How Much Does a Cruise Ship Have to Pay to Go Through the Panama Canal?

By Anna Duncan

Cruise ships have to pay a fee to transit through the Panama Canal, but the amount they pay varies greatly depending on several factors. The size of the ship, its cargo, and the destination all play a role in determining how much a cruise line has to pay.

The amount paid to transit through the canal is based on the vessel’s tonnage and type. Cruise ships typically range from 50,000-200,000 tons in size, and are classified as “passenger vessels”. Passenger vessels are charged a toll of $0.50 per ton for eastbound transits (from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean), and $0.25 per ton for westbound transits (from the Pacific Ocean back to the Atlantic Ocean). So for a 150,000 ton vessel traveling from east to west through the canal, it would cost $37,500 in tolls alone.

In addition to tolls based on tonnage, there is also an additional fee based on cargo weight. This fee is assessed on all cargo carried by passenger vessels regardless of their destination. The fee is currently set at $3 per metric tonne of cargo (or 1 metric tonne = 1 cubic meter), which can add up quickly for larger ships carrying thousands or even tens of thousands of tonnes of cargo.

Finally, cruise ships may also have to pay additional fees depending on their destination. If a cruise ship is transiting from one ocean to another via the Panama Canal and then continuing its journey south along the west coast of South America or north along Central America’s Caribbean coastline all the way up into Mexico or even as far north as California or Canada, an additional transit fee may be applied.

Conclusion:

The exact amount that a cruise ship has to pay when transiting through the Panama Canal will vary depending on its size, cargo weight and ultimate destination. On average however it can cost anywhere between $37,500-$75,000 depending on these factors.