On November 17, the member ports of Cruises Atlantic Islands held their 2nd General Assembly in Madrid, as a pre-event to the International Cruise Summit.
Cruise Atlantic Islands (CAI) was founded in 1994 as a joint initiative of the ports of Madeira and the Canary Islands. Its initial objective was to create 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 allowed for combined promotional efforts to position the islands as an attractive stop on transoceanic itineraries.
In 2006, the association expanded with the addition of Cape Verde, reinforcing the diversity of destinations within CAI and increasing its appeal to cruise lines. Later, in 2023, the Azores also joined, further expanding the reach of the Atlantic corridor. This progressive integration has allowed CAI to become a consolidated and competitive market within the cruise industry.
Thanks to ongoing joint promotional efforts among its member ports—and a particular focus on highlighting their complementary identities—CAI has achieved significant milestones. In 2024, it surpassed four million passengers, an achievement 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 common yet distinct project.
The assembly addressed strategic issues aimed at strengthening cooperation between ports and consolidating Macaronesia as a benchmark region for the cruise industry.
The main topics covered were:
- Approval of the 2026 action plan, focused on joint promotion, sustainability, strengthening relationships with cruise companies, and continuous improvement of the port call experience in all member ports.
- Appointment of the new board of directors, which is as follows:
- President: Beatriz Calzada Ojeda (AP Las Palmas)
- Vice President: Irineu Camacho (Portos de Cape Verde)
- Secretary: Pedro López de Vergara (AP Tenerife)
- Treasurer: Sancha Costa Santos (Portos dos Açores)
- Board member: Paula Cabaço da Silva (Portos da Madeira)
The new board reaffirms its commitment to expanding collaborative work between 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 region's competitiveness, sustainability, and global visibility.
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