Seatrade Cruise Global 2023

The Seatrade 2023 retook place this year, focusing on recovery, collaborations, and new opportunities. The Aruba Tourism Authority, together with Aruba Ports Authority, was present representing the destination and made sure to strengthen the relationships as well looking for new opportunities.

This year the Seatrade started with a speed dating session where you can re-connect with cruise partners. Connecting with cruise partners is generally done during the FCCA Conference in the second half of the year; however, Seatrade saw an early interest this year for destinations to connect. A.T.A. and A.P.A. met with existing cruise partners and new cruise lines that showed their interest in the brand Aruba. The delegation of Aruba met with American Queen Voyages, Sea Dream Yacht Club, Holland America Line, Oceania/NCL/Regent, Ritz Carlton, Fred Olson Cruise Lines, Virgin Cruises, and Princess Cruises.

For the cruise industry, there are various opportunities; to encourage longer duration, which gives the passengers more time on the island, even maybe to over-night, encourages more visitors during summertime, and introduce more luxury/boutique style cruises; this all with upgrading the destination as a product in mind.

According to Ms. Ronella Croes, CEO of A.T.A., There are a lot of opportunities to strengthen our cruise industry through our international associates like FCCA (Cruise Organization) and individual cruise lines, but mostly with our local stakeholders like the Minister of Tourism, A.P.A., Tour operators, Taxi, Police Force, Public Transportation and all other companies in the industry.