By
Rebecca Gibson |
Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Croiseres de France and Pullmantur have all become members of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), bringing the total number of cruise line members to 19.
Becoming a member of the FCCA will enable the member lines to network with other cruise lines, ports, destinations and industry associations in the Caribbean and Latin America.
“The increase in member lines is significant for the growth of the FCCA and the Caribbean and Latin American regions,” said Michele Paige, president of the FCCA. “It represents not just the cruise lines’ commitment to the FCCA, but also their future outlook for this crucial market.”
Data from the Cruise Lines International Association indicated that the Caribbean remained the dominant cruise region in 2014, accounting for more than 37% of global deployment, an increase over its leading 34% share in 2013.
Recent cruise line infrastructure investments, such as Norwegian Cruise Line’s Harvest Caye in Belize, Carnival Cruise Line’s Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic and Mahogany Bay in Roatan, will also provide a foundation for further growth in the region.
“The Caribbean and Latin America markets have proven their worth to the industry, but we need to continually build on that success,” said Micky Arison, chairman of Carnival Corporation & plc, who has also been appointed as chairman of the FCCA. “Just as our ships and brands innovate, destinations must constantly refresh products to attract new and repeat passengers and compete with global markets. Working with the FCCA is one of the best ways for destinations to stay ahead of the curve.”