one of five cruise ships completing their inaugural transits during the 2025–2026 cruise season, along with AIDAdiva, Brilliant Lady, Celebrity Ascent, and Star Seeker. For fiscal year 2026, more than 40 Neopanamax cruise ship transits are expected to transit the canal.
4 meters in beam, with a capacity for approximately 6,700 passengers. Its impressive size is matched only by its luxurious amenities, including bow artwork featuring Captain Mickey and Marvel Landing, the longest roller coaster at sea, as well as the Disney Imagination Garden, which includes a three-deck castle installation.
The vessel was built at the Meyer Werft shipyards in Germany and is homeported in Singapore, from where she operates three- and four-night itineraries at sea. With its crew of 2,500 and 2,111 staterooms, the Disney Adventure is equipped to provide an unparalleled experience for its passengers.
The vessel's inaugural transit marks a significant milestone for the Panama Canal, demonstrating its ability to accommodate even the largest of vessels. As the cruise season progresses, we can expect to see many more record-breaking transits as Neopanamax ships continue to dominate the seas.
This historic passage is a testament to the Panama Canal's enduring importance in global maritime trade and tourism. The vessel's size and luxury amenities demonstrate the growing demand for high-end cruise experiences, and it will be interesting to see how the canal adapts to meet this demand in the years to come.
