MedCruise, the Mediterranean Cruise Ports Association, celebrates its 28th birthday with 3 days of panels, presentations and events organized from June 11 to 14, whose central theme is inclusion.
MedCruise celebrates its 28th birthday by setting a record for participation in the history of MedCruise General Assemblies, with 26 cruise line executives from 23 different cruise companies and 15 invited national and international media outlets attending in Tarragona from June 11-14.
The opening of the 64th MedCruise General Assembly took place at the H10 Imperial Tarraco Hotel, the event's venue, with the presence of the President of the Port Authority, Mr. Saul Garrets, the Mayor of Tarragona, Mr. Ruben Viñuales, the President of MedCruise, Ms. Figen Ayan, the main local authorities and all registered participants.
The launch coincides with the inauguration of the new cruise terminal at the Port of Tarragona, demonstrating the city's commitment to excellence and the development of the cruise industry. The Port of Tarragona has grown from 13 cruise ship calls in 2013 to 57 calls and 110,000 passengers in 2023.
MedCruise President Figen Ayan expressed her enthusiasm for the event, stating, “ Our venues for the welcome reception, gala, and farewell dinners are unique. With such high participation from cruise lines and media representatives, I can only imagine how vibrant our B2B meetings will be! I am a great lover of archaeology and history, and Tarragona is simply the best destination to discover ancient sites and feel like you've stepped back in time .”
“Therefore, over the next three days, I invite you all to enjoy the unique locations, the delicious cuisine of Tarragona and the Costa Daurada, the enriching sessions, and the B2B opportunities. Above all, I encourage you to contribute to the discussions and wholeheartedly embrace all the networking opportunities to forge lasting friendships by the end of the week. All of this will be enhanced by the warm hospitality that MedCruise and the management of Tarragona, as the host port, are offering everyone during this 64th MedCruise General Assembly“.
The theme of the 64th MedCruise General Assembly is “inclusion,” and the panels, presentations, and events capture its meaning. The panel “Women’s Power on the Water” is a prime example, exploring the tools and platforms needed to encourage and enable young women to enter the maritime sector.
It will be moderated by Anne-Marie Spinosi, Director of the Board of MedCruise and Director of Cruises at Corsica Ports, and the speakers will include Captain Kate McCue of Celebrity Cruises, Marie-Caroline Laurent, Managing Director of CLIA Europe, and Figen Ayan, President of MedCruise and Director of the Port of Galataport Istanbul.
Also demonstrating a commitment to inclusion is the presentation on “Queer Destinations” by Edgar Weggelaar, CEO and partner of Queer Destinations, and introduced by Cristina López, Deputy Director of Cruises News Media Group, and Nicky Guerrero, Director of the International Cruise Summit. This presentation will address the needs of the LGBTQ+ community in terms of experiences and services at ports and destinations.
Other interesting and insightful panels will include: “Expeditions in the Mediterranean: Is it Possible?”; “How We Create Harmonious and Holistic Services in Our Ports and Destinations”; and “Decoding the Charm: Strategies for Integrating Mid-Sized Ports into Cruise Itineraries.” Also highly valuable will be the presentation on the new EU immigration regulations by Frontex.
Other program highlights include a Human Tower Workshop, which represents a cultural symbol of the city of Tarragona; a gala dinner in the vaults of the Roman Circus, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO; a wide variety of Fam Trips, Networking Events, B2B Meetings, and much more.
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