Celebrity Cruises, which has brought countless guests to the Caribbean since its founding more than 30 years ago, is celebrating a first in the cruise industry. Greek brothers Dimitrios and Tasos Kafetzis have been named co-captains of Celebrity Ascent , the company’s fourth ship in its industry-transforming Edge Series. “Captain Dimitrios and…

Barbados’ newly installed Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill has hit the ground running. After participating in World Travel Market 2022 in London last week, Gooding-Edghill engaged with cruise industry partners as he and other Barbados stakeholders met with representatives from Royal Caribbean Group and the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) in Miami and had much to share about the island’s plans and…

Senior cruise executives from FCCA Member Lines have been busy today meeting with tourism representatives from across the region’s public and private sectors, in an effort to improve cruise tourism business and develop opportunities for growth across the region. Michele Paige, CEO of the FCCA, said the conference represented a “new beginning” after a difficult pandemic,…

As more Caribbean nationals turn to the region’s tourism industry for careers of their first choice, a 50-year travel industry veteran believes they are on the right path. In a recent interview in the Dominican Republic capital of Santo Domingo, Rick Sasso, Chairman of MSC Cruises USA, opined that cruise tourism offers myriad opportunities for young…

The chief executive of the world’s largest cruise line company is hopeful for relatively smooth sailing into the future as the company rebounds from the debilitating impact of the pandemic.   Speaking at this week’s 28th annual Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) conference, Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, reported…

FCCA President Adam Ceserano (left) and Carnival Corporation President Josh Weinstein speak during this week’s webinar. Josh Weinstein, the new President, CEO and Chief Climate Officer of Carnival Corporation & plc, is on a mission to return the cruise company to profitability following the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. During a webinar this week,…

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) took delivery of its newest ship, Norwegian Prima, in Marghera, Venice at the renowned Fincantieri shipyard last week. The highly anticipated milestone marks the arrival of the first ship in NCL’s Prima Class that will see six new ships delivered through 2027. At 965 feet/294 meters long, 142,500 gross tons, and with capacity…