How Much Does It Cost to Go Through the Panama Canal on a Cruise Ship?

By Robert Palmer

The Panama Canal is one of the most famous and traversed waterways in the world. It connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and is a popular route for cruise ships. But how much does it cost to go through the Panama Canal on a cruise ship?

The cost of going through the Panama Canal depends on a variety of factors, such as the size of the vessel and its cargo capacity. Larger cruise ships will generally incur higher costs than smaller vessels, as they take up more space in the locks and require more fuel to traverse them.

In addition to vessel size, other factors that determine cost include length of transit time, passenger numbers, type of port call (if any) and any special services requested. For example, some ships request tugboat assistance or pilotage fees when navigating through the canal.

The transit fees are based on tonnage of a vessel and are calculated by multiplying its Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) with an established toll rate. The current toll rates range from $1400 – $2050 per GRT depending on vessel size. So for a 2000-ton vessel, this would amount to approximately $3 – $4 million.

In addition to transit fees, there are also other costs associated with going through the Panama Canal such as port fees, fuel costs and crew wages. These can add up quickly and can make a significant difference to total costs.

Conclusion:

The cost of going through the Panama Canal on a cruise ship is determined by a variety of factors such as size of the vessel, number of passengers and type of port call. The transit fee alone varies between $1400 – $2050 per GRT depending on size but additional costs such as port fees, fuel costs and crew wages can add up quickly too.