First cruise ship returns to Panama

The 2021-2022 cruise season in Panama began Thursday, August 26 with the arrival, of the Star Breeze in the waters of the Guna Yala region,  after the suspension of this activity due to the Covid pandemic.

It has been 17 months since a tourist ship of this class visited Panama and according to the authorities, its arrival is part of the economic reactivation of the country.

The Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) confirmed that the vessel of the Windstar Cruises line will be in Panama for seven days and will visit Isla Colón in Bocas del Toro, the port of Cristóbal in Colón, and on September 1 it will cross the Panama Canal.

The Star Breeze cruise ship completed its refurbishment at the end of 2020, including 50 additional cabins and, it renovated its onboard medical center to comply with international biosafety protocols.

Iván Eskildsen, Minister of Tourism, said that tourists will be landing in various towns, consuming in these communities, and injecting foreign exchange into the economy.

According to a report from the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP), the Star Breeze currently has a maximum capacity of 312 passengers and 190 crew members, but due to the pandemic and international restrictions, it handles a maximum of 60% of its total passenger capacity and 98% are American.

The captain of the ship is Panamanian and during its stay in Panamanian waters he will add four Panamanian crew members the AMP reported.