Seatrade Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary

CLIA's Bud Darr (Photos by NBPL)

By GERRY BARKER
North Palm Beach Life

Seatrade Cruise Global marked its 40th cruise conference anniversary this year, and 12,000 travel industry professionals from 121 countries came to the Miami Beach Convention Center to help celebrate.

Along with attendees at the just-concluded event were 600 exhibitors, representing countries, ship builders and all phases of the rapidly-growing cruise sector.

As in previous years, the highlight was the keynote "State of the Industry" session, featuring a panel discussion moderated by Anne Kolash, editor of Seatrade Cruise News, and featuring Josh Weinstein, president, CEO and Chief Climate Officer, Carnival Corporation, Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Group Executive Chairman, Harry Sommer, president and CEO, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group, and Bud Darr, president and CEO, Cruise Lines International Association.

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Speaking to the audience of 3,000 prior to the panel discussion, Darr painted an optimistic picture of how the cruise industry continues to grow as more people choose cruising for their vacations. It's projected over 37 million will take a cruise this year, up two million from 2024, and Millenials are strongly represented, with 36 percent of cruisers under the age of 40.

This is also reflected in the number of new ships coming this year and on order for future delivery -- both large and small.

Overall, the panel shared Darr's optimism, with caveats for tariffs and other economic factors that lend an air of uncertainty to forecasting the future. Sommer noted the first quarter had started "a bit choppy." Cruise leaders also reaffirmed their support of sustainability, with a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
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