The cruise industry is moving full steam ahead and is set to close the year with 34.7 million global passengers, marking a 17% growth over 2019 figures. A testament to this growth is the order of 27 new ships to be built in 2024.

The strict emissions regulations implemented in 2020 have led all ships to cut their emissions by 85%. Although recent studies confirm that the impact on air quality in cities visited by cruises is minimal, cruise lines are waiting for ports to invest in shore power supplies so that ships can connect and turn off engines, aiding their goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Leading international cruise industry professionals will meet in Madrid on 12-13 November to discuss these and other issues at the fourteenth edition of the International Cruise Summit, the prestigious annual conference held at the Hotel Meliá Castilla.

Over two days, several round tables and presentations will explore and debate the latest trends and challenges facing the sector, including new electronic information requirements for entering European borders, port investment priorities, and crisis management. Several new cruise lines will be introduced, including the legendary Orient Express Silenseas, the first Arab cruise line Aroya Cruises, and Spanish brand Alma Cruceros, which will begin operations next year.

Additional topics will cover the impact of artificial intelligence in the sector, chartering of cruise ships, and entrepreneurship in the industry, along with the increasing trend for some cruises to stay overnight in port. Health topics will also be addressed, including dialysis treatments on board, which allow hundreds of passengers with renal insufficiency to cruise.

Top Executives, international cruise line representatives, port authorities, travel agents, companies, and industry experts will attend one of the world’s most important cruise conferences. The event will feature prominent speakers from the executive leadership of cruise companies, including Andrea Kruse, CEO of VIVA Cruises; Dr. Jorg Rudolph, President of Aroya Cruises; Eithne Williamson, Vice President for the UK and Europe at Princess Cruises; Leonardo Massa, Vice President for Southern Europe of MSC Group’s Cruise Division; Birgit Vadlau, Vice President of Hotel Operations at Silversea Cruises; Giles Hawke, Vice President & Managing Director EMEA at Celebrity Cruises; as well as Kelly Craighead, President and CEO of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), Simone Maraschi, President of Cruise Europe, and Theodora Riga, President of MedCruise; among others.