international cruise conference

International Cruise Summit 2024

12 th & 13 th november, hotel meliá castilla.

The present and future of the worldwide cruise industry

The international Cruise Summit is the leading cruise conference in Europe, the only forum of global knowledge about the worldwide cruise industry to be held in Europe on an annual basis. It is a rich mix of presentations, panels, games, networking and social events, packed into one and half days.

In this ever-changing world in which we live, ICS 2024 Madrid is once again perfectly placed as Europe’s leading cruise conference to examine fundamental industry questions and recognise the key areas on which to focus during the upcoming year.

With an assembly of top Cruise line executives and delegates from all sectors of the cruise industry, it is an ideal opportunity for you to gain new ideas, network and formulate your own strategies for the future. The summit aims to provide you with an updated overview of the key drivers affecting your decision making going forward. It’s a MUST to mark now in your meetings schedule. Important agenda items to be included are the geopolitics issues affecting itineraries, sustainability, and new developments with an eye in the markets of the future and sales strategies. Even in the twelve months since ICS 2022 many global, national and local factors are changing or evolving, making it imperative to re-appraise your own plans.

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ICS 2023: The present and future of the cruise industry

The start of the International Cruise Summit 2023 is just around the corner, the foremost cruise conference in Europe, set to take place in Madrid on November 14 and 15.

The event will host key figures in the cruise industry, with representatives from no fewer than 21 cruise companies on stage or in the audience, along with numerous sponsors supporting the initiative.

The main theme will revolve around geopolitical issues impacting itineraries, sustainability, and innovations, with a focus on future markets and sales strategies. Attention will be given to global, national, and local factors undergoing change, necessitating a reassessment of plans.

Cruise companies persist in investing in cutting-edge technologies to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Trials with sustainable fuels have been conducted, and research is underway on methanol and hydrogen engines. Over the next five years, 50 ships will be built, half utilizing liquefied natural gas, while the remaining 25 will feature robust gas filtering systems. Additionally, many of these new ships will have shore power connections, enabling them to switch off engines while in port.

International Cruise Summit (5)

The long-awaited event therefore promises two days full of meetings, presentations and much more, starting on November 14 with the inauguration of ICS 2023 in the presence of Álvaro Rodríguez Dapena , president of Puertos Del Estado, and Virginia López Valiente , CEO of Cruises News Media Group – International Cruise Summit. The first part of the day will include a presentation on the outlook for the cruise industry, a panel of industry leaders invited to identify and discuss strategic opportunities and challenges for the years to come, with the participation of Andrea Zito , CEO by Swan Hellenic, Christopher Prelog , president of Windstar Cruises, Figen Ayan , Chief Port Officer of Galataport Istanbul and president of MedCruise, Jonathan Daniels , CEO and port director of Port Everglades and Marie-Caroline Laurent , general director Europe of the International Association .

The first day will include presentations on the outlook for the cruise industry, a panel of industry leaders discussing strategic opportunities and challenges, market trends in Asia, shipyard basins, rebranding, sustainability concerns for ports and destinations, and a session on commercial and marketing trends, concluding with the “ Food and drinks ICS party .”

International Cruise Summit

The second day will focus on mental health promotion aboard ships, strategies for offering optimal guest experiences in remote destinations, new rules for traveling in Europe, a presentation on “ Marketing & Delivering to the LGBTQIA+ Community ,” unveiling the Icon of The Seas by Royal Caribbean, and a session of expert Q&A, concluding with the “ Farewell networking brunch .”

The summit aims to provide an updated overview of key factors influencing future decision-making, encompassing presentations, panels, games, networking, and social events over a day and a half, offering the opportunity to gain new ideas, network, and formulate strategies for the future.

Stay tuned for further updates and reviews on the world of cruising on Cruising Journal .

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2024 CLIA Cruise360

April 16 – april 21, 2024, greater fort lauderdale / broward county convention center fort lauderdale, fl.

Our biggest professional development event of the year, Cruise360 features a week's worth of professional development, ship inspections, networking and the latest industry trends. As the largest and only official conference of the cruise industry, Cruise360 brings together travel professionals, cruise line representatives, ports & destinations, industry suppliers and CLIA preferred partners for a truly panoramic view of the cruise industry.

Why Attend? Hear from Past Attendees

Cruise360 is an absolute must for SERIOUS travel professionals.

Very good. The seminars were informative and the excursions were great to know what to pass on to my clients.

I walked away from the beautiful city of Vancouver with more knowledge, training and insights along with tons of motivation and new industry contacts.

It was our first and it was awesome. So many classes and events to attend. I wanted to go to them all. We learned so much and are truly grateful we were able to attend.

4/5/2024 - New Product & Destination Workshop Just Added!

Check out the NEW Product & Destination Workshop just added for St. Maarten Tourism Bureau and add it to your schedule!

4/5/2024 - Pre-Conference Certificate Programs Are Almost SOLD OUT

If you want to join us on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. Register for a Pre-Conference Certificate Program Today! Seats Are Limited.

3/21/2024 - New Product & Destination Workshop just added!

Check out the NEW Product & Destination Workshop just added for Global Ports Holding and add it to your schedule!

3/7/2024 - Cruise Line Showcases are NOW OPEN!

Build your schedule today by selecting your CLIA Seminars, Product & Destination Workshops, and Cruise Line Showcases.

2/15/2024 - Product & Destination Workshop are NOW OPEN for Scheduling

Cruise360 Product & Destination Workshops are an invaluable tool for delivering quality service to clients and increasing your income. Schedule your workshops today!

1/18/2024 - 2024 Pre-Conference Certificate Programs Are NOW OPEN!

Choose between  Cruise Groups Certificate Program  OR  Family Cruise Travel Certificate Program   on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. REGISTER TODAY!

10/18/2023 - CLIA Seminars are Now Open!

CLICK HERE to build your schedule 

9/29/2023 - Book Your "Official" Cruise360 Hotel

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7/12/2023 - 2024 Cruise360 NOW OPEN

REGISTER NOW to join us in Fort Lauderdale

While CLIA strives to adhere to the advice of local, national, and international health authorities, any interaction with the public poses an elevated risk of being exposed to COVID-19 and we cannot guarantee that you will not be exposed while in attendance at the event. We encourage you to practice the best personal mitigation strategies that are available, like getting vaccinated, wearing masks while indoors with others, and washing your hands often. If you need more direction, please consult your national and local health authority websites for up-to-date recommendations. Our own member cruise line websites also provide a great source for rigorous, layered protective measures.

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Join us in Istanbul for a landmark event

We are thrilled to announce that the 2024 dfni cruise conference will be held in the vibrant city of istanbul, türkiye ., situated on the bosphorus, with access to the aegean sea, the mediterranean and the black sea, galataport istanbul is a world-class cruise hub and the perfect backdrop for our 2024 event. it sits at the epicentre of the region's fast-growing cruise market and features a groundbreaking and award-winning design with a world-first underground terminal., the dfni cruise conference is more than just an event; it's a convergence of ideas, expertise, and innovation. we invite stakeholders and newcomers in the cruise retail industry to engage in thought-prov oking discussions, gain insights from our expert speakers and panellists, and enjoy unparalleled networking opportunities, including our signature opening cocktail and gala dinner.  whether you're an experienced professional or new to the industry, this is your opportunity to be part of a transformative experience that sets the course for the future of cruising. , first release tickets now on sale we look forward to seeing you in istanbul very soon..

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Click the button below so you can count down to our welcome cocktail reception and registration!

Experts joining us onstage in Istanbul include:

Get a feel for our annual cruise conference by watching the highlights from 2023 — DFNI's biggest and best conference yet!

Building on the success of our 2023 conference in Palma de Mallorca, the upcoming conference in Istanbul will delve deeper into critical themes shaping the future of cruise retail, including:

Insightful presentations from our Platinum Partners

Brand case studies highlighting achievements in cruise retail

Latest research on cruise shopper behaviour by m1nd-set

Exploring new cruise markets, with a focus on the middle east

Championing positive change through cruise ship retail

Leveraging human connections in cruise retail environments

Strategies for successful integration in cruise retail

Understanding retail potential onboard ferries and ‘mini cruises’

"Thanks to DFNI for a great conference...it is always inspiring to get to speak about how resilient the cruise industry is and introduce more partners to the magic of cruising."

Lisa Bauer President & CEO

"I think the quality  of the attendees this year has been amazing...outstanding. The bar has totally been raised for a cruise event."

"It was absolutely great to be back... The entire DFNI team did an amazing job organizing it, hosting us and bringing the cruise retail community closer together."

Andres Villalever

Vice President of Retail and Advisor to the Chairman

"One of the things that I've enjoyed here is the community of the individuals that come together. DFNI has done a fantastic job of pulling everyone together and giving you an opportunity to be educated but most importantly to be social and connect together, and that's what Cruise is about"

Miguel Martinez

The Digital Travellers

India’s leading b2b travel trade digital media, mumbai to host india’s first international cruise conference on may 14 & 15.

The Indian cruise market has the potential to grow by 10X over the next decade, driven by rising demand and disposable incomes, said Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and AYUSH, Government of India in a press conference on Thursday. He also announced the upcoming 1st Incredible India International Cruise Conference 2022 which will be held from 14th to 15th May 2022.

To register for this conference, click here: https://ficci.in/registration/invitee-form.asp?evid=26074

The Minister said India is gearing up to be a magnificent cruise destination and capture the growing market. “Indian cruise market has the potential to grow by ten times over the next decade”, he said adding, “The flagship Sagarmala initiative by PM Narendra Modi is connecting the ports of Chennai, Vizag and Andaman with Goa, which receive maximum tourists.”

During the press conference, he also unveiled the brochure, logo, and the conference’s mascot – Captain Cruzo. The event website – www.iiicc2022.in.

“The conference on international cruise tourism aims to showcase India as a desired destination for cruise passengers, highlight the regional connectivity, and disseminate information about India’s preparedness for developing the cruise tourism sector,” the Minister said.

The two-day international conference will witness participation from stakeholders, including international and Indian cruise lines operators, investors, global cruise consultants/experts, senior government officials from the Ministry of Home, Finance, Tourism, and Ports and Shipping, state maritime boards, state tourism boards, senior port officials, river cruise operators, tour operators, and travel agents, among others.

Speaking on occasion, Dr Sanjeev Ranjan, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, highlighted the number of path-breaking changes to promote cruise tourism in India, which resulted in a 35 per cent year-on-year growth in cruise tourism until the COVID pandemic set in. “In 2019, we had more than 400 Cruise vessels coming to our shores, and reached four lakh cruise passengers,” he said. The secretary added that despite the COVID setback, our ports have been able to develop the infrastructure needed to make the landing of cruise passengers easier in the last two years. Similarly, Rajiv Jalota, IAS, Chairman, Mumbai Port Authority said, “Through this initiative, we aim to promote cruise tourism and attract tourists with specific interests. Mumbai has been the cruise capital of India and has persistently seen a rise in the growth of cruise passengers and cruise vessels before the pandemic.”

River cruise tourism has also seen a substantial rise in the past few years in the northeast and northern part of the country. In addition, small cruise vessel manufacturing demand seems to be coming from various parts of India.

Sanjay Bandopadhyay IAS, Chairman- Inland Waterways Authority of India, said, “This conference will attract more global players and will have all the operators in global cruise tourism. River tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors and brings revenue and employment to cruise operators, people, and many related industries.”

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Eight MoUs signed at Incredible India International Cruise Conference

Strategies for developing India as a cruise hub, policy initiatives and port infrastructure, the potential of river cruise tourism, and the role of technology in the post-pandemic world were some of the key issues deliberated at the two-day event.

Eight Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) were signed on Sunday at the first Incredible India International Cruise Conference that was jointly organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the Government of India and FICCI.

Union Minister for Culture, Tourism G Kishan Reddy speaking on the occasion stressed on the vast potential of the river cruise industry in the country. Addressing the first Incredible India International Cruise Conference (IIICC) in Mumbai , Reddy invited domestic and international tourists to ‘Come, Cruise in India.’

The minister said, “The central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made significant efforts to clean and rejuvenate our rivers including the mammoth Namami Gange Project, which can provide a major boost to river-based tourist activities.”

Reddy added, “We are currently working towards a ‘Comprehensive Indian National Tourism Policy’. Cruise tourism will certainly be a priority sector, as it is one of the most vibrant and fast-growing sectors of the leisure and travel industry.”

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India to be the global cruise hub: Union ports minister Sonowal

Updated May 14, 2022, 22:53 IST

At the conference of International Cruise in Mumbai

• International Cruise Conference 2022 gets underway in Mumbai. India to be global hub for cruise industry
• Advisory Panel as task force being set up to help cruise tourism.
• Sonowal said several attractions of India along its 7,500 km long coastline and vast river system are yet to be unveiled to the world.

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2024 CLIA Cruise360

April 16, 2024 | Fort Lauderdale, FL

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Our biggest professional development event of the year, Cruise360 features a week's worth of professional development, ship inspections, networking and the latest industry trends.

As the largest and only official conference of the cruise industry, Cruise360 brings together travel professionals, cruise line representatives, ports & destinations, industry suppliers and CLIA preferred partners for a truly panoramic view of the cruise industry.

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Shri Sarbananda Sonowal flags off India’s First International Cruise Vessel from Chennai to Sri Lanka

International cruise terminal at chennai, built at a cost of ₹ 17.21 crores, becomes operational with flagging off mv empress international cruise terminals at andamans, puducherry and lakshdweep soon to ramp up cruise tourism of india: shri sarbananda sonowal new terminals at mumbai, vikshakhapatanam, mormugao and kolkata to amp up cruise ship tourism in india: shri sarbananda sonowal.

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off the maiden International Cruise Vessel - MV Empress, India’s first international cruise vessel - from Chennai to Sri Lanka in Chennai today. This marks the beginning of the international cruise tourism terminal at Chennai, built at a cost of ₹17.21 crores, heralding a new age of cruise tourism & maritime trade in the country. Coinciding on the occasion of Enviornment Day, the Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal along with the port officials also planted 2500 tree saplings at the port today.

Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said, “Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways have been taking multiple steps to develop the avenues of cruise tourism in the country and bolster opportunities of maritime trade of India. With our rich heritage & culture around our coastal region, the potential of cruise tourism in India is immense. Today, as we launch the maiden cruise service between Chennai and Sri Lanka, it has ushered a new chapter in the cruise tourism sector in the country. As the affordability & access to world class cruise services becomes a reality, the people can  enjoy & relish luxurious amenities, entertainment, and breathtaking views.”

The cruise service is the result of an MoU signed during the first Incredible India International Cruise Conference in 2022 between Chennai Port and M/S Waterways Leisure Tourism Pvt Ltd to start domestic and international cruise service. With an overwhelming response by 85,000 passengers availing the cruise service through 37 vessels for the domestic circuit, it is expected that the opening up of international circuit will further amp up the business of cruise tourism in the region. The modern cruise terminal developed at Chennai Port is spread over an area of 2,880 square meters with an ability to host 3,000 passengers at a time.

Speaking further, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said, “As more and more people are likely to experience cruise tourism in the near future, the government remains deeply committed to develop world class infrastructure to support and enable growth of cruise tourism and maritime trade. I am happy to share that three new international cruise terminals are likely to be completed and become operational by 2024. We expect that the volume of cruise ships will increase from 208 in 2023 to 500 in 2030 and upto 1100 by 2047. Consequently, the number of passengers availing cruise services is also likely to increase from 9.5 lakhs in 2030 to 45 lakhs in 2047. In order to boost demand for cruise services the western, southern and eastern coasts of India, we are working on Gujarat Pilgrimage tours, Cultural and Scenic Tours, Ayurveda Wellness Tours & Heritage Tourism. Plans are afoot to develop new cruise tourism terminal in Andamans, Puducherry and Lakshadweep circuits. We are also studying the feasibility of developing ferry circuits across India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar.”

The cruise service will sail to three Sri Lankan ports; viz. Hanbantota, Trincomalee, and Kankesanturei. The tour packages on board MV Empress will be offered for 2 nights, 3 nights, 4 nights and 5 nights. During its run at the sea, MV Empress will be touching 3 ports in Sri Lanka before returning to Chennai.

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Incredible India International Cruise Conference 2022 in Mumbai

Gearing india to be a magnificent cruise destination and positioning india as a global cruise hub with state-of-art infrastructure for both ocean and river cruises is the upcoming first incredible india international cruise conference ’22 to be hosted by mumbai..

The Indian cruise market has the potential to grow by 10X over the next decade, driven by rising demand and disposable incomes, said Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and AYUSH, Government of India.

He was speaking at a press conference to announce the upcoming 1st Incredible India International Cruise Conference 2022 from 14th to 15th May 2022. Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Government of India, the Mumbai Port Authority, and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) are organizing the two-day event at the Hotel Trident in Mumbai. 

Cruise tourism is recognized as the fastest-growing segment in the leisure industry. In addition, the government categorizes cruise tourism as a niche tourism product. 

Speaking to the press persons, the Minister said India is gearing up to be a magnificent cruise destination and capture the growing market. “Indian cruise market has the potential to grow by ten times over the next decade”, he said adding, “the flagship Sagarmala initiative by PM Narendra Modi is connecting the ports of Chennai, Vizag and Andaman with Goa, which receive maximum tourists”.

Sarbananda Sonowal also unveiled the brochure, logo, and the conference’s mascot – Captain Cruzo. He also launched the event website –  www.iiicc2022.in  at the press interaction. The conference aims to deliberate on ‘Developing India as a Cruise Hub’. 

“The conference on international cruise tourism aims to showcase India as a desired destination for cruise passengers, highlight the regional connectivity, and disseminate information about India’s preparedness for developing the cruise tourism sector”, the Minister said.

The two-day international conference will witness participation from stakeholders, including international and Indian cruise lines operators, investors, global cruise consultants/experts, senior government officials from the Ministry of Home, Finance, Tourism, and Ports and Shipping, state maritime boards, state tourism boards, senior port officials, river cruise operators, tour operators, and travel agents, among others.

Speaking on occasion,  Sanjeev Ranjan, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, highlighted the number of path-breaking changes to promote cruise tourism in India, which resulted in a 35 percent year-on-year growth in cruise tourism until the COVID pandemic set in.

“In 2019, we had more than 400 Cruise vessels coming to our shores, and reached four lakh cruise passengers”, he said.

The Secretary added that despite the COVID setback, our ports have been able to develop the infrastructure needed to make the landing of cruise passengers easier in the last two years.

Owing to India’s growth with a higher disposable income, we expect the cruise traffic to go by ten times by 2030, he said while inviting the industry to attend the International Cruise Conference and contribute to the Maritime India Vision.

Rajiv Jalota, IAS, Chairman, Mumbai Port Authority said, “Through this initiative, we aim to promote cruise tourism and attract tourists with specific interests. Mumbai has been the cruise capital of India and has persistently seen a rise in the growth of cruise passengers and cruise vessels before the pandemic”.

River cruise tourism has also seen a substantial rise in the past few years in the northeast and northern part of the country. In addition, small cruise vessel manufacturing demand seems to be coming from various parts of India.

“To leverage this we have organized the two-day conference focusing on positioning India as the Global Cruise Hub, the policy initiatives and Port infrastructure for the cruise ecosystem, the role of technology in conducting cruises in a post-pandemic scenario, river cruise potential, and opportunities for Vessel chartering and manufacturing”, he said.

Sanjay Bandopadhyay IAS, Chairman- Inland Waterways Authority of India, said, “this conference will attract more global players and will have all the operators in global cruise tourism. River tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors and brings revenue and employment to cruise operators, people, and many related industries. We will be constructing jetties on major river banks like Ganga and Brahmaputra. We are increasing the height of the bridges to allow luxury cruises bigger than the houseboats”.

Giving a vote of thanks to the present dignitaries and media personnel, Adesh Titarmare, IAS, Deputy Chairman, Mumbai Port Authority said, “the Incredible India International Cruise Conference will be a great initiative towards making India a Global cruise Hub of the world.”

The conference aims to position India as a global cruise hub and showcase business and investment opportunities in the cruise tourism sector. In addition, a host of speakers, experts, policymakers, and industry leaders will deliberate on policy initiatives and developing port infrastructure for the Cruise Ecosystem, promoting the technology and highlighting the river cruise potential and opportunities for vessel chartering and manufacturing.

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11-night amazon rivers & rainforest.

Topics: Emergency Medicine

On Board Uniworld Aria Amazon

June 25th, 2024 - july 6th, 2024.

Explore the colors and wonders of Peru over 12 days. Peru is a land of mysteries, legends and ancient cultures. You’ll experience the … See more

7-Night Alaskan Cruise

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On Board Ovation of the Seas

July 19th, 2024 - july 26th, 2024.

7-Nights, 4 Ports, 2 Sea Days  – Seattle, Washington – Juneau, Alaska – Skagway, Alaska – Scenic Cruising, Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier … See more

7-Night Norwegian Fjords

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On Board Celebrity Silhouette

July 28th, 2024 - august 4th, 2024.

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7-Night Greek Isles Cruise

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August 11th, 2024 - august 18th, 2024.

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10-Night Best of Italy & Croatia

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On Board Celebrity Constellation

August 16th, 2024 - august 26th, 2024.

10-Nights, One Way, 9 Ports, 2 Sea Days – Venice (Ravenna), Italy  – Trieste, Italy – Zadar, Croatia – Dubrovnik, Croatia – Split, … See more

13-Night Hawaii Cruise

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On Board Celebrity Edge

September 20th, 2024 - october 3rd, 2024.

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11-Night Galapagos Islands CME AWAY®

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On Board Celebrity Flora

October 10th, 2024 - october 21st, 2024.

The Galapagos Islands are known both for their spectacular volcanic landscapes as well as penguin spotting: over 95% of the Galapagos Penguins live … See more

12-Night India’s Golden Triangle and The Sacred Ganges CME AWAY® River Cruise

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On Board Uniworld Ganges Voyager II

October 12th, 2024 - october 24th, 2024.

India—profoundly mysterious and gloriously exotic. Complex and beguiling, India is a country unlike any other. Wondrous sights rich in romance and intrigue come … See more

11-Night Splendors of Egypt & the Nile 2024

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On Board Uniworld River Tosca

November 9th, 2024 - november 20th, 2024.

For 12 adventure-filled days, experience Egypt and the Nile’s most wondrous sites in style and luxury.* Wander amongst the towering ruins of the Temple … See more

6-Night Bahamas, Mexico & Grand Cayman Cruise

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December 29th, 2024 - january 4th, 2025.

Fort Lauderdale, FL roundtrip, 4 Ports, 2 Sea Days – Cozumel, Mexico – George Town, Grand Cayman – Bimini, Bahamas

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January 26th, 2025 - february 7th, 2025.

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11-Night Great Barrier Reef Cruise

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March 25th, 2025 - April 5th, 2025

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Cruise Tourism

Prof.Dr.Dr.Alexis Papathanassis

Conferences & Presentations

• Aktuelle Lage und Dynamik der Kreuzfahrttourismusbranche: Institute of Maritime Tourism Update 2024 (in German) Online: http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/cruisetdyn2024d.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2024). Cruise Tourism Horizons 2050:  Learning from ‘Laomedon’s Curse’ and ‘Cassandra’s Fate’. presented in the Special Lecture Series (King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, Thailand).  February 21. Online:  http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/cruisetroy.pdf
• Von ,smart‘ zu ,intelligent‘: Das Nachhaltigkeits-Potenzial von Digitalisierung im Tourismus.  Online (German Version-Slides 10-17):  http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/smartsustain.pdf
• Damokles-Nachhaltigkeitsdreizack’: Welche Perspektiven hat der Kreuzfahrttourismus? Online (German Version): http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/damoclesd.pdf
• ‘Ungeheuer der Meere’:  Warum werden Kreuzfahrtschiffe immer größer und welche Auswirkungen haben sie auf Häfen und die Umwelt?  Online (German Version) : http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/seamonstersd.pdf  
• Papathanassis, A. (2023).  ‘Handtuch-Krieg‘ und die ‘Strand-Krankheit‘ : Institutionelle Korruption und die Tourismusökonomie .  Presented in the ‘Wissen um 11:  Haus der Wissenschaft’ Series (Bremen, Germany). February 11.  Online:  http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/strandhandtuch.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2022).  Are Sustainable Cruises Possible? The ‘Headline Law’ of Cruising.  Presented in the Niedersachsen Camp 2022 (Bremerhaven, Germany). November 29.  Online:  http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/cruiseheadline.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2022). Post-Pandemic Cruise Tourism:  A Re-enactment of Kafka’s ‘Metamorphosis’? Presented in the Cruise Copenhagen Assmbly (Copenhagen, Denmark). October 28. Online:  http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/metamorphosis.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2022).  The ‘$2 Million Shark’ Effect: Re-telling the Cruise Story and Restoring the Sector‘s Image. Presented in the Cuxhavener Kreuzfahrtforum (Cuxhaven, Germany). June 16. Online:  http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/millionshark.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2021). MS Crisis of the Seas:  Cruises, COVID19 and the Future.  presented in the Gdynia Maritime University – Project JOHANNA – Joint staff qualification and small-ship cruising sustainable development in South Baltic Sea. (Gdynia, Poland). October 18th.  Available URL:  http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/MSCrisis.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2021).  Kreuzfahrttourismus & Nachhaltigkeit: „Seilspringen ist kein Seiltanz!“, presented in the TWLogistik (Bremerhaven, Germany).  September 3 rd . Available URL: http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/cruiseseiltanz.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2021).  Cruise Port 2.0 – Das ‘Inside Out Terminal’:  Konzentration im Kreuzfahrtsektor – Bedeutet dies einen strategischen Paradigmenwechsel für die Häfen ? , presented in the 1. Stakeholder-Workshop zur Erarbeitung des Bremischen Hafenkonzeptes 2030 (Bremerhaven, Germany).  October 6 th . Available URL:  http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/insideout.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2019).  The Business Cycle in the Cruise Industry: A Short Cruise across the Blue Ocean, presented in the International Cruise Summit 2019 (Madrid, Spain).  November 28 th . Available URL:  http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/cruisebuscycle.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2019).  (Mis)Understanding Overtourism and the Cruise Business:  The Zen of Cruise Management presented in the Handelsblatt Kreuzfahrtkongress 2019 (Hamburg, Germany).  November 18 th . Available URL:  http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/cruisezen.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2019).  (Mis)Understanding Overtourism and the Cruise Business:  ‘Open Source Tourism’ and the ‘Mozilla Firefox Haircut’, presented in the1st Business Deck Hamburg Cruise Days (Hamburg, Germany). September 13 th .  Available URL: http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/overcruise.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2018).  Cruise Tourism DNA:  Making Sense of Current Developments and Challenges, presented in the 70. Sitzung der Konferenz Tourismus beim Deutschen Städtetag, (Bremerhaven, Germany).  September 19 th . Available URL:   http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/cruiseDNA.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2017).  A ‘Bathtub Model of Over-Tourism:  Exploring Causes, Challenges and Solutions, presented in the 25 th  World Travel Monitor Forum (Pisa, Italy).  November 10 th . Available URL: http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/overtourism.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2017).  Cruise 4.0: A ‘Hands-On’ View on Current Trends and the Furture, presented in the 8 th  Rittal Branchentag Schiff & See (Hamburg, Germany).  May 9 th . Available URL:    http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/cruise40.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2017).  ‘Corruption Spice’: An Exploration of Corruption-related Perceptions of Holiday-Makers and their Impact on Travel Behaviour, presented in the 1 st  Yellow Tourism Conference (Corfu, Greece).  April 28 th . Available URL:   http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/corruptionspice.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2016).  Tourism Development:  Understanding and Effectively Managing Corruption, presented in the Corruption, Democracy and Development Congress, (Constanta, Romania).  December 8 th . Available URL:    http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/tourcorruption.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2016).  The ‘Augeas Stable’ Challenge: Combating Tourism-related Corruption, presented in the Global Economy Under Crisis (GEUC) Conference, (Constanta, Romania).  December 8 th . Available URL:    http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/augeasstable.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2016).  Cruise Market: Vision Today and Future Perspectives, presented in the Agents Association (AGEPOR) IX Congress 2016 (Oporto, PT).  October 9 th . Available URL:    http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/cruisemarketvision.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2016).  ‘High Hopes & High Seas’: The Role and Impact of Cruise Tourism in Destination Development, presented in the International Tourism Studies Association (ITSA) Biennial Conference 2016 (Greenwich, UK).  August 19 th . Available URL:    http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/highhopes.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2016).  ‘The Tourism Minotaur’: Addressing Key Destination Policy and Strategy Challenges, presented in the 6 th  CruiseT TEMPUS Workshop (Constanta, Romania).  June 13 th . Available URL:   http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/tourismminotaur.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2016).  ‘Oysters and The Beach Disease’: A Critical Discussion on Tourism-Induced Economic Growth, presented in the 13 th  Present Issues of Global Economy (PIGE) Conference, (Constanta, Romania).  June 3 rd . Available URL:    http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/tourismoyster.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2015).  Kreuzfahrttourismus:  Ein Blick hinter die Kulissen? Wachstumsdynamik, Verantwortung und Ethik, presented in the Bremerhavener Service Club Symposium (Bremerhaven, Germany).  November 18 th . Available URL:   http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/cruisescenes.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2015).  ‘The Poet and the Warrior’: Crisis Management, Reputation and Image in Tourism, presented in the 5 th  CruiseT TEMPUS Workshop (Kherson, Ukraine).  September 9 th . Available URL:   http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/crisisman.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2015).  F&B vs. Culinary Experience Management:  The Example of the Cruise Sector and Implications for Destination Product Development, presented in the 4th CruiseT TEMPUS Workshop (Odessa, Ukraine).  July 21st. Available URL:    http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/cruisefood.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2015).  ‘The Tourism Knot’ Hypothesis: Tourism Income and Economic Development, presented in the 4 th  CruiseT TEMPUS Workshop (Batumi, Georgia & Odessa, Ukraine).  July 16 th  and 20 th . Available URL:    http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/tourismknot.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2015).  ‘Putting a Smile on the Parrot’s Face:  An Exploration of the All-Inclusive Debate, presented in the Conference for Sustainable Tourism & Development in the European Union, Jean Monnet European Centre of Excellence – National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, (Kos, Greece).  May 2 nd    Available URL:   http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/parrotsmile.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2015).  ‘All at Sea’:  e-Cruising Transformation & Implications, presented in the Conference for Sustainable Tourism & Development in the European Union, Jean Monnet European Centre of Excellence – National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, (Kos, Greece).  May 1 st    Available URL:    http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/allatsea.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2015).  ‘Herding Cats’: Emerging, Guest-Centric Destination Development, presented in the 3 rd  CruiseT TEMPUS Workshop (Varna, Bulgaria).  April 21 st . Available URL:   http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/catsdest.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2015).  The ‘Holiday Cartels’: Concentration in Tourism & Implications for the Destinations, presented in the Workshop for Sustainable Tourism & Development in the European Union, Jean Monnet European Centre of Excellence – National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, (Athens, Greece).  March 26 th .  Available URL:   http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/holidaycartels.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2015).  Grounded Theory ‘Reloaded’: Bridging the Gap between Research Philosophy and Method, presented in the Research Methodology Workshop, Utrecht University (Utrecht, Netherlands).  February 26 th .  Available URL:    http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/gtreloaded.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2014).  Die Kreuzfahrtbranche und Zukunftsperspektiven:  Warum ist Wachstum eine Phase und kein dauerhafter Zustand?, presented in the Bremen Maritime Week, Bremer Touristik-Zentrale (Bremen, Germany).  September  23rd.  Available URL:    http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/cruisephase.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2014).  Cruise Destination Development:   “A Dwarf Challenging Giants” – The Case of Bremerhaven, presented in the Maritime Tourism Summer School, University of the Aegean (Rhodes, Greece).  September  3rd.  Available URL:    http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/cruisebremerhaven.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2014).  ‘Cruise Tourism Mechanics’:  Understanding the industry’s Dynamics & Current Structures, presented in the Maritime Tourism Summer School, University of the Aegean (Rhodes, Greece).  September  1st.  Available URL:    http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/cruisemechanics.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2014).  The ‘Odessa Chandelier’:  Black Sea Cruise Destination Management, presented in the 2nd CruiseT TEMPUS Workshop (Bremerhaven, Germany).  June 17th. Available URL:   http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/BlackseaDMO.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2014).  ‘Freestyle Sirens’:Reviewing a Decade of Cruise Research, presented in the 2nd ICTR Conference (Poznan, Poland).  May 19th. Available URL:    http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/freestylesirens.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2014).  ‘Stranded at Sea’:Exploring Passenger Reactions during Accidents at Sea, presented in the 5th International Cruise Conference (Bremerhaven, Germany).  January 25th. Available URL:  http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/stranded.pdf
• Mantel, L & Papathanassis, A. (2014).  Cruise Passengers Willingness to Pay for Sustainable Cruises: An Empirical Research Using the Theory of Planned Behavior, presented in the 5th International Cruise Conference (Bremerhaven, Germany).  January 25th. Available URL:  http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/greenwtp.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2014).  ‘Kann man aus Silber Gold machen?’:  Kreuzfahrt und der Demografischer Wandel, presented in the Sonderausstellung der Leibniz-Gemeinschaft zum Wissenschaftsjahr 2013 (Bremerhaven, Germany).  January 5th. Available URL:    http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/silbergold.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2013).  The ‘Cruise-Gate’ Analogy:  Rethinking the Value of Port Alliances and Meeting Future Challenges, presented in the fachforum*  Kreuzfahrttourismus in Schleswig-Holstein (Kiel, Germany).  November 28th. Available URL:   http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/cruisegate.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2013).  Research-Based Learning: An Opportunity for Academic ‘Para-olympics’, presented in the GUUGLE Forum (Bremerhaven, Germany).  November 12th. Available URL:   http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/rebl.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2013).  Podiumsdiskussion Elevator Pitch „Ausbildung – Schwerpunkte und Stärken“, discussion panelist in the Handelsblatt Kreuzfahrtkongress 2013 (Hamburg, Germany).  November 5th. Available URL:   http://www.managementforum.com/Veranstaltungen/Kreuzfahrt/index.php
• Papathanassis, A. (2013).  Cruise Executive Panel, moderated during the ITB Berlin Kongress 2012 (Berlin, Germany).  March 6th. Available URL:   http://www.itb-kongress.de/DerITBBerlinKongress/KongressTV/ITBFutureDay.html#fbc2912344
• Papathanassis, A. (2013).  The ‘Cruise Cake-Cherry Dilemma’:  Cruise Development and Tourism Destinations,presented in the TEE Workshop 2013 (Corfu, Greece).  February 19th. Available URL:   http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/cruisecake.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2012).  Managing ‘Cruise Leaks’:  Navigating through a Sea of Information,presented in the Handelsblatt Kreuzfahrtkongress 2011 (Hamburg, Germany).  November 22nd. Available URL:   http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/cruiseleaks.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2012).  Cruise Sector as a Global Tourism Player:  ‘Mass Class’ under the ‘Magnifying Glass’, presented in the ICTR Conference (Peniche, Portugal).  November 7th. Available URL:    http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/cruisemass.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2012).  The ‘Cruise Apple’: Cruise Travel – Which Challenges lie Ahead?, presented in the 20th World Travel Monitor Forum (Pisa, Italy).  October 31st. Available URL:    http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/cruiseapple.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2012).  An Eye on Cruises:  Cruise Market Overview 2012, presented in the Maritime Tourism & Island Development Conference 2012, Aegean University (Chios, Greece). September 13th. Available URL:   http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/cruiseeye.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2012).  The Daedalos Principle of Innovation Management, presented in the DASTA Conference 2012, Ionian University (Corfu, Greece).  July 12th. Available URL:  http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/daedalos.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2012).  Cruise Executive Panel, moderated during the ITB Berlin Kongress 2012 (Berlin, Germany).  March 7th. Available URL:   http://www.itb-kongress.de/DerITBBerlinKongress/KongressTV/KongressTV_195142.html?start=0
• Papathanassis, A. , Matuszewski, I. & Havekost, K.  (2012).‘Short of a Picnic’:  Reconsidering Sandwich Programmes in Cruise Education, presented in the 4th International Cruise Conference, Stenden University (Leeuwarden, Netherlands). May 22nd.  Available URL:   http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/cruiseinterns.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2011).  The Globalisation at Sea:  Cruise Sector Growth and its Externalitiespresented in the Handelsblatt Kreuzfahrtkongress 2011 (Hamburg, Germany).  November 10th. Available URL:    http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/cruiseglobal.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2011).  ‘The Weeping Philosopher’:  How Sustainable is the Global Cruise Market, presented in the 19th World Travel Monitor Forum (Pisa, Italy).  November 3rd. Available URL:    http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/philosopher.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2011).  ‘Income Lighthouses at Sea’: The Potential of Cruise Tourism for German Destinations, presented in the fachforum*  Kreuzfahrttourismus in Schleswig-Holstein (Kiel, Germany).  September 9th. Available URL:    http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/cdlighthouse.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. , Matuszewski, I. & Brejla, P.  (2011).The ‘Cruise Ship Railing Dance’:  Conducting academic research in the cruise domain, presented in the 3rd International Cruise Conference, University of Dubrovnik (Dubrovnik, Croatia). May 17th.  Available URL:  http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/cruisacares.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2011).The ‘Sauna Mafia’ and the ‘Pyjama Raiders’:   Exploring the dynamics of guest to guest interaction on board cruise ships, presented in the 3rd International Cruise Conference, University of Dubrovnik (Dubrovnik, Croatia). May 17th.  Available URL:   http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/cruiseg2g.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2011).  Cruise Destination Management:   The ‘Growth Cruise to Ithaca’, presented in the FVW Workshop  (Rhodes, Greece).  April 30th. Available URL:    http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/cdmithaca.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2011).  Farming Icebergs:  Cruise Destination Marketing in the Northern Atlantic, presented in the Cruise Gateway Opening Conference (Hamburg, Germany).  February 17th. Available URL:  http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/cruisedest.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2010).  Kreuzfahrt: Rendite oder Hype?, presented in the FVW Kongress – Cruise Sales Day (Cologne, Germany).  September 15th. Available URL:   http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/cruisemidas.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2010).Cruise Research or Researcher Cruising?, presented in the 2nd International Cruise Conference, University of Plymouth (Plymouth, UK). February 18th.  Available URL:   http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/CruisePov.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2010).  Podiumsdiskussion: Marktchancen 2010 – Transport und Immobilien, at the Lloyd Jahresauftakt 2010 (Hamburg, Germany). January 29th.   Available URL:  http://www.lloydfonds.de/veranstaltungen.php?event_id=48
• Papathanassis, A. (2008). Cruise Sector Growth & Destination Development:  Development for cruising vs. Development through cruising, presented in the Meeresnutzung im Jahr 2025:  Wirtschaftliche Chancen für Cuxhaven. Industrie- und Handelskammer Stade (Cuxhaven, Germany). November 14th.  Available URL:   http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/IHKCruiseDest.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. & Breitner, M.H. (2008). Booking cruises online:  An issue of trust?, presented in the 1 st  International Cruise Conference, Bremerhaven University of Applied Science (Bremerhaven, Germany). September 27 th .    Available URL:   http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/cruisetrust.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2008). Managing Systems Integration in Tourism:  Exploring the Maintenance & Investment Traps. Presented in the 7th E-Tourism Futures Forum. University of Bournemouth (Bournemouth, UK). April 10th. Available URL:  http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/7eTFSITraps.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2007). Online Trust:  Survival in the E-Tourism Battlefield. Presented in Online Trust: Vertrauen in digitalen Geschaeftsbeziehungen, University of Hanover (Leibnizhaus, Hanover, Germany). April 26th. Available URL: http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/onlinetrust.pdf
• Papathanassis, A. (2007). Strategic Systems Integration.  Presented in the 6th E-Tourism Futures Forum. University of Surrey (Guildford, UK). March 26th.  Available URL:  http://www.papathanassis.com/dlfiles/SystemIntegration.pdf

Gondwana University and Other Exam News

Incredible India International Cruise Conference: Improve Your GK Now!

The two-day Incredible India International Cruise Conference organized by the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in Mumbai, Maharashtra has recently concluded. The event showcased abundant business opportunities in the country’s cruise tourism sector. In this article, we will give you the important details of the event as it is very crucial from an exam point of view.

Table of Contents

Organized By

• The First Incredible India International Cruise Conference 2022 is being organized by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways.
• The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) was a co-organizer of the event.
• The event took place in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Objectives Of The Event

The First Incredible India International Cruise Conference is aimed at the following things:

• Showcasing India as a desired destination for cruise passengers
• Highlighting the regional connectivity
• Promoting the building of new destinations and attractions like lighthouses and 
• Disseminating information about India’s preparedness for developing the cruise tourism sector. 

Highlights of Union Minister for Culture, and Tourism’s Speech

Union Minister for Culture, and Tourism G Kishan Reddy were present on the occasion. He stressed the vast potential of the river cruise industry in the country. His speech at the first Incredible India International Cruise Conference (IIICC) in Mumbai, revolved around inviting domestic and international tourists to ‘Come, Cruise in India.’

An excerpt of the Minister’s speech at the IIICC can be found below.

“The central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made significant efforts to clean and rejuvenate our rivers including the mammoth Namami Gange Project, which can provide a major boost to river-based tourist activities.”

What were the MoUs signed?

Here you can get the list of MoUs signed in the IIICC event. 

We hope that you have made note of the first Incredible India International Cruise Conference as it is a very crucial event. For more such current events coverage, read our articles below.

Incredible India International Cruise Conference FAQs

It was organized by the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Strategies for developing India as a cruise hub, port infrastructure, and the potential of river cruise tourism in India were some of the issues focused on at the conference. 

Eight Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) were also signed. 

Minister spoke about the vast potential of the river cruise industry in India. He invited domestic and international tourists to ‘Come, Cruise in India.’ 

The event aimed at showcasing India as a desired destination for cruise passengers.

By Medeti Prasad

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Cruise demand leaves pandemic in rearview with record passengers, more construction on tap

M IAMI BEACH — The COVID pandemic drove the cruise industry to a standstill, but numbers released Tuesday signal the years of comeback are officially over with more expansion on tap.

More than 31.7 million passengers took cruises worldwide in 2023, said Kelly Craighead, Cruise Line International Association president and CEO, speaking at the annual Seatrade Cruise Global conference at Miami Beach Convention Center.

CLIA is the lobbying group for member cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line, Carnival, Norwegian, MSC and most other major brands.

The pandemic shut down sailing from March 2020 with only a small number of ships coming back online 18 months later in summer 2021. Cruise lines didn’t return to full strength until partially through 2022, so it wasn’t until a full year of sailing in 2023 that the industry could get a real handle on just what the demand had grown to as people returned to vacation travel.

“We are an industry that’s resilient and thriving all around the world, breaking records in ways we might never have imagined,” she said.

The 2023 total is 2 million more than the industry had in 2019. CLIA projects 34.1 million in 2024 growing to 34.6 million in 2025. It’s still a miniscule chunk of the overall travel pie of more than 1.3 billion, but cruise’s share is growing.

She noted that surveys of travelers who would consider a cruise for a vacation are at an all-time high, noting that 82% who had previously cruised said they would cruise again, but more importantly, among those who had never sailed, 71% would consider it.

The youngest generations — Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z — are the biggest drivers.

The fleet for the growing demand continues as well, including the introduction this year of the world’s largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas.

She said CLIA member lines had more than 300 ships sailing globally for the first time in 2023, with 14 new ships that began sailing in 2023 and another eight expected before the end of the year. They have 88 new ships on order through 2028.

Already this year, both Royal Caribbean Group and Carnival Corp. announced major new ship construction deals, and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings added to that this week with its order of eight more vessels across its three brands.

The heads of those groups were on stage to discuss where the industry is headed and enjoy their recent success.

Carnival Corp.’s president and CEO Josh Weinstein put it in a way that gained plaudits from fellow panelists and others at the conference.

“The concept of pent-up demand for cruising is gone,” he said. “We have been cruising for three years, right? It’s over. This is natural demand because we all provide amazing experiences. We delivered happiness to literally 31 million guests last year. And people see it, they feel it.”

A big part of what cruising missed during the pandemic he said was that word-of-mouth promotion that is needed to convince people to try their product.

“We now have 31 million people getting off our ships and going home and telling their friends and family who have never cruised before, ‘You don’t know what you’re missing.’ ‘This is amazing.'”

All of the leaders echoed the industry line that they offer a much better value than land-based vacations, but that the experience gap between the two has now shifted in their favor coming out of the pandemic.

“The appreciation for building memories with your friends and family coming out of COVID is at extraordinarily high levels,” said Jason Liberty, president & CEO at Royal Caribbean Group. “Also wealth transfer, right? Grandparents wanting to see that wealth transfer live, watching their kids and their grandkids experience that is also at an all-time high. … We have the secular trends of people buying less stuff, they want experiences. We’re in the experience business.”

Another bright aspect to the industry has been the spillover effect of all of the new ships since the pandemic, said Harry Sommer, president & CEO at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

“Their new products are so extraordinary, and so much better than what was delivered back in ’15, ’16 and ’17, that it’s driving additional excitement for the entire industry,” Somer said. “When any new ship is delivered, no matter whether it’s part of our portfolio or the other portfolios, demand improves for all of us because it adds excitement to the industry.”

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Officials recovered the bodies of two construction workers who were on Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge when it collapsed early Tuesday morning after a 984-foot-long cargo ship collided into a pillar.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore called the collapse Wednesday " a global crisis ."

"The national economy and the world's economy depends on the Port of Baltimore. The port handles more cars and more farm equipment than any other port in the country," Moore said.

Here's what you should know:

• The victims: The six people who are presumed dead were from Mexico Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, according to Col. Roland L. Butler Jr, the superintendent of Maryland State Police. Two bodies were recovered and have been identified as Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes from Mexico and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera from Guatemala. The two workers were filling potholes on the bridge and were later found trapped in a red pickup truck in about 25 feet of water, Butler said. The FBI is handling notifying the victims' families, Butler said.
• Recovery efforts: Authorities are pausing search efforts for the four other workers who are presumed dead, because additional vehicles are encased in concrete and other debris, making it unsafe for divers, Butler said. Once salvage operations clear the debris, divers will search for more remains, he said.
• The investigation: The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the fatal incident, according to the agency's chair Jennifer Homendy. During a Wednesday news conference, Homendy said there were 21 crew members and two pilots on board the Dali cargo ship when it crashed into the bridge. She also said a senior NTSB hazmat investigator identified 56 containers of hazardous material, and that some containers are in the water. The agency received six hours of voyage data from the ship and the investigation could take 12 to 24 months to complete, Homendy said. She emphasized that NTSB will not analyze information collected or provide conclusions while on scene of the collapse.
• Looking forward: Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said rebuilding the bridge will not be "quick or easy" but that it will get done. He said there are four main focus points ahead: reopening the port, dealing with supply chain issues until its reopening, rebuilding the bridge and dealing with traffic issues until the bridge is rebuilt. Biden  pledged the full support  of the federal government in the response and recovery efforts. His administration has already conveyed a sense of urgency to open up federal funding to remove debris and ultimately rebuild the bridge. Maryland has submitted a request to the Biden administration for emergency relief funds "to assist in our work going forward," Moore said Wednesday.

It's almost impossible to place people on the bow of ship due to the unstable structure, fire official says

 From CNN's Sarah Engel

Baltimore City Fire Chief James Wallace said Wednesday that the cargo ship's bridge structure and containers at the bow remain unstable.

"It's going to be very difficult, if not impossible, and very dangerous, to place people on the bow of that boat right now," Wallace told CNN's Kaitlan Collins.

"Naturally, we're still very cognizant of the fact that there are hazardous materials on board the vessel itself," Wallace said, alluding to the National Transportation Safety Board saying earlier that 56 containers were carrying hazardous materials.

Wallace said his team is relying heavily on aerial recognizance, including drones. "That's the only way we're able to see in," he said.  

He added that the aerial surveillance has "been able to really assure us right now we have no [chemical] reactions on board." 

"It's just utter devastation," NTSB chief says of the bridge collapse site

From CNN's Aditi Sangal

Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, called the site of the Key Bridge collapse "devastating."

"It's pretty devastating, certainly, seeing not just what's going on with the cargo containers, but just looking at what was a bridge span — three bridge spans that is pretty much gone. It's just utter devastation," she said at Wednesday evening's news briefing.

She added that she is thinking of families who lost loved ones and those who are waiting to reunite with their lived ones.

NTSB interviewed the Dali's captain and some other crew members today, agency chief says

The National Transportation Safety Board has interviewed the ship's captain, his mate, the chief engineer and one other engineer today, according to Chair Jennifer Homendy.

The two pilots on board the Dali at the time of collision will be interviewed tomorrow, she added.

Cargo ship's voyage data recorder is basic when compared to an airplane's, NTSB chair says

From CNN's Tori B. Powell

The voyage data recorder on the cargo ship Dali was a "newer model" but is considered basic when compared to that on an airplane, according to National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy.

"But it is very basic compared to say, a flight data recorder, where we would have 1,000 parameters," she said at a news conference on Wednesday.

The NTSB chief investigator Marcel Muise added:

"It's not a ship-wide system recorder, so most of the sensors that are being recorded are from the bridge. So things like GPS, the audio, rudder feedback, rudder commands are recorded on there. But not engineering, the temperature of each cylinder, power distribution sensors."

There were no tug boats with Dali at the time of the collision. That's normal, NTSB chief says

There were no tugs with Dali when the cargo vessel collided with Baltimore's Key Bridge, which is normal protocol, according to National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy.

Remember: At 01:26:39 on Tuesday, Dali's pilot made a general very high frequency (VHF) radio call for tugs in the vicinity to assist, the NTSB investigator Marcel Muise had said.

"The tugs help the vessel leave the dock, leave the port and get into the main ship channel. And then they leave. Once it's on its way, it's a straight shot through the channel. So there are no tugs with the vessel at the time. So they were calling for tugs," she said.

NTSB chair says she saw some containers that were carrying hazardous materials in the water

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said she did see some of the 56 containers that were carrying hazardous materials in the water.

When asked how many

When asked how many containers of hazardous materials were in the water, Homendy said:

"I did see some containers in the water, and some breached significantly on the vessel itself," she said. "I don't have an exact number, but it's something that we can provide in an update."

Homendy said that a preliminary report should be out in two to four weeks.

This post has been updated with more quotes from Homendy.

Bridge did not have any redundancy, unlike the preferred method for building bridges today, NTSB chair says

Baltimore's Key Bridge did not have any redundancy, which is included in the preferred method of building bridges in the present day, according to National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy.

"The bridge is a fracture critical," she explained. "What that means is if a member fails that would likely cause a portion of, or the entire bridge, to collapse, there's no redundancy. The preferred method for building bridges today is that there is redundancy built in, whether that's transmitting loads to another member or some sort of structural redundancy. This bridge did not have redundancy," Homendy said.

There are 17,468 fracture critical bridges in the United States out of 615,000 bridges total, she said, citing the Federal Highway Administration.

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