Why did Royal Caribbean decide on Panama as a new home port?

Panama is known as the Crossroads of the Americas because of its location between North and South America — making it the ideal location for the world-famous feat of engineering that is the Panama Canal. Its unique location also allows us to explore exotic ports of call in the Southern Caribbean such us Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao and Cartagena. And introduce new destinations for the brand like Quepos, Costa Rica and Fuerte Amador, Panama.

There are 3 different itineraries:

• 12/2/2023 to 2/10/2024 from Colón: 7-Night sailings to the Southern Caribbean visiting Oranjestad, Aruba, Kralendijk, Bonaire, Willemstad, Curacao and Cartagena, Colombia
• 12/16/2023 to 2/3/2024 from Cartagena: 7-Night sailings to the Southern Caribbean visiting Oranjestad, Aruba, Kralendijk, Bonaire, Willemstad, Curacao and Colon, Panama
•  2/17/2024 to 4/6/2024: 7-Night Costa Rica and Panama Canal Crossing, eastbound and westbound sailings visiting Cartagena, Colombia, Puntarenas, Costa Rica and Quepos, Costa Rica while crossing the canal.