FCCA conference spotlights Caribbean and Latin American destinations as cruise demand rises

Cruise executives, ports and tourism leaders met in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to discuss how Caribbean and Latin American destinations can capture more value as global cruise demand grows. The conference focused on stronger visitor experiences, homeporting, technology and local business opportunities.

Why it matters: - Global cruise passenger numbers are projected to rise from about 37 million in 2025 to 46 million by 2031. - Caribbean and Latin American destinations are positioned to benefit by converting more cruise traffic into spending, jobs and local business growth. - The conference centered on how destinations can capture more of that upside through better partnerships, infrastructure and visitor experiences.

What happened: - The 32nd annual Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association Cruise Conference & Trade Show took place Oct. 12-16 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. - Close to 700 cruise executives, government officials, port operators, tour providers and other stakeholders attended. - Adam Ceserano, president of FCCA, said destinations are central to the cruise experience and that cruise lines and destinations create more value when they work together. - The conference included a President & CEO Leadership Panel with executives from Carnival Cruise Line, Margaritaville at Sea, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Virgin Voyages. - Puerto Rico’s music, cuisine and cultural heritage were featured throughout the event, including the opening ceremony and receptions.

The details: - Panel discussions examined deployment priorities, changing passenger expectations and destination partnerships that can support stronger itineraries. - Speakers in “Building Your Port into an Unforgettable Experience” said the visitor experience starts before passengers reach a beach, restaurant or attraction. - Efficient terminals, welcoming staff and access to local culture were identified as key parts of the arrival experience. - Speakers pointed to language lessons and customer service training as ways to improve the welcome ashore. - Greater participation by local artisans, restaurants and cultural performers was highlighted as a way to enrich the guest experience and create more business for residents. - Homeporting was presented as a way to broaden tourism’s economic impact for hotels, transportation providers, provisioning companies and other businesses. - The homeporting discussion stressed coordination among ports, airports, cruise lines and public authorities. - Efficient passenger handling and baggage handling were also flagged as important operational needs. - Technology and innovation sessions focused on immersive attractions, digital storytelling and AI-powered visitor guidance. - The conference also examined luxury cruise tourism and how local experiences, personalized service and curated shore excursions can serve high-end guests on ships of all sizes. - Oxford Economics presented on cruise tourism’s economic contribution through visitor spending, employment and local business development. - Michele Paige, CEO of FCCA, said the conference reflected the strength of FCCA’s partnerships and the shared commitment to growing cruise tourism in ways that benefit destinations and their people. - Paige also thanked Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer González Colón and the Puerto Rico Tourism Company for hosting the event.

Between the lines: - The conference framed destinations as more than a stop on the itinerary. The message was that ports and communities can shape the cruise product itself. - The emphasis on local culture, training and supply chains suggests the next phase of cruise growth is about improving quality and capturing more spend locally, not just increasing ship calls. - Homeporting stood out as a particularly direct economic lever because it can spread benefits beyond the port into hotels, transport and provisioning.

What's next: - Cruise lines are expected to keep expanding fleets and developing new itineraries. - Caribbean and Latin American destinations can use stronger local supply chains and richer visitor experiences to turn that growth into broader economic gains. - FCCA said those efforts can support more business for local operators and more sustained benefits for communities across the region. - FCCA was created in 1972 and represents the shared interests of the cruise industry and destinations’ private and public sectors. - More information is available at F-CCA.com and on @FCCAupdates on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.