Seatrade Cruise Global is THE annual conference of the cruise industry. It is three packed days of panel discussions, seminars, presentations, press conferences (where exciting news and updates are broken), networking, and, to be fully transparent, some great parties.
One of the highlights for many is the State of the Global Cruise Industry event, where the heads of all of the major cruise companies (Royal Caribbean – Jason Liberty, MSC – Pierfrancesco Vago, Norwegian – John Chidsey, and Carnival – Josh Weinstein) take the stage to discuss the important topics facing the industry…and they usually do not simply agree with each other. This year should be especially interesting with the current issues in the Middle East, the growing international economic issues, the stockholder revolt, and the executive shakeup at NCLH (the owner of Regent Seven Seas, Oceania, and Norwegian) and its new CEO making his first real public appearance.
I have also been invited to dinner with Explora Journeys on the first night and a private visit to its new Miami office on the third day. That is, of course, in advance of my attending the Shakedown Cruise and Naming Ceremony of Explora III sailing from Civitavecchia to Barcelona July 29-August 2, 2026: Explora Journeys’ Explora III: She’s Almost Ready for Her Debut – Goldring Travel Will Be There!
Some of the sessions I am most interested in include:
- Expedition Leaders Debate the Next Era of Adventure Travel – With there being an excess of ships in Antarctica, I want to see what the visions are; noting I will be hosting a group on Aurora Expeditions in October 2026 in Indonesia (including Borneo and more): Goldring Travel’s 2026 Culinary & Cultural Journey: Borneo & Indonesia on Aurora Expeditions
- Luxury Cruises: Iconic Hotel Brands at Sea
- AI Bubble: Boom or Bust?
- Luxury in an Uncertain World
- Luxury Cruising CEO Panel
- River Cruising CEO Panel
- And more.
I will be meeting with Century Cruises, with whom I also have a group sailing: Goldring Travel’s Culinary & Cultural Journey: 19-Days of Immersive China River Cruise & Land Experiences (October 4, 2027)
I will also be attending the Press Conferences of both Explora Journeys and Century Cruises, as well as:
- Atlas Ocean Voyages – It has adopted a new marketing strategy, renaming all of its accommodations “suites”.
- Scenic and Emerald Yachts- A favorite of mine
- AmaWaterways – With its new owners making some significant changes
- Riverside Luxury River Cruises – A favorite of mine.
In my “spare time,” I will, of course, be speaking directly with a number of cruise line executives from Silversea to who knows (unfortunately, probably not Seabourn…so silly), and will also find time to walk the Exhibition Floor where there will be 600+ exhibitors ranging from interior design, to technology, to shipbuilding, to entertainment, to ports.
Oh, yes, and then there are the networking events (a/k/a parties) with the biggest and best being the Porthole Party put on by Bill Panoff. Oh, while it is “THE” party, you gotta know someone to be invited and receive a secret QR code. Thankfully, I do: My longtime friend, Bill Panoff! Honestly, it is a fun way to catch up with so many people that you just can’t otherwise find during the conference. There will, of course, be a number of other parties, cocktail events, and social gatherings. And, as we all know, this is where the real business is done…and it is, thus, my job to attend them!
I am fortunate to be able to attend Seatrade Cruise Global as Media because it is not for travel agents (though the last day does allow some to visit the exhibition floor and attend a few specific sessions). As Media, I have access to pretty much everything the conference has to offer and take full advantage of it.
This annual experience is invaluable not only to me but also to Goldring Travel’s clients. With inside access and inside knowledge coupled with personal relationships with cruise line executives, Seatrade Cruise Global is a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. Do you wonder why I love my job?!
