Seatrade Cruise Global 2023

By Gerry Barker

Seatrade Cruise Global, one of the premier events for the cruise industry, came to Ft. Lauderdale March 27-30 and attracted over 12,000 attendees. The theme for this year's conference was "Forward Momentum," something that was reinforced by major cruise line CEOs at the keynote "State of the Industry" roundtable, hosted by the BBC's Lucy Hockings.

Much of the discussions centered around sustainability and decarbonization -- the cruise industry has a goal of zero carbon by 2050 -- with Frank Del Rio, the soon-to-retire president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Lines, causing a few "waves" by stating the emphasis should really be providing a great vacation.

Panelists talked about 14 new ships that would be hitting the seas this year, with 62 ships planned in the next three years and a corresponding growth in cruise travelers to almost 40 million.

Along with the main show and exhibits, F&B@Sea, devoted to the food and beverage side of the cruise industry, was also held adjacent to the Broward County Convention Center. Vendors offered a wide array of products while panelists talked about creating authentic experiences, vegan menus and responsible sourcing.

Next year, Seatrade Cruise Global returns to the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Scenes from Seatrade Cruise Global

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Scenes from F&B@Sea