CLIA - Cruise Lines International Association

10/07/2026

🏛️CLIA's Cruise Caucus returns to Washington, D.C., May 18–19, 2027. Join CLIA members and partners for our annual Capitol Hill event and help lawmakers understand cruise’s contribution to jobs, businesses, and communities across the United States, while advancing policies that support our industry’s continued success.

▶️ Across two days, attendees will have the opportunity to understand the policy outlook through briefings on federal priorities and political developments affecting the cruise industry, advance our shared priorities by meeting with Members of Congress and congressional staff to bring the cruise community’s experience and perspective to policy discussions, and build industry connections with cruise line executives and partners from across the cruise community.

Mark your calendar for May 18 and 19, 2027. Registration and program details to follow.

Cruise Caucus 2027
📅 May 18–19, 2027
📍 Washington, D.C.

🎥 Take a look back at last year’s CLIA Cruise Caucus and see what made it such a valuable gathering for the cruise community. If you missed out in 2026, now is the time to save the date for 2027!

🛳️

10/05/2026

💬 “When you invest in your people, they're better equipped to take care of customers.” - Alex Zeitz, Virgin Voyages' senior director of Global Operations, Experience, and Belonging

🔗 Read more about how cruise lines take care of their crew members by reading the full article below!

🛳️

Breadcrumb News Releases & Statements Well-being At Sea: How Cruise Lines Take Care of Their Crew Members Back Sharable Article Well-being at sea: How Cruise Lines Take Care of Their Crew Members Erica Silverstein 4 Mins Read September 01, 2026 The cruise industry employs about 300,000 crew members....

10/02/2026

▶️ Seatrade Cruise Med brought together leaders from across the global cruise community, including CLIA President and CEO Bud Darr - CLIA and Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) President Adam Ceserano.

📍Their conversation together touched on FCCA’s participation in Seatrade Cruise Med, the growing connections between the Caribbean, Latin America and the wider cruise industry, and the opportunities that come from bringing destinations and industry leaders together on a global stage.

🤝 The discussion also highlighted the continued collaboration between CLIA, FCCA and Seatrade Cruise to strengthen relationships and create opportunities for destinations across the industry.

🛳️

10/01/2026

⏰ Planning to attend CLIA Cruise Forward Summit? This is your last chance to secure CLIA’s exclusive preferred group rate at the Loews Coral Gables Hotel. The hotel room block deadline is Tuesday, October 6th. Rooms are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to reserve your room before the deadline.

🤝 Cruise Forward Summit is taking place 27–30 October 2026 in Miami, Florida, and brings cruise line executives and leading industry partners together in Miami for three insightful days of dialogue and networking. The event will feature discussions from senior cruise line brand leaders, including:
🔹 Marc Kazlauskas, President of Norwegian Cruise Line
🔹 Laura Hodges Bethge, President of Celebrity Cruises
🔹 Gus Antorcha, President of Princess Cruises
🔹 Jason Montague, Chief Luxury Officer for Oceania Cruises & Regent Seven Seas Cruises
🔹 Samuel Chamberlain, Chief Executive Officer, Americas at Ponant Explorations

👏 A special thank you to RINA for supporting this year’s event as our presenting sponsor.

CLIA Cruise Forward Summit
📍 Location: Miami, Florida
🗓️ Dates: 27 Oct – 30 Oct, 2026

▶️ Registration is still open to Member Cruise Lines, Executive Partners and special guests: https://cruiseforward2026.eventsairsite.com/register?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=ap_nztrrruo01

🛳️

09/29/2026

🧠 Cruise ship lecturers bring knowledge, stories, and expertise on board, giving guests another way to connect with the destinations they visit.

▶️ Discover more about the role of cruise ship lecturers and how they help enrich the guest experience by reading the full article titled 'Enrichment Programs Enhance Learning at Sea' below!

🛳️

Breadcrumb News Releases & Statements Enrichment Programs Enhance Learning At Sea Back Sharable Article Enrichment Programs Enhance Learning at Sea Aaron Saunders 4 Mins Read September 03, 2026 Cruise ship lecturers enrich the cruise vacation experience, adding an educational option and enhancing gu...

09/27/2026

🗺️ This World Tourism Day, we’re celebrating how innovation is moving cruise tourism forward.

From digital innovation and emerging technologies to new approaches to sustainability, cruise lines are testing and piloting biofuels, expanding shore power readiness, increasing fuel flexibility, maximizing energy-efficiency measures, utilizing advanced wastewater treatment systems, increasing onboard freshwater production, and deploying other reported environmental practices.

By embracing and expanding technologies like these, cruise lines are making the global cruise fleet more efficient and positioning it for the future — one that will continue to create memorable experiences for travelers and offer meaningful economic opportunities for seafarers, businesses, and the communities we visit.

In 2025, the global cruise industry welcomed 37.3 million passengers, driving substantial economic activity and supporting communities, businesses, and jobs across destinations worldwide, including:
⚙️ $198.8 billion in economic activity
💼 1.8 million jobs worldwide
💵 $60 billion in wages

Together, we are innovating for the future of our industry’s shared
success with the people and places we visit.

09/24/2026

Today, we recognize World Maritime Day and this year’s theme: “From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence.”

For the maritime industry, strong international standards are only the starting point. Their impact comes from how they are put into practice every day. CLIA supports the IMO’s role as the global regulator for international shipping and the development of clear, consistent, and practical standards that can be effectively implemented across the maritime sector.

Our work as a global organization includes advocating for clear and practical policies at the IMO while promoting industry-level policies that often go above and beyond international, regional and local regulatory requirements, demonstrating the industry's commitment to leadership, continuous improvement, and responsible operations.

That commitment is demonstrated today in the release of CLIA’s 2026 Environmental Technologies and Practices (ETP) Report, which highlights the measurable progress across the cruise industry in implementing technologies and practices designed to advance environmental performance.

The maritime industry's progress depends on turning standards, innovation and commitments into meaningful action. That is where policy becomes practice.

💡 Learn more about the latest environmental technologies and practices across the cruise industry in CLIA's 2026 Annual ETP Report: https://cruising.org/news/cruise-industry-report-shows-measurable-progress-environmental-technologies-and-practices?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=ap_piiikg37dy

🛳️

09/21/2026

🇪🇸 Last week in Las Palmas, we were delighted to welcome attendees to this year's CLIA Ports & Destinations Dialogue! ⚓ Kicking off the event, CLIA President and CEO Bud Darr spoke about how destinations drive the decision to cruise. He highlighted the importance of collaboration, transparent communication, and better information to help cruise lines, ports, and destinations make better decisions together.

🌱 Drawing on CLIA’s newly released Environmental Technologies and Practices Report, Bud highlighted continued investment and measurable advances in environmental performance, supported by transparent reporting that helps guide further progress.

📚 He also previewed Cruise Ready, CLIA’s 21-module professional development program for port and destination leaders. The series will bring cruise line expertise to commercial planning, infrastructure, operations, regulation, sustainability, and guest experience, beginning with an introductory Masterclass in Miami on 27 October.

Greg Lanter, CEO of Cruise Terminals International, explored how terminal investment can strengthen connections with the wider destination. Funchal Vice Mayor Carlos Rodrigues brought welcome candor to the tourism debate, stressing the importance of accurately identifying local pressure points so destinations can address them effectively.

🧭 Luis de Carvalho led the itinerary planning panel, exploring how operational requirements and guest expectations influence deployment. Speakers represented organisations including Royal Caribbean Group, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., Azamara, AIDA Cruises, TUI Cruises - Mein Schiff, Mystic Cruises, and Explora Journeys.

In a separate panel, Mark Robinson explored how local coordination, reliable data, and community partnerships strengthen destination management, with perspectives from Royal Caribbean Group, MSC Cruises, Barcelona Port Terminal G, and Puertos de Tenerife.

📍 Through Destination Spotlights, CLIA gave six destinations and partners dedicated access to senior cruise line itinerary planners: an opportunity to present their cruise proposition and hear directly what could strengthen it.

🗺️ Jacob Nørby, Norwegian Travel; Beatriz Orejudo Cotoner, Lantimar; Anastasios Konstantaros, South Dodecanese; Patricia Yuen, Hong Kong Tourism Board; Marina Mylona, Visit Cyprus; and Panagiotis Anastassopoulos, Port Authority of Patras showcased what makes their destinations distinctive and received targeted feedback on their cruise potential.

👏 Thank you to all who joined us in Las Palmas — our speakers, participants, partners, and sponsors — for sharing their expertise and local knowledge that help turn a port call into lasting value!

🛳️

Cruise Terminals International | Global Ports Holding | Puerto de Cartagena APC | HAJIEFREMIDIS S.A. | VANOS | Discover Hong Kong | Patras Port Authority | Wilhelmsen

09/19/2026

💎 We’re thrilled to welcome OnDeck by Sourcetoad to the CLIA Executive Partner program as a Diamond partner!

OnDeck by Sourcetoad builds digital solutions that elevate the guest experience from pre-cruise planning through the onboard journey. Every solution starts with listening, and it shows: OnDeck is the partner people love working with, helping untangle messy tech stacks to deliver technology that just works.

The award-winning OnDeck Mobile App delivers a flexible, white-label experience for every stage of the guest journey, from planning and reservations to onboard activities, dining, excursions, and schedules. OnDeck integrates with leading cruise technology platforms including Versonix Seaware, Otalio, MXP, and Resco, connecting shoreside and shipboard systems into one seamless experience.

With technology on 130+ ships worldwide and nearly two decades in the industry, OnDeck builds the kind of technology that crews rely on and guests never have to think about.

The Executive Partner program is an exclusive, global platform designed to foster meaningful connections and drive growth in the cruise industry. This program offers its members a unique opportunity to collaborate with key decision-makers from cruise lines and industry leaders, share insights, and explore innovative solutions that will shape the future of cruising.

Through member-only engagement opportunities, including exclusive events, roundtable discussions, and strategic partnerships, we aim to create a sustainable and thriving ecosystem that benefits all stakeholders.

Together, we help Cruise sail to a better future.

🛳️

09/18/2026

🗺️ Behind the Map: How Cruise Lines Build Itineraries

What turns a place into a cruise itinerary they cannot resist?

At CLIA’s Ports and Destinations Dialogue in Las Palmas, cruise executives shared the decisions behind a diversity of journeys: combining ports with different culinary and cultural traditions, designing consecutive voyages that encourage guests to stay longer, and finding appropriate landing sites for expedition experiences.

For ports and destinations, understanding different cruise ships, the guests they attract, and the decisions behind their itineraries helps direct investment, develop experiences guests want, and build lasting partnerships with cruise lines.

👩‍👩‍👧‍👧 🏃 💍 Know the guest. Families, luxury travellers, and expedition guests can experience the same destination in very different ways. Understand their interests and expectations.

Show what makes your destination distinctive. Local food, culture, and heritage give guests compelling reasons to visit. Offer experiences that belong to your destination. 🏞️ 🏛️ 🥗

Consider the whole journey. Flights, hotels, transfers, excursions, and opportunities to explore independently all influence the holiday experience. ✈️ 🚍 🧭

🤝 Plan together, early. Confirm berth arrangements, share accurate operational information, and involve cruise lines before committing to infrastructure investments.

🙏 Thank you to our moderator and panelists for sharing their experience and encouraging ports, tourism authorities, and local businesses to bring forward ideas, discuss challenges openly, and plan together.

Luis de Carvalho, Copenhagen Malmö Port
Shandra Stoeterau, Azamara Cruises
Christopher Allen, Royal Caribbean Group
Sandi Weir, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
Philipp Runge, AIDA Cruises
Michael Braathen, Mystic Cruises
Maria Tauschke, TUI Cruises
Justin Poulsen, Explora Journeys

✨ The work starts years before arrival. Its success reaches beyond the ship, into the experiences guests remember and the local businesses and communities that welcome them.

Cruise Terminals International | Global Ports Holding | Puerto de Cartagena APC | Hajiefremidis S.A | VANOS | Hong Kong Tourism Board Discover Hong Kong | Patras Port Authority - ΟΛΠΑ Α.Ε. Οργανισμός Λιμένος Πατρών Α.Ε. | Wilhelmsen group

🛳️