A record number of cruise industry executives gathered in Miami Beach this week as the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association hosted its annual Shining Stars FCCA Foundation Dinner during Seatrade Cruise Global.
Held at Papi Steak Miami, the invitation-only event brought together 16 presidents, CEOs and senior executives representing more than 90% of the world’s cruise capacity, highlighting the gathering’s growing significance as both a philanthropic initiative and a strategic networking platform for the global cruise sector.
While the dinner supports community programs across the Caribbean and Latin America, the presence of such a concentration of industry leadership also reflects the central role played by the FCCA in facilitating dialogue between cruise companies and destinations.
Record participation from global cruise leaders
The 2026 edition marked a record turnout of top cruise executives, including senior leaders from major global operators such as Carnival Corporation & plc, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. and MSC Cruises.
Cruise Presidents and CEOs who attended included:
- Gus Antorcha, President, Princess Cruises
- Micky Arison, Chairman, Carnival Corporation & plc
- Beth Bodensteiner, President, Holland America Line
- John Chidsey, President & CEO, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
- Wesley D’Silva, President, Regent Seven Seas Cruises
- Christine Duffy, President, Carnival Cruise Line
- Felix Eichhorn, President, AIDA Cruises
- Chris Ivy, CEO, Margaritaville at Sea
- Marc Kazlauskas, President, Norwegian Cruise Line
- John Lovell, Board Member and Senior Advisor, Virgin Voyages
- Paul Ludlow, President, Carnival UK & P&O Cruises
- Jason Montague, Chief Luxury Officer, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings
- Ruben Rodriguez, CEO, MSC Group Cruise Division North America
- Richard Sasso, Chairman, MSC Cruises USA
- Mark Tamis, President, Seabourn
- Josh Weinstein, President and CEO, Carnival Corporation & plc
The gathering also included executives from luxury and premium cruise brands, reinforcing the presence of decision-makers across multiple segments of the cruise market.
For Michele Paige, the record participation reflects the industry’s continued engagement with both the foundation’s philanthropic initiatives and the broader mission of strengthening partnerships with destinations.
“This clearly demonstrates their commitment not only to the Foundation’s mission and its impact on hundreds of thousands of lives, but also to FCCA’s initiatives that create specialized forums connecting cruise executives with destinations and stakeholders for the betterment of all.” Michele Paige said during the event.
FCCA as a bridge between cruise lines and destinations
Founded in 1972, the FCCA has long positioned itself as a key intermediary between cruise operators and governments, tourism boards and port authorities across the Caribbean and Latin America.
Through conferences, forums and industry meetings, the organization facilitates discussions around:
- cruise tourism development
- port infrastructure and capacity
- economic benefits for destinations
- collaboration between cruise lines and local stakeholders
Events such as the Shining Stars Dinner illustrate how the association combines industry networking with regional development initiatives, bringing together both corporate leaders and representatives of cruise destinations.
Carnival Corporation chairman Micky Arison emphasized the importance of these gatherings, noting that “FCCA has a unique ability to make business and networking both productive and enjoyable. This event stands out as one that should not be missed — especially considering the meaningful cause it supports.”
Ports, destinations and cruise ecosystem stakeholders present
Beyond cruise companies, the evening drew participation from a broad network of cruise ecosystem partners, including ports, tourism authorities and service providers.
Sponsors of the event included several prominent cruise destinations and port operators such as:
- The Bahamas
- PortMiami
- Port Canaveral
- Port Everglades
- Port St. Maarten Group
The presence of these stakeholders underscores the interconnected nature of the cruise industry, where destinations, infrastructure providers and cruise operators collaborate closely to support tourism flows across the region.
Retail and tourism industry partner Diamonds International served as the featured sponsor of the event and announced an additional three-year commitment to the FCCA Foundation, supporting community programs across cruise destinations.
Community programs across Caribbean and Latin America
All proceeds from the dinner support the initiatives of the FCCA Foundation, which focuses on education, youth development and community support in cruise destinations throughout the Caribbean and Latin America.
Among the programs funded are:
- the Holiday Gift Project
- the Owen Arthur Scholarship Fund
- regional student essay and poster competitions
According to the organization, these initiatives have already impacted hundreds of thousands of lives across the region.
This year, the Owen Arthur Scholarship Fund named St. Maarten as its beneficiary destination, reinforcing the foundation’s focus on supporting educational opportunities in cruise-dependent economies.
A strategic gathering alongside Seatrade Cruise Global
Taking place during Seatrade Cruise Global — widely regarded as the largest annual conference of the cruise industry — the FCCA Foundation Dinner has evolved into one of the most prominent networking events surrounding the conference.
With senior leadership representing the majority of global cruise capacity in attendance, the gathering highlights both the continued consolidation of the cruise industry and the importance of maintaining strong partnerships with destinations across the Caribbean and Latin America.
For the FCCA, the event serves as a reminder that the future of cruise tourism depends not only on ships and itineraries, but also on sustained collaboration between cruise operators and the communities that host them.
