Cruising is big business and business is good in Panama. While Costa Rica has seen a rapid downturn in cruise ship numbers, most cruise ships here in Panama hit 100% occupancy last year. A lot has to do with infrastructure and while cruise companies based in Miami prefer to focus on destinations like Cozumel, Grand Cayman, the Bahamas, Curacao, St. Thomas or Aruba, because traveling farther to Limon, Costa Rica means spending more on fuel, transiting the Panama Canal is still a hugely popular destination cruise.
According to an article in Prensa.com, “For the third year running, two cruise ships are operating from the port of Colón 2000 on the Atlantic coast. Combined, both vessels have a capacity to carry about 4000 passengers. According to preliminary data, the boats are sailing with occupancy above 90%, and it is expected that in January and February occupancy will reached 100% as happened last season. ”
The carriers making their base in Colon are Royal Caribbean with its ship Grandeur of the Seas, and the Spanish Pullmantur, which for the second year is covering the route through the Caribbean with its ship Horizon, which has capacity for 828 thousand passengers.
“The company will use the Horizon until April, and then the cruise ship Monarch, which seats 2,752 passengers. Monarch will operate for a full year from Panama, after local authorities negotiated an extension of the agreement maintained with the Spanish company. Panama, in return, provides funds to promote the route from Colon. ”
The president of Japdeva in Costa Rica said “the big problem is the lack of infrastructure in Costa Rics, as Limón center offers very little for the two or three thousand tourists who come on each boat: there are not enough hotels, restaurants and casinos. In addition, the cruise terminal is sited within the cargo port, which is not very convenient because tourist buses meet with trucks loaded with containers. ”
Here are some articles that I found of interest on the subject from last year.
Cruises from Colon at 100% Occupancy
March 2012
Demand for places on cruises leaving from Home Port Colon 2000 in Panama remains high, with Royal Caribbean and Pullmantur recording 100% occupancy rates on its ships in recent months.
The Grandeur of the Seas, belonging to Royal Caribbean, and the Horizon, owned by Pullmantur Cruises are two ships that have had 100% occupancy throughout the season of the Home Port Colon 2000, reports Pananaamerica.com.pa.
Colon Establishes Itself as Home Port for Cruises
April 2012
Tens of thousands of tourists board cruise ships bound for the Caribbean, generating a strong hotel business, which during the 2012-2014 season should make about $75 million.
About 90% of passengers taking cruises in the Colon 2000 port spend 3 to 4 days in the area before boarding in order to see the sights and shop.
January 2012
Existing operators are increasing the number of departures from the country and the authorities are encouraging new companies to come.
Shipping companies operating in Panama are set to increase the number of departures in 2012 and new firms may start operating, reports Prensa.com.