CLIA - Cruise Lines International Association

06/09/2026

🤝 When industry leaders show up together on Capitol Hill, we strengthen our collective voice, reinforce shared priorities, and help policymakers understand the full value of cruising to the U.S. economy and the American traveling public. 🇺🇸

Thank you to our Cruise Line Members, Travel Agency and Agent Members, Executive Partners, and special guests for attending today's Cruise Caucus to share your insights and perspectives with federal policymakers and their staff on the industry’s economic contributions, sustainability efforts, and national impact — and to the lawmakers and their staffs for engaging in such a constructive and mutually beneficial dialogue.

👏 A special thank you to our event sponsor, Chase Travel, for helping make these valuable conversations possible today.

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06/09/2026

🤝 A key part of Cruise Caucus is creating opportunities for meaningful dialogue between industry leaders and policymakers, and we were honored to welcome U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor and Representative Rick Larsen to this year's event.

▶️ Their perspectives on the policy issues impacting the cruise industry contributed to important discussions on the legislative and regulatory priorities affecting our sector. From maritime policy and environmental regulations to port infrastructure and the broader travel and tourism economy, federal decision-making plays a significant role in the industry's operating environment.

Opportunities to engage directly with congressional leaders are invaluable, and continued collaboration between policymakers and industry stakeholders remains essential to supporting a strong and innovative cruise industry.

👏 Thank you once again, Representative Kathy Castor and Representative Rick Larsen, and to Chase Travel for their generous support of CLIA Cruise Caucus!

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06/09/2026

Cruise Caucus brings the full strength of the cruise economy to Congress: the jobs it supports, the businesses it sustains, the ports it strengthens, and the communities it helps prosper. Our purpose today is to show that cruise is more than a way to travel; it is a national economic force shaping growth, investment, and opportunity across America. 🇺🇸

🤝 This morning in Washington, D.C., CLIA President & CEO Bud Darr kicked things off with welcome remarks, stressing the positive impact the cruise industry makes as a united community. Bud highlighted that every person in the room, from Executive Partners to travel advisors to cruise line leaders, has a role to play and brings something truly special to show legislators the true breadth and impact of the broader cruise industry.

💬 Following Bud’s welcome, Robert O'Leary, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism laid out the State of Travel in the United States, followed by an in-depth dive into the economics of the cruise industry in the U.S. by Chris Mastrippolito, CLIA’s Director of Global Research.

🏛️ We look forward to continuing our day of insights and dialogue, including our afternoon meetings on Capitol Hill, which will help strengthen relationships and offer the opportunity to highlight the cruise industry’s economic and community impact.

👏 Thank you to our sponsor Chase Travel for their generous support of CLIA Cruise Caucus!

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06/08/2026

🥂 Cruise Caucus 2026 has officially returned with tonight’s Welcome Reception in Washington, D.C. Hosted on the roof terrace of CLIA’s global headquarters, the reception brought together cruise industry leaders, attendees, and guests for an evening to connect ahead of tomorrow’s informative sessions and discussions, followed by meetings on Capitol Hill to strengthen relationships and reinforce the industry’s economic and community impact.

We look forward to hosting a great event this week, creating opportunities for cruise line, travel agency, and Executive Partner leaders to gain strategic insights into U.S. policy, political, and legislative dynamics, and to engage in constructive dialogue with government leaders.

🤝 Special thanks to event sponsor Chase Travel for their partnership and support in helping make these valuable networking opportunities possible.

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06/08/2026

Happy World Oceans Day! This year's UN theme calls on all of us to reimagine our relationship with the ocean. Cruise passengers don't just see the ocean from a distance. They wake up to it, sail through it, and experience its wonder firsthand.

CLIA cruise line members and partners are turning that connection into commitment:
🚿Cruise lines have committed to not discharging untreated sewage anywhere in the world, during normal operations
💧 Up to 90% of fresh water produced onboard is conserved and repurposed through state-of-the-art systems, reducing pressure on local resources.
🐋 Underwater noise and vibration reduction technology minimizes impact on marine life, while members avoid or slow down in sensitive areas.
🔬Onboard scientists support vital ocean research, bringing cruise passengers closer to the science that sustains our seas.

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06/04/2026

🇬🇧 CLIA President and CEO Bud Darr - CLIA spoke at the CLIA Conference 2026 in Southampton, England, to a room full of travel advisors, highlighting to them the excellent state of the cruise industry.

💷 During his remarks, Bud Darr underscored the vital role of the UK travel trade, noting that 63% of cruises booked in the UK are sold through travel advisors.

▶️ Bud also highlighted the significant economic contribution of the cruise industry in the United Kingdom, where the sector supports more than 69,000 jobs. Some of those jobs are represented by the travel advisors in attendance, underscoring the important role they play in the cruise industry's success and growth.

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06/04/2026

📣 Registration is now open for Ports & Destinations Dialogue 2026! Join cruise industry leaders, port executives, destination stakeholders, and government representatives in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, on 17–18 September 2026, immediately following Seatrade Med.

⏰ Attendees who register on or before June 30 can take advantage of a discounted early bird rate, so we encourage you to secure your place early.

▶️ Ports & Destinations Dialogue provides a unique forum for collaboration and knowledge sharing, bringing together key voices from across the cruise and tourism sectors to discuss the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of cruise tourism. This year's program will focus on itinerary planning, community engagement, destination spotlights, and more!

🔗 Register today: https://events.cruising.org/eu-ports-destinations-dialogue/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=ap_9xkrngqh7hregister?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=ap_qop9hgpbow

🔗 Learn more about the event: https://events.cruising.org/eu-ports-destinations-dialogue/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=ap_9xkrngqh7h

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06/03/2026

We're looking forward to bringing the cruise community together next week in Washington, D.C. for the return of CLIA’s Cruise Caucus. 🇺🇸

As federal policymaking continues to shape maritime travel, environmental standards, and the broader tourism economy, Cruise Caucus will offer an opportunity to advocate for policies that protect the industry’s license to operate and support responsible, sustainable growth.

The event's advocacy focus will include:

🛳️ Travel, Tourism & Facilitation
Advance policies that support seamless passenger facilitation, meet industry workforce needs, strengthen the travel ecosystem, and enable the cruise industry to contribute to U.S. economic growth, creating American jobs, wages, and generating significant economic impact.

🏗️ Infrastructure, Ports & Maritime Fuels
Invest in port development, modern infrastructure, and policies that support the domestic production and delivery of alternative fuels to support efficient operations, destination growth, and long-term industry resilience.

🍃 Environment, Sustainability & Maritime Policy
Promote policies aligned with CLIA cruise line members sustainability and environmental stewardship goals, alongside consistent maritime policy and regulatory oversight that enables innovation and sustainable growth.

📢 Stay tuned next week for updates from the Hill.

👏 Thank you to our sponsor Chase Travel for their generous support of CLIA Cruise Caucus!

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05/23/2026

🌴 At Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami, Florida, this year, cruise industry leaders gathered for key discussions on the future of cruise, industry collaboration, and the continued development of global cruise ports.

⏩ CLIA President and CEO Bud Darr - CLIA spoke with Global Ports Holding COO Stephen Xuereb, about industry growth, the importance of partnerships, and the launch of the Cruise Port Compass initiative.

🤝 Their conversation highlighted the strong momentum across the cruise sector and a shared commitment to supporting long-term growth through knowledge-sharing.

💬 “Knowledge is the only resource in the world that appreciates with use.” - Stephen Xuereb, COO Global Ports Holding

🔗 To watch the full interview, visit the YouTube link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3mFxkwbml4&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=ap_mufjpad4hg

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At Seatrade Cruise Global, CLIA President and CEO Bud Darr spoke wi...

05/21/2026

🇺🇸 The CLIA team continued to engage this week at U.S. Travel Association's IPW 2026. We were proud to share our insight and expertise on the cruise industry and its role in U.S. international tourism through several CLIA-led panels and discussions.

💬 Highlights included a session on facilitating connections between destinations and cruise lines through partnership and collaboration, led by Vice President of Government Affairs Brian Beall; a discussion on the integration of private destinations into the cruise experience, moderated by Vice President of Membership Experience Carla Guilbaud; and a panel exploring how cruise lines and destinations work together to create managed destination experiences, also moderated by Carla.

🤝 Thank you to everyone who engaged with our team in Fort Lauderdale this week. Conversations and collaboration like these are critical to shaping the future of tourism both at sea and on land across the U.S.

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