The Panama Canal has recorded a milestone with the inaugural transit of Disney Adventure, a Neopanamax cruise ship operated by Disney Cruise Line. The vessel is the largest passenger ship by capacity and gross tonnage to pass through the interoceanic waterway.
The transit formed part of the ship’s positioning voyage. Disney Adventure has a gross tonnage of 208,000 and can accommodate approximately 6,700 passengers. The ship measures 342 metres in length and 46.4 metres in beam.
The transit marked a new benchmark for passenger ships using the canal, surpassing the previous record held by Norwegian Bliss, which has a capacity of 5,000 passengers and a gross tonnage of 168,000.
The operation required coordinated planning across multiple teams, reflecting the canal’s procedures for handling large cruise vessels safely and efficiently.
During the transit through the Agua Clara Locks in Colón province, Panama Canal Administrator Ricaurte Vásquez Morales presented a commemorative plaque to mark the occasion.
Disney Adventure is one of five cruise ships scheduled to complete inaugural transits during the 2025–2026 cruise season, alongside AIDAdiva, Brilliant Lady, Celebrity Ascent, and Star Seeker. More than 40 Neopanamax cruise ship transits are expected during fiscal year 2026.
Added to the Disney Cruise Line fleet in 2025, the ship was built by Meyer Werft in Germany and is homeported in Singapore. From there, she operates three- and four-night itineraries at sea.
The vessel includes 2,111 staterooms and carries a crew of approximately 2,500. Onboard features include themed public areas, a roller coaster attraction, and a multi-deck garden space.
