MedCruise, the Mediterranean Cruise Ports Association, was present at Seatrade Cruise Global 2026, held in Miami from April 13-16. The event once again brought together thousands of industry professionals, including cruise lines, port authorities, destinations, and service providers from around the world, reaffirming its position as a key event on the international cruise industry calendar.
Located at booth #801, MedCruise acted as a central hub for interaction and collaboration throughout the week, hosting a series of well-attended presentations showcasing key initiatives and strategic priorities.
On Tuesday, April 14, the Cruises & Port Cities working group was presented by Laura Cimaglia, Vice President of MedCruise and responsible for cruise community engagement, as well as Director of General and International Affairs for the Port of Taranto, along with Noemi Frascella, representing the same port, José Sánchez, Director of Agenda 2030 at AIVP, and Jon Olav Stedje, Head of Sustainability and Community Engagement at MSC Cruises . The presentation shared the working group's progress and details of its first in-person meeting in Taranto. Following this, the Trends in the MED session took place , led by Theodora Riga, President of MedCruise and of the Corfu Port Authority, who offered a global overview of the cruise industry, regional developments, and the outlook for the Mediterranean.
On Wednesday, April 15, the partnership presentation brought together representatives from MedCruise, Cruise Europe, Cruise Norway, Cruise Baltic, and Cruise Britain, focusing on the results of the joint survey launched on March 26, 2025, on the impact of cruise tourism on destinations. The presentation also highlighted interregional collaboration to address common challenges and opportunities. The Magna Graecia Coast to Coast showcased a joint initiative promoted by the ports of Agropoli, Reggio Calabria, and Taranto. The day concluded with a presentation of the Blue Communityby Luz Marina Espiau Moreno, Head of Commercial and Business Development at the Tenerife Port Authority and a member of the MedCruise board for digitalization and innovation. She outlined the progress of this program, developed in conjunction with SEIDOR, which aims to promote digitalization and knowledge sharing among members.
Beyond their own stand, MedCruise members actively participated in the event's overall program through presentations in other areas. At the Ports of Spain stand, they presented the Seville Port cruise terminal project and a talk on the province of Valencia, while State Ports hosted a presentation on the evolution of cruise tourism in Almería.
MedCruise and its members also played a prominent role in the Seatrade conference program. On Monday, April 13, Virginia Quintairos participated in " Reimagining Shore Excursions: Innovation, Scale & the Next Guest Experience." Laura Cimaglia spoke on " Connecting Local Culture with Cruise: What Makes a Destination Distinct," while Mark Robinson participated in " Welcome Ashore: Supporting the Local Voices at the Heart of the Cruise Industry."
On Tuesday, April 14, Joško Šupe and Ioannis Bras participated in Fam Trips that Convert: From Site Visit to Deployment, and Valeria Mangiarotti spoke at The Future of Sustainable Cruising: Priorities, Pressures, Progress.
The program continued on Wednesday, April 15, with Virginia Quintairos speaking on Women Leading Businesses in the Cruise Sector. Luz Marina Espiau Moreno addressed Supply Chain Tech in Cruising. Dario Barbaric participated in Faster and Better! – Immense Improvements in Security and Passenger Experience Through Advanced Technology and Design. Ramón Hurtado participated in How Cruise IT Really Started: A Look Back to the 1990s. Cristina De Gregori and Ioannis Bras spoke on Accessible by Design: Aligning the Cruise Journey from Terminal to Shore. Theodora Riga concluded the association's participation in the session European Port & Destination Associations: Collaboration.
Seatrade Cruise Global 2026 once again demonstrated the importance of collaboration, innovation, and sustainability in shaping the future of the cruise industry. Through its active participation, MedCruise reaffirmed its commitment to supporting its members, fostering strategic alliances, and strengthening the Mediterranean's position as a leading, forward-thinking cruise destination.
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