what is seatrade cruise global

Seatrade Cruise Global 2024: Event Themes Revealed

The upcoming Seatrade Cruise Global will take place at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Florida from April 8 to 11, and the 2024 “State of the Global Cruise Industry Keynote Panel” lineup has been unveiled, presented in collaboration with the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and sponsored by the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

The conference’s opening session on April 9 will bring together top executives from the world’s largest cruise companies to discuss this year’s central theme: the evolution of the cruise industry . Led by Anne Kalosh, editor of Seatrade Cruise News, key topics surrounding the industry’s future will be addressed, including environmental sustainability, market demand trends for 2024 and beyond, digitization, the use of AI, and more.

SeatradeCruiseGlobal23

Key figures attending this significant event for the cruise industry include Josh Weinstein , President, CEO, and Chief Climate Officer of Carnival Corporation; Kelly Craighead , President and CEO of Cruise Lines International Association; Pierfrancesco Vago , Executive Chairman, Cruise Division, MSC Group; Harry J. Sommer , President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.; and Jason Liberty , President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group.

The theme will explore the industry’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, new environmental technologies, low to zero greenhouse gas fuels actively tested on new ships, and the need for governments and fuel providers to contribute to making sustainable fuels widely available at competitive prices. Additionally, cruise company leaders will share their perspectives on the impact of global events on cruising, product innovation, and the return of major companies to new construction orders.

seatrade-cruise-global-2024-i-temi-dellevento

Craighead, President & CEO of Cruise Lines International Association , emphasized the significance of the current period for the cruise industry, citing major innovations on the horizon and the increasing consumer demand. She expressed eagerness to participate in Seatrade Cruise Global this April to showcase how the cruise sector is advancing an ambitious sustainability program and innovations.

Participants will enjoy a lineup of forums and workshops over the four days, covering the entire cruise experience, with central themes of sustainability, technology, and entertainment. New sessions will focus on AI, navigation in unexplored waters, decarbonization, geopolitical issues and their impact on cruises, the luxury sector, port and destination developments, river cruises, and much more. 

Giorgia Lombardo

Latest reportages, royal clipper: a sailing experience and beyond, on board viva two towards the danube delta, atlas ocean voyages: intimate yacht style cruises, sh vega: luxury meets expedition, expedition with passion: ocean albatros.

Main navigation

Seatrade Cruise Global 2024

SES is ready for the cruise industry’s most pivotal event, bringing together professionals from across the globe to discuss the future of the cruise experience and the technologies that enable it.

Meeting the needs of cruise operators today and in the years to come, we will showcase Cruise mPOWERED, the industry’s most scalable and high-performing connectivity solution for a new era of extraordinary passenger and crew experiences.

Cruise mPOWERED is enabled by O3b mPOWER—SES’s next-generation medium Earth orbit (MEO) communications system. In combination with SES’s GEO fleet, Cruise mPOWERED ensures seamless broadband globally. Enjoy unrivalled scalability and security, cloud-scale reach, flexibility, and resiliency, unlocking a new era in cruise connectivity.

Visit the event website

Simon Maher

Madeleine Vidal

Footer navigation, legal documents.

• Customer Terms
• Vendor Terms
• Partner Programme
• Global Compliance Hotline
• Statement on Slavery

© 2024 SES S.A. All rights reserved.

Legal Links

• Privacy Policy
• Website Terms

This content is only available in English

This content is only available in English, by proceeding you will be changing the website language. Would you like to proceed?

Seatrade Cruise Med showcases strength of the Mediterranean cruise industry

The two-day event in Malaga, Spain, highlighted the region’s continuing growth as over 180 exhibitors shared their latest projects and initiatives

By Alex Smith | 16 September 2024

Seatrade Cruise Med came to a close on 12 September after more than 2000 attendees participated in two days of conference sessions and networking  at the Trade Fairs & Congress Centre in Malaga, Spain, inspired by the theme of ‘Partnering for Progress.’

The conference began with a series of opening addresses, including the final speeches of Marie-Caroline Laurent, director-general of CLIA Europe, and Figen Ayan, president of MedCruise, as they leave their respective roles. Laurent and Ayan emphasised the growth of the cruise industry in Europe and the Mediterranean in the past year, with passenger numbers in 2023 seven per cent higher than in 2019, as well as presenting a hopeful outlook for the future of the industry.

“As we gather again in 2024, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment, when action, innovation and resilience have been our guiding lights,” said Ayan. “Each ship we serve and every experience we deliver to the passengers and crew on our ports is pushing us to find inspiration in the unknown. Our success lies not in standing still, but in moving forward with courage and creativity.”

Ayan and Laurent were then joined by Mario Zanetti, president of Costa Cruises, Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises, and Chris Theophillides, CEO of Celestyal Cruises for the conference’s keynote sessions. The panel again highlighted the improved performance of the cruise industry over the first half of 2024, before discussing the challenges the cruise lines and ports are facing to successfully transition to sustainable operations.

Theophillides highlighted the difficulties for a mid-sized cruise line in implementing sustainability technology, calling for research and development to go “to another level” in ensuring the viability of such technology for smaller scale operation. Meier, on the other hand, presented the progress of TUI in launching its first methanol-ready ship, Maya, and a 200 per cent increase in the cruise line’s use of shore power facilities in 2024. Laurent called on ports to quickly begin investment in shore power in the face of the introduction of EU emissions regulations such as the Emissions Trading System (ETS, though Ayan emphasised the difficulty for ports in securing the necessary funding and correct solutions to do so. Zanetti emphasised the need for the EU’s revenue from the introduction of the ETS for shipping to be invested within the shipping industry if further technological innovations were to be made.

More than 2000 attendees were at the event in Malaga, Spain

Following the opening keynote session, the conference agenda covered a wide variety of topics relevant to the mediterranean cruise industry, ranging from the ways in which ports can immerse guests in their destination and the current progress in decarbonisation efforts for shipbuilding and vessel design to the power of social media in promoting a destination. One session, ‘Common Ground: Port Association Dialogue,’ saw a joint statement made by MedCruise, Cruise Norway, Cruise Baltic, Cruise Europe and Cruise Britain that they would collaborate to promote sustainable growth in the cruise industry, recognising concerns about over tourism in Europe.

The show floor, meanwhile, featured over 180 exhibitors, discussing their latest projects and services. Among the exhibitors was Le Havre Croisieres, which highlighted the ongoing construction of its three new cruise terminal facilities, which will allow it to receive up to 13,500 passengers a day upon its completion in early 2026. Ports from the Faroe Islands appeared at just their second cruise event as the combined Cruise Faroe Islands, presenting the opportunities for expedition cruise lines to visit the country on their polar voyages. The European port associations and operators maintained large presences throughout the event, with MedCruise, the Ports of Spain, CruiseItaly and Cruise Baltic among those showcasing their member ports. Ports from outside Europe also attended the conference, with stands hosted by Cruise Arabia, the Pacific Ports of Japan, the Caribbean, Uruguay, Venezuela, and more.

Though Seatrade Cruise Med came to an end with a Sailaway Party on 12 September, events continued in Malaga with the 65 th MedCruise General Assembly. Theodora Riga, chief commercial officer and director of strategic communications at the Port of Thessaloniki, was elected as the newest president of MedCruise by the assembled port representatives, along with the appointment of a new board of directors for the 2024-27 term.

“I firmly believe in the value of collective action, or as we say in Greek ‘it is in unity, we stand strong,’” said Riga. “With a vision to continue the work we have done so well, we are going to upgrade our activities and achieve even more, together, while ensuring the responsible development of cruising and benefiting all Mediterranean ports and destinations.”

MedCruise’s new board of directors for the 2024-27 term

Tags: Cruise     Event news

Related articles

• Cruise Order Book: small luxuries
• Norwegian Cruise Line reveals Norwegian Luna
• TUI River Cruises to launch its second ship on the Nile River in 2025
• Three new cruise members join Expedition Cruise Network
• Explora Journeys names Explora II in Italy

Contact author

Recommended.

How MSC Cruises is pushing the boundaries

Amadeus River Cruises to debut new ship Amadeus Amara in 2025

MedCruise: increasing inclusivity and diversity

Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection’s Ilma embarks on maiden voyage

Adventure calls: Discovering the world’s most stunning expedition destinations

Getting it right on the Gibraltar Strait

First Cruise Xperience Innovation Summit Europe to take place in London this December

Reflections on SMM Hamburg: decarbonisation and digital transformation

The most popular stories of the month delivered to your inbox

• About Cruise & Ferry
• Newsletters
• Our partners
• ©2024 Tudor Rose. All Rights Reserved. Cruise & Ferry is published by Tudor Rose.
• About Tudor Rose
• Privacy notice and cookie statement
• Terms of Use

inicio de contactos con la organización tras dos ediciones en málaga

El puerto se ofrece como sede de la feria seatrade cruise med para atraer navieras a alicante.

• Raúl Navarro

ALICANTE. La Autoridad Portuaria de Alicante (APA) mantiene su apuesta por potenciar el turismo de cruceros con el acicate que supondrá la inauguración de la nueva terminal marítima del muelle 14 , prevista para este mes de noviembre, pero con el límite de la sostenibilidad en cuanto a la capacidad de tratamiento de pasajeros y de suministro de servicios , sin que su llegada pueda generar problemas de saturación. Y ahora da otro paso más en esa estrategia con el inicio de contactos para que Alicante pueda convertirse en sede de la Seatrade Cruise Med , el principal evento relacionado con la industria de cruceros en el Mediterráneo, y uno de los más importantes del mundo junto con Seatrade Europe y Seatrade Cruise Global, que se desarrolló la semana pasada en Málaga.

De hecho, la capital malacitana ha acogido las dos últimas ediciones del certamen, celebradas en 2022 y en este 2024, por lo que el Puerto, a través de su División Comercial, aprovechó la presencia de la delegación alicantina en la feria para ofrecer Alicante a los responsables de su organización como ubicación alternativa de una de sus próximas citas a corto o medio plazo , teniendo en cuenta que el evento tiene lugar con una cadencia bianual. De este modo, la feria regresará en 2026 en un emplazamiento que, según avanza la organización, se prevé desvelar a corto plazo.

¿Qué implicaciones tendría para Alicante la posibilidad de acoger el evento? Esa hipótesis brindaría la oportunidad de presentar a las principales navieras del sector de los cruceros las distintas opciones que ofrece la capital de la Costa Blanca y el conjunto de la provincia para los cruceristas , tanto en experiencias vinculadas a lo local como en lo que respecta a propuestas culturales o visitas a recursos patrimoniales. 

El Puerto abre los cruceros a toda la provincia con experiencias para repartir flujos y negocio

El encuentro serviría como escaparate  para mostrar a las compañías del sector la diversidad de alternativas disponibles en la provincia con el propósito de captar la presencia de mayor número de escalas en los próximos ejercicios . Se trataría de propiciar un contacto directo con el destino para que los responsables de las navieras que todavía no han recalado en Alicante, la incluyan en sus rutas turísticas por el Mediterráneo en años venideros. 

Todo, después de haber superado cifras de récord en las dos últimas campañas anuales hasta el punto de que se espera que al cierre de 2024 se alcancen los 226.000 cruceristas, gracias, en gran parte, al impulso del puerto base de MSC Cruceros , que tendrá continuidad en 2025. De hecho, el Puerto y Global Ports Holding (la empresa gestora de la terminal) siguen negociando con la naviera italo-suiza con el propósito de ampliar las escalas previstas para esa próxima temporada , en las que ya se ha previsto 35 visitas a pesar de que no se retome la campaña de embarques de invierno que se puso en marcha en 2023. 

Estreno de compañías que repiten en 2025

Entre tanto, la terminal alicantina se prepara para recibir la llegada de dos próximas visitas inéditas en el margen de la próxima semana . Se trata del crucero Vasco da Gamma, de la naviera Mystic Cruises , que atracará en el Puerto el próximo lunes 23 con un pasaje de 1.490 personas de nacionalidad estadounidense, y del exclusivo World Traveller, de Atlas Ocean Voyages , que traerá a Alicante a 200 cruceristas de origen americano dos días después.

Se trata de dos primeras experiencias que tendrán eco en 2025, con una nueva visita del Vasco da Gamma y otra del buque World Voyager, también de Atlas Ocean Voyages, que ya estarían programadas en el próximo calendario, en lo que se interpreta como dos pruebas para testar el grado de satisfacción de los cruceristas antes de concretar nuevas escalas .

Al margen de esas visitas, el martes 24 está prevista la llegada del buque Arvia, con capacidad para 5.200 cruceristas de origen británico y que pasa por ser uno de los barcos turísticos de mayor tamaño de los que tienen confirmada su presencia en el Puerto de Alicante en este 2024 .

Suscríbete al canal de WhatsApp de Alicante Plaza

Noticias relacionadas.

El programa Viaja +65 cubrirá hasta 70 euros de una habitación doble por noche

• Alicante Plaza

Alicante levanta 50 actas de suspensión de actividad en apartamentos turísticos

Barcala defiende en la ONU un 'Estado del Bienestar Digital' con tecnologías para las personas

Suscríbete gratis a alicanteplaza

Recibirás las noticias diariamente