Panama Canal marks milestone with transit of Disney Adventure

The Panama Canal has marked a major milestone with the inaugural transit of the Disney Adventure, the largest neopanamax cruise ship ever to cross the waterway.

The vessel is the biggest passenger ship by both capacity and gross tonnage to transit the canal. The operation took place during the ship’s positioning voyage and highlighted the canal’s ability to handle large-scale cruise transits with precision.

Disney Adventure has a gross tonnage of 208,000 and can carry around 6,700 passengers. She is operated by Disney Cruise Line.

Panama Canal Administrator Ricaurte Vásquez Morales presented a commemorative plaque to the vessel during the transit through the Agua Clara Locks in Colón province.

The ship measures 342 metres in length and 46.4 metres in beam. The transit required extensive coordination and followed strict safety procedures.

The milestone sets a new record for the canal. The previous record holder was Norwegian Bliss, at 168,000 gross tons and 5,000 passengers. Disney Adventure surpasses that benchmark by around 40,000 gross tons, or 24%.

Disney Adventure is one of five cruise ships making inaugural transits during the 2025–2026 cruise season, alongside AIDAdiva, Brilliant Lady, Celebrity Ascent, and Star Seeker.

The Panama Canal expects more than 40 neopanamax cruise transits in fiscal year 2026.

Built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany, Disney Adventure joined the Disney fleet in 2025. She is homeported in Singapore, operating three- and four-night cruises.

The ship offers 2,111 staterooms and carries a crew of around 2,500. Key features include bow artwork of Captain Mickey, Marvel Landing, the longest roller coaster at sea, and the Disney Imagination Garden with a three-deck castle structure.

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