PANAMA CITY, Panama (AP) - The Disney Cruise Line has paid a record $331,200
for one of its ships to cross the Panama Canal.
The Panama Canal Authority says the 964-foot "Disney Magic" made the
crossing May 16.
Panama increased canal fees last year and now charges cruise liners
according to number of beds rather than cargo capacity. The "Disney Magic" has
875 staterooms.
Canal authorities said Tuesday that the previous record fee paid by any ship
was $317,142, set on May 7 by the cargo vessel "MSC Fabienne." The high for a
cruiser was $313,000, set last October by two Norwegian Cruise Line ships.
The U.S.-built waterway earned US$1.76 billion in fees last year. A $5.25
billion expansion is to be completed by 2014.
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