FCCA Cruise Conference concludes in Santo Domingo

The 28th annual Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Cruise Conference, held in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic last week, was an overwhelming success.

Senior executives from FCCA member cruise lines kept a busy schedule of meetings with tourism representatives from across the region’s public and private sectors, all in an effort to improve cruise tourism business and develop opportunities for growth.

Delegates thrashed out numerous issues throughout the week – from supply chain issues to employment, cruise conversion and curating new tours and attractions across the length and breadth of the Caribbean.

The Dominican Republic rose to the occasion as conference host and President Luis Abinader underscored his nation’s commitment to the cruise industry during his welcome address.

FCCA CEO Michele Paige described the current climate as a “beautiful time” in the relationship between cruise industry stakeholders. “We are listening, we’re responding, and we want to make things work,” she said, explaining that win-win solutions between the lines and destinations are key.

Paige asserted that “we are going to make it happen” for those destinations that want the cruise lines to purchase needed items from their countries.

“The commitment is there. We have the mechanisms in place, and the cruise industry is even willing to spend more money because … we want the destinations to thrive. We want them to be phenomenal places for us to bring our ships and passengers,” she added.