Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investment & Aviation, at Komodo Miami on February 3. The exclusive sponsored event featured a menu of business and networking opportunities with high-level Member Line executives, including Richard Sasso, Chairman of MSC Cruises (USA); Thomas Mazloum, President of Disney Cruise Line; Josh Weinstein, Chief Operations Officer for Carnival Corporation; and Jay Schneider, Senior Vice President, Chief Product Innovation Officer for Royal Caribbean Group, among other senior executives represent-
ing AIDA Cruises, Azamara, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea Cruises, TUI Cruises and Virgin Voyages. With many having their plates full as the environment continues to change
through evolving Covid-19 variants, the event was a vital ingredient for attendees to serve up conversations on navigating the current situation and sailing to a brighter horizon. It was also an appetizer of subsequent courses to come as FCCA continues to work with other destinations and stakeholders on similar events in the future. FCCA CARIBBEAN CRUISE SUMMIT SAILING AHEAD Similar opportunities to work directly with cruise executives will be available to a wide audience at the upcoming FCCA Caribbean Cruise Summit. Taking place in San Juan, Puerto Rico this June 1-3, the event will let attendees participate in pre-set one-on-one meetings with cruise executives where delegates can target key decision makers to promote products and receive individualized input. It will also feature workshops led by industry experts giving information to help attendees learn about and excel in doing business with the cruise industry.
OPERATIONS COMMITTEE SITE VISITS Site visits have long been a fixture of the FCCA Operations Committee, comprised of Member Line executives committed to the core functions: discussing cruise industry topics, such as tourism development, ports, safety and security; fostering an understanding of the industry and its practices; building bilateral relationships with FCCA’s partner destinations’ private and public sectors; fostering increased revenue opportunities for ports and destinations; and enhancing the destination experience and amount of cruise passengers returning as stay-over visitors. After making a return last year with a few visits, this year is already on pace for chart-topping growth – with site visits to both the Cayman Islands and Belize during the quarter. Cayman Islands In the Cayman Islands, eight cruise executives – representing Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line and Royal Caribbean International – and FCCA President Michele Paige joined government officials and the private sector to discuss safely reactivating cruise tourism in the destination. The day of meetings on February 2 culminated with a networking event at which business owners from the private sector could meet with the cruise executives. Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan, speaking at the networking gathering following the day’s meetings, said, “At the very top of the list are our health and safety protocols that will allow cruise shops to return while keeping our com-