Panama cruise passenger traffic rises 21.6% through July 2026
Maritime authority figures show 488,567 embarking and disembarking passengers, alongside increases in ship arrivals, transit travelers and crew.
Panama’s National Port System handled 488,567 embarking and disembarking cruise passengers from January through July 2026, an increase of 21.6%, according to Panama Maritime Authority figures. The total was 86,959 higher than the 401,608 passengers recorded during the same period in 2025.
The 2026 count comprised 247,353 disembarkations and 241,214 embarkations. Transit passenger numbers rose 10.2%, from 196,591 to 216,805, while onboard service personnel increased 20.2%, from 87,364 to 105,021 crewmembers.
Panama also received 143 cruise ship arrivals during the first seven months of 2026, up from 119 a year earlier. The 24-ship increase represented growth of 20.1%. The 2026–2027 cruise season is scheduled to begin in October, with ports operating under authority concessions finalizing technical and logistical preparations.
Colón 2000 on the Atlantic side and Amador Cruise Terminal on the Pacific are identified as Panama’s two facilities capable of serving large cruise ships both as ports of call and home ports.