CLIA - Cruise Lines International Association

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CLIA - Cruise Lines International Association

CLIA is the world’s largest cruise industry trade association. View CLIA's Social Media Policy here: https://cruising.org/social-media-policy

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is the world’s largest cruise industry trade association, providing a unified voice and leading authority of the global cruise community. CLIA supports policies and practices that foster a safe, secure, healthy and sustainable cruise ship environment and is dedicated to promoting the cruise travel experience.

04/20/2026

➡️ Ahead of the upcoming IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 84) meeting, CLIA joined fellow maritime industry associations in issuing a joint statement underscoring the importance of meaningful progress on global greenhouse gas regulation through the IMO. The statement was issued on behalf of BIMCO, CLIA, ICS, INTERCARGO, INTERFERRY, INTERTANKO and WSC, representing the global commercial shipping fleet.

💬 “The industry remains unified in its commitment to the value and effectiveness of the IMO as the global regulator for international shipping and remains committed to pursuing the ambition established within the 2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships, having invested and committed billions of dollars to trial and implement the use of alternative fuels and innovative technology.” – CLIA President and CEO Bud Darr

🔗 For additional information and the full industry statement, please visit: https://cruising.org/news/shipping-industry-united-support-imo-its-global-regulator-and-successful-imo-ghg-reduction?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=ap_ubn3bhnpqa
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04/17/2026

🔴 LIVE | Watch as our President & CEO Bud Darr is honored at the Coast Guard Foundation's Salute to the Coast Guard, happening RIGHT NOW in Hollywood, Florida at the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort!

👏 The CLIA team is proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition of Bud's decades of service, including his service as Deputy Chief of Maritime and International Law in the U.S. Coast Guard and his time with the U.S. Navy and Merchant Marine, to his leadership advancing maritime policy and safety across the global cruise industry.

⬇️ If you've crossed paths with Bud, whether through his service to the Coast Guard or his leadership in the global cruise industry, drop a comment below and share your connection!

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04/17/2026

Following his keynote at Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami Beach this week, CLIA President & CEO Bud Darr joins us to share his perspective on the state of the global cruise industry.

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04/16/2026

🛳️ Seatrade Cruise Global 2026 continued to deliver with a full slate of engaging discussions on the tradeshow floor at the CLIA booth and across the session rooms throughout the day.

🎤 CLIA leaders contributed to notable panels offering their firsthand insights and specialized knowledge:�🤝 Ports and Cruise: Strengthening the Global Partnership for Sustainable Growth — Bud Darr, President & CEO

➡️ Meet & Greet For CLIA Members And Partners In The Technology Space — Andy Hoffman, Vice President, Strategic Communications

🌏Lessons From Australasia - What Mature And Emerging Markets Can Learn About Attracting And Sustaining Cruise Deployment — Joel Katz, Executive Director, Australasia

⚙️ Faster and Better: Immense Improvements in Security and Passenger Experience Through Advanced Technology and Design — Maureen Hayes, Director, Maritime Policy

👀 We are looking ahead to more discussions and networking as we sail into the final day at Seatrade Cruise Global!

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04/15/2026

‼️ JUST RELEASED ➡️ 2026 State of the Cruise Industry finds 37.2 million passengers sailed in 2025 and 90% intend to cruise again, as the industry invests in more efficient ships in support of its commitment to pursue net-zero emissions by 2050.

Key highlight's of this year's report include:

💵 Cruise tourism generated $198 billion in global economic impact in 2024, supporting 1.8 million jobs worldwide and contributing $60 billion in wages.
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Cruising continues to attract a younger and varied audience — about one third are under age 40, and approximately one-third of cruise trips are multigenerational.
🛳️ The global cruise fleet remains balanced across small, medium, and large vessels, with approximately one-third small ships, one-third medium ships, and one-third large ships.
🍃 New ships entering service are increasingly more energy efficient than previous generations and nearly all new ships are designed with fuel-flexible engines as cruise lines continue to increase the uptake of lower-emissions fuels, onshore power connectivity, energy efficiency technologies, and other environmental technologies.
🤝The industry continues to work with governments and local stakeholders with planned itineraries and predictable volumes, creating opportunities for planning and structured tourism management.

“Cruising is sailing toward the future with exceptional momentum and strength. Record demand, growing interest from new cruisers and sustained confidence in the cruise experience are being matched by innovation, technological advancements, and destination partnerships. At the same time, we’re seeing a meaningful shift in recognition that cruise is a leader in sustainable operations.” 💬 Bud Darr | CLIA President & CEO

🔗 FULL REPORT ➡️ https://cruising.org/sites/default/files/2026-04/2026%20State%20of%20the%20Cruise%20Industry%20Presentation.pdf?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=ap_a19xoowzwh
🔗 PRESS RELEASE ➡️ https://cruising.org/news/cruise-industry-sees-strong-demand-global-impact-expands-and-investments-efficiency-and-future?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=ap_mmrwmedssh

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04/15/2026

🎥 Real Voices. Real Stories. Sail on over to the CLIA booth (booth #461) on the Seatrade Cruise Global trade show floor and share your cruise industry story at our new video testimonial pop-up!

💡 What inspires you about the cruise industry?
🛳️ How does your company’s work help make the cruise experience possible?
🤝 How does CLIA help create connections, alignments, or momentum across the cruise community?

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04/14/2026

👏The first full day of Seatrade Cruise Global 2026 mirrored how CLIA President and CEO Bud Darr described the industry overall — excellent.

🤝The showroom floor was alive with energy from the moment the doors opened, and the CLIA booth served as a constant hub of collaboration, connection, and important industry dialogue throughout the day.

➡️The day began with the State of the Global Cruise Industry keynote delivered by Bud Darr, highlighting the industry’s economic impact and underscoring a strong, shared confidence in its future. For the full details on his remarks and the leadership panel discussion that followed, be sure to check out our earlier post.

🎤 From there, the momentum carried through a full slate of sessions, with CLIA leaders contributing as panelists and moderators across some of the most compelling conversations of the day:
🔢 CLIA & Oxford Economics Research Update — Chris Mastrippolito, Director, Global Research

🏛️Global Maritime Policy And Innovation: Perspectives From Government And Industry — Donald Brown, Senior Vice President, Maritime Policy

🌍European Cruising CEO Panel — Nikos Mertzanidis, Executive Director, Europe

🏗️Safe and Sustainable Shipbuilding: The Present and Future — Barr Turner, Vice President, Maritime Policy
�🏞️River Cruising CEO Panel — Andy Harmer, Executive Director, United Kingdom and Ireland

🌱The Future of Sustainable Cruising: Priorities, Pressures, Progress — Donald Brown, Senior Vice President, Maritime Policy

Overall it was a productive here at . We look forward seeing everyone again tomorrow, for another great day!

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04/14/2026

💬 “Cruise is consistent.” - Chris Mastrippolito, CLIA Director, Global Research

🔢 Chris Mastrippolito, CLIA Director of Global Research, co-hosted CLIA & Oxford Economics Research Update alongside Christian Savelli, Director of Cruise Analytics, Tourism Economics at Oxford Economics.

➡️ The presentation showcased a mix of industry challenges and promising momentum, highlighting a well-managed, modestly expanding orderbook and a strategically balanced fleet composition. Among the standout insights shared by Chris were:

🛳️ 37.2 million ocean cruisers sailed in 2025
↪️ 76% of those that have never cruised told us they are open to taking that first cruise, which it the second highest measurement in the life of the survey project

🎤 At the end of the session audience members were able to ask questions in an open Q&A discussion.

🔗 These points capture just a selection of the insights Chris delivered. For those who were not able to attend and are interested in learning more about the research, please visit: https://cruising.org/resource-list

04/14/2026

📣 “I don’t bother doing something if I don’t believe in it, and I believe in this.”
- CLIA President & CEO Bud Darr

➡️ The State of the Cruise Industry Keynote Address set a confident, forward-looking tone for the week ahead. Bud Darr spoke not only about his confidence in the industry, but also backed it up with data, including the $198 billion global economic impact and more than 40 million cruise passengers per year expected by the end of the decade.

The energy only built from there. Contessa Brewer, CNBC Correspondent, took the stage to moderate a powerhouse panel featuring five of the industry's top leaders:
⚓️ Bud Darr — President & CEO, CLIA
⚓️ John Chidsey — President & CEO, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
⚓️ Jason Liberty — Chairman & CEO, Royal Caribbean Group
⚓️ Pierfrancesco Vago — Executive Chairman, Cruise Division, MSC Cruises
⚓️ Josh Weinstein — President, CEO & Chief Climate Officer, Carnival Corporation

🤝Together, they discussed a range of topics, with highlights including the overwhelming appeal of cruise through its incredible value proposition, ongoing investment in onboard technology, and the seamless guest experience ships provide.

👏The panel wrapped up with a fun question from moderator Contessa Brewer, who asked each panelist whether they had ever sailed on a competitor’s ship, prompting a mix of insightful and comedic responses.

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04/13/2026

🌃 It’s better to do Business on the Bay!

🤝 The cruise community came together tonight at the stunning Perez Art Museum Miami for the unofficial kickoff of Seatrade Cruise Global — CLIA's Business on the Bay. Set against the waters and glittering cruise terminals of Portmiami, our guests enjoyed great food and drinks, made new connections, reunited with old friends, and were captivated by the exciting performance of a traditional Bahamian Junkanoo.

➡️ None of this would be possible without our incredible sponsors: Bahamas Maritime Authority, Travel Bahamas, Heineken, Castrol, Tura, SMS International Shore Operations, AP Companies, NatPower Marine, Trinity Cups, PortMiami, and Gérard Bertrand.

👏Thank you to all our sponsors and guests for making Business on the Bay an incredible evening.

➡️ We look forward to seeing everyone again tomorrow for the annual State of the Global Cruise Industry Address keynote from CLIA President & CEO Bud Darr, and throughout the week at !

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04/13/2026

🥂Cheers to great partners!

➡️ The CLIA Diamond Executive partners kicked off the night with an exclusive reception aboard the Seafair Yacht just before CLIA’s Business on the Bay at the Perez Art Museum Miami.

🤝 It’s always great to raise a glass to these value partnerships that bring this community together.

👏We appreciate Crum & Forster, Procell Insite, and RINA for sponsoring the Diamond Reception.

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04/13/2026

As Seatrade Cruise Global gets underway in Miami, we kicked off the day with an exclusive preview of CLIA’s Cruise Port Compass — a comprehensive, expert-led program designed to help ports and destinations strengthen performance, attract deployment, and prepare for long-term growth.

Cruise Port Compass brings together interactive instruction from cruise industry leaders, a 21-chapter port development guide spanning operations, infrastructure, sustainability, governance, and experience, and targeted workshops that dive into priority issues such as sustainability, regulation, technology, and workforce.

It’s the latest example of how collaboration across the cruise industry is driving a stronger, more resilient future.

“Collaboration is the engine we need to make this all come together.” 💬 Bud Darr | CLIA President & CEO

👏 We extend our special thanks to Cruise Saudi, Port of Seattle, and Global Ports Holding for their support of this program.

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Washington D.C., DC

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+12027599370

Website

http://www.cruising.org/

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