Panama: The Home Port for Royal Caribbean Cruises October 2025

Royal Caribbean International announced on Wednesday, July 31, that it has once again selected Panama as the home port for its Caribbean operations during the 2025-2026 cruise season, departing from Colón to Cartagena, Colombia, with a seven-day tour of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao.  Alberto Muñoz, associate vice president for Latin America and the Caribbean at Royal Caribbean International, said that this decision was made following the positive results and growth they recorded with this route in the 2023-2024 season that they operated with the Rhapsody of the Seas ship, which had a capacity for 1,998 passengers (based on double occupancy) and approximately 765 crew members. Now in the new season that will begin in October 2025, the itinerary will be operated with a new ship, Serenade of the Seas, with capacity for 2,702 passengers and 832 crew members. Muñoz indicated that they are returning to Panama due to the excellent connectivity it offers to attract tourists from the country and the entire region, which is why they have also made the decision to place this cruise with greater capacity and more entertainment on board. “Last season the occupancy level was high and the growth expectations for the market were exceeded, so now we will return to Panama in the 2025 season,” said Muñoz. He said that new experiences will also be incorporated that are tailored to families and to the profiles of travelers, including honeymooners, singles, corporate groups and meeting tourism. “By not having to touch ports in the United States, but rather from Panama, a visa is not required and the options for travelers are increased.” 

“We are very pleased to return to the region with Serenade of the Seas and fulfill our ongoing commitment to contribute to the Latin American market. The region has a diversity of destinations to create the best experiences for the entire family and all types of travelers,” said the associate vice president for Latin America and the Caribbean of Royal Caribbean International. She said that the Serenade cruise will bring an experience designed for the local market, full of flavors, music and activities that exalt the Latin identity,” she said.  Muñoz added that one of the trends is that travelers’ spending on cruises and in luxury categories will increase. “We see a strong demand from Latin American travelers for the luxury market. Also, now the passenger is not only adults and retirees, but new generations are becoming users of cruise experiences, because they want to experience those services on board with varied gastronomy, entertainment and beach clubs,” he added.  The cruise ship has several bar options and passengers will be able to enjoy alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at Schooner Bar, R Bar and Solarium Bar, as well as a variety of restaurants such as Chops Grille, specializing in cuts of meat; Izumi, with Asian food options such as sushi and sashimi; Giovanni’s Table, which offers Italian dishes; and Chef’s Table, which serves an intimate culinary experience characterized by a five-course dinner where each dish is accompanied by a glass of premium wine selected by a sommelier.  The cruise includes attractions such as rock climbing on the high seas, playing mini-golf, watching movies on the outside deck, and even relaxing in one of the several swimming pools or at the Vitality Spa & Fitness Center.