The Panama Canal received the inaugural transit of the neopanamax cruise ship Brilliant Lady from Virgin Voyages, marking the company's first operation through the interoceanic route.
During its transit through Panama, the vessel attracted attention in Colón Bay, where on the night of Wednesday, March 25th, it illuminated a message on its deck with the phrase 'Qué Xopa', surprising those who witnessed its arrival and subsequent docking at the Colón 2000 terminal.
While passing through the neopanamic locks—which celebrate ten years of operation this year—the Canal presented the cruise ship with a commemorative plaque, following the tradition for inaugural transits.
The Brilliant Lady, at 277 meters in length and 38 meters in beam, has a capacity for 2,762 passengers and 1,150 crew members.
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) explained that this cruise is part of a group of five passenger vessels making their first transit in the 2025–2026 season, alongside the Aidaiva, Celebrity Ascent, Star Seeker, and the Disney Adventure, the latter of which crossed on February 2nd.
'The transit of the neopanamax cruise ship highlighted the operational precision of the canal's workforce, with high-level coordination between the pilotage, tugboat, traffic control, and lock operation teams,' the ACP noted, adding that the global demand for cruises exceeds 30 million passengers per year, and efforts are being made to attract more vessels to the Canal's route.
