Cruise season could pump $45 million into Panama economy

PANAMA’S expectations for the new cruise season are riding high, with at least 150 ships loaded with tourists, expected to arrive at Port Colon 2000, between October 2015 and April 2016.

The season would attract 400 thousand passengers each spending an average of $110 This would be at least $45 million, according to Augusto Terracina, Port Colón 2000 manager.

“The cruise industry has stabilized in recent years to an average of 125. This year, Colon 2000 alone will receive more than 150 cruises.” He told La Prensa.
“There is a significant benefit and that is that cruise ships arriving in Panama are sold and promoted by the cruise lines and the Florida Caribbean Cruises Association. They manage an extensive network of travel agencies in the United States and the name of Panama as a tourist destination will be on the table ‘.

The Canal is the main attraction for cruise tourism. But tourists visit places like Portobelo and Panama City.

The Panama Colon highway allows tour operators to offer tours to Panama City, shopping malls, the Causeway, Casco Viejo and the Miraflores to the visitor center of the Miraflores Locks, quickly and safely.

The train, the forts of Portobelo and San Lorenzo, the ecotourism attractions Gatun Lake are very well appreciated by cruise lines, says Terracino. This year, there will be two cruises departing from Terminal 2 Colon 2000 provided by Princess Cruises which have won awards for their professionalism, speed boarding passengers’, baggage and the friendliness of the staff.

The Monarch of Pullmantura, 2,744 passenger cruise boat will depart every Friday Its itinerary will be of Colon to Cartagena, Aruba and La Guaira.
Zenith a new cruise ship will arrive on December 5 and will continue coming every Saturday until March. 26
The two cruises out of Colon are aimed at the Latin American market, “said Terracina.

Norwegian is another new cruise line that will be arriving in Panama. Pearl will have nine visits ,November through April and Aida Mar a new cruise ship will begin arriving in November and will have three trips in December and one in January 2016.