On 17 November, the member ports of Cruises Atlantic Islands held their 2nd General Assembly in Madrid, as a pre-event to the International Cruise Summit.
Cruises Atlantic Islands (CAI) was created in 1994 as a joint initiative between the ports of Madeira and the Canary Islands. Its initial aim was to establish a cruise corridor in the Atlantic that would facilitate the arrival of cruise lines to the Macaronesian islands, leveraging their tourism and geographical potential. This strategic alliance made it possible to combine promotional efforts to position the islands as an attractive stopover on transoceanic itineraries.
In 2006, the association expanded with the inclusion of Cape Verde, which strengthened the diversity of destinations within CAI and increased its appeal to cruise lines. Later, in 2023, the Azores also joined, further broadening the reach of the Atlantic corridor. This gradual integration has allowed CAI to represent a consolidated and competitive market in the cruise industry today.
Thanks to ongoing joint promotional efforts among the member ports —with particular emphasis on highlighting their complementary identities— CAI has achieved significant milestones. In 2024, it surpassed four million passengers for the first time, an accomplishment that reflects both the success of its strategy and the growth of cruise tourism in Macaronesia. The association has become a solid platform for uniting the vision of multiple Atlantic ports under a shared, distinctive project.
The assembly addressed strategic matters aimed at strengthening cooperation among ports and consolidating Macaronesia as a benchmark region for the cruise industry.
The main topics discussed were:
• Approval of the 2026 action plan, focused on joint promotion, sustainability, strengthening relations with cruise lines, and the continuous improvement of the port-of-call experience across all member ports.
• Appointment of the new board of directors, as follows:
o President: Beatriz Calzada Ojeda (Port Authority of Las Palmas)
o Vice President: Irineu Camacho (Portos de Cabo Verde)
o Secretary: Pedro López de Vergara (Port Authority of Tenerife)
o Treasurer: Sancha Costa Santos (Portos dos Açores)
o Board Member: Paula Cabaço da Silva (Portos da Madeira)
The new board reaffirms its commitment to expanding collaborative work among the ports of Macaronesia and strengthening the region’s presence in international cruise industry forums.
CAI extends its gratitude to all its members for their active participation and renews its commitment to a shared strategy that promotes the competitiveness, sustainability, and global visibility of the region.
