Princess Cruises’ Star Princess Completes Historic Panama Canal Transit

Princess Cruises celebrated a major milestone today as its newest ship, the Star Princess, completed its first-ever transit of the Panama Canal.

The transit is a significant moment in the ship’s inaugural season and reinforces the brand's position as the leading cruise line in the region. Guests onboard experienced a "front-row seat" to the lock system and received expert commentary on the historical and engineering significance of the waterway. This landmark crossing was conducted in partnership with the Panama Canal Authority, underscoring the "longstanding connection" between the line and the canal.

The Panama Canal remains a "must-do" journey for global travelers, and the arrival of the Star Princess—one of the newest and most environmentally advanced ships in the fleet—signals a renewed investment in this classic itinerary. Princess Cruises has scheduled 31 departures across nine different itineraries, featuring 13 transits through the historic locks and 26 transits through the new Neopanamax locks. 

This maritime event is more than just a promotional highlight; it is a mechanical necessity for maintaining the profitability of seasonal repositioning cruises. By offering "bucket-list" transits, cruise lines can turn a simple vessel transfer into a high-yield, luxury vacation.

The Star Princess transit also highlights the modernization of the canal, which continues to serve as a global maritime artery despite water level challenges in recent years. For the 2026 cruiser, the Panama Canal remains the ultimate engineering spectacle of the Western Hemisphere.