It’s not only the giant Super-Panamax container ships that are taking advantage of the wider, longer new locks of the Panama Canal: huge cruise ships are now able to pass through as well, making for more coast-to-coast itineraries for U.S. cruise lines possible.
The Canal passage has long been a popular cruise destination, but has been restricted to smaller ships; most make a half-crossing and then return to the coast they started from. But with the new locks, opened last year and which are 70′ wider and 18′ deeper than the old, that’s changing.
Disney Wonder, above, at 984′ long and over 100′ wide, was the first to use the new locks, while moving from Florida to San Diego and then to Alaska for a summer cruise season. Eighteen others are schedule to cross this year, as well.
