Global cruise industry gathers for Cruise Shipping Miami 2015

At noon Monday, UBM Connect’s Christopher Dauer, brand director Cruise Shipping, said, ‘Registrations are the highest they have ever been on the opening day of the event.’

The annual three–day exhibition and four-day conference is expected to draw around 11,000 attendees.

The 2015 trade show features exhibiting companies from over 125 countries and more than 125 new exhibitors, including several from the information and technology sector and retail.

The World Cruise Tourism Summit, a series of roundtable discussions led by industry experts kicks off the event. Cruise Lines International Association is hosting a VIP cocktail reception this evening at the Convention Centre.

The conference officially opens Tuesday, with the State of the Global Cruise Industry plenary session featuring Arnold Donald, president and ceo of Carnival Corp. & plc; Richard Fain, chairman and ceo of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.; Frank J. Del Rio, president and ceo of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.; and Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises.

Preceding the panel discussion, CLIA chairman Adam Goldstein will provide a statistical overview of the cruise industry. Goldstein is president and coo of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

The exhibition, which covers all four halls of the Miami Beach Convention Center, officially opens Tuesday morning and closes Thursday afternoon.

Represented in the trade show are the world’s largest shipbuilders, 400 cruise destinations, information technology providers, ship equipment suppliers and entertainment companies.

New this year is an interactive Food & Beverage Pavilion focusing on the latest in shipboard culinary trends, products and equipment. Other industry sectors include ship design and refurbishment, ship services and hotel operations.

Watch this space for regular updates on what is happening in and around the show.