Bud Darr | CLIA

👏 A big congratulations to Class 4B from @virgen.del.mar School, winners of the first-ever edition of All Aboard! in Santa Cruz de Tenerife! 🛳 All Aboard! is an international educational initiative led by CLIA that introduces students to the vast world of work opportunities onboard a cruise ship, spanning more than 400 professions in total. This year, more than 250 schoolchildren from across the city took part, showcasing their creativity and teamwork through collaborative collages made from recycled materials, bringing together both innovation and environmental awareness. The initiative was made possible with the support of the Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife @tenerifeports , the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council, and MSC Cruises. 💬 @CLIAGlobalCEO Bud Darr congratulated the winners, noting that through this engaging program, students "learned about the people skills, teamwork, creativity, and care that make Cruise possible every single day." ⏩️ Programs like this are exactly how we inspire the next generation, and this class proved they are more than up to the challenge. 🛳️ #WeARECruise

🏆 Last night at the CLIA Cruise360 conference in Fort Lauderdale, we proudly celebrated the induction of the 2026 CLIA Hall of Fame Cruise Industry Award class. The ceremony, hosted by Charles Sylvia, ECC, CLIA Vice President of Industry & Trade Relations, recognized individuals and organizations whose contributions have significantly advanced the cruise industry. 💬 "The 2026 Hall of Fame honorees have helped build the modern cruise industry and strengthen the travel advisor community at the heart of its success." - @cliaglobalceo Bud Darr 👏 CLIA congratulates the CLIA Hall of Fame Cruise Industry Award Inductee Class of 2026: ⭐ Lifetime Achievement Award | Dondra Ritzenthaler, ECC - Chief Executive Officer, Azamara Cruises ⭐ Lifetime Achievement Award | Rick Mazza, President and CEO, Travelsavers/Nest ⭐ Travel Agency of the Year | Nexion Travel Group ⭐ Elite Cruise Counselor of the Year | Wendy Franz, ECC, Trevello Travel Group 🛳 #WeARECruise

🌴Another productive day in Fort Lauderdale! From General Session II to a series of dynamic workshops and the opening of the Cruise360 trade show floor, the agenda offered meaningful opportunities for travel advisors, partners, and cruise lines to connect, learn, and collaborate. ➡️ @cliaglobalceo Bud Darr spent considerable time on the trade show floor, engaging with attendees through thoughtful discussions and some fun photo opportunities along the way. 🏅The day will conclude with the highly anticipated CLIA Hall of Fame Cruise Industry Awards & Gala Dinner, consistently a highlight for many attendees, so stay tuned for more information and updates on that! 🛳️ #WeARECruise

🏆At Seatrade Cruise Global 2026, @cliaglobalceo Bud Darr was recognized by @weatrina for the outstanding collaboration and strong partnership between our organizations. 🤝This recognition underscores the critical role of partnership in advancing innovation and shaping the future of the cruise industry. 💬 “Being part of this community is extremely important for RINA. Cruise Lines International Association plays a central role in aligning the industry, especially on critical topics such as decarbonization, safety, and infrastructure readiness. At RINA, we strongly believe in CLIA’s role in turning strategy into execution. That’s why, at the beginning of this year, we entered into a one-year partnership. Under the leadership of Bud Darr, there is a clear focus on execution exactly what the industry needs at this stage. We are proud of this relationship and of our contribution to the industry through CLIA.” -Michele Landro, Vice President, Head of Passenger Ships Segment Americas, RINA ➡️ We appreciate this meaningful recognition from RINA and look forward to continuing our work together in the years ahead. 🛳️ #WeARECruise #STCGlobal

📣 “I don’t bother doing something if I don’t believe in it, and I believe in this.” - @cliaglobalceo Bud Darr ➡️ The State of the Cruise Industry Keynote Address set a confident, forward-looking tone for the week ahead. Bud Darr spoke not only about his confidence in the industry, but also backed it up with data, including the $198 billion global economic impact and more than 40 million cruise passengers per year expected by the end of the decade. The energy only built from there. @contessabrewer , @cnbc Correspondent, took the stage to moderate a powerhouse panel featuring five of the industry’s top leaders: ⚓️ Bud Darr — President & CEO, CLIA
⚓️ John Chidsey — President & CEO, @norwegiancruiseline Holdings Ltd. 
⚓️ Jason Liberty — Chairman and CEO, @royalcaribbean Group 
⚓️ Pierfrancesco Vago — Executive Chairman, Cruise Division, @msccruisesofficial 
⚓️ Josh Weinstein — President, CEO & Chief Climate Officer, @carnival Corporation 🤝Together, they discussed a range of topics, with highlights including the overwhelming appeal of cruise through its incredible value proposition, ongoing investment in onboard technology, and the seamless guest experience ships provide. 👏The panel wrapped up with a fun question from moderator Contessa Brewer, who asked each panelist whether they had ever sailed on a competitor’s ship, prompting a mix of insightful and comedic responses.   🛳️ #WeARECruise #STCGlobal

🌃 It’s better to do Business on the Bay! 🤝 The cruise community came together tonight at the stunning Perez Art Museum Miami for the unofficial kickoff of @seatradecruise Global — CLIA’s Business on the Bay. Set against the waters and glittering cruise terminals of @portmiami , our guests enjoyed great food and drinks, made new connections, reunited with old friends, and were captivated by the exciting performance of a traditional Bahamian Junkanoo. ➡️ None of this would be possible without our incredible sponsors: @bahamasmaritime Authority, @visitthebahamas , @heineken , @castrol_global , Tura, @smsisousa , @apcompaniesglobal , @_natpower Marine, @trinitycups , PortMiami, and @gerardbertrandofficial . 👏Thank you to all our sponsors and guests for making Business on the Bay an incredible evening. ➡️ We look forward to seeing everyone again tomorrow for the annual State of the Global Cruise Industry Address keynote from @cliaglobalceo Bud Darr, and throughout the week at #STCGlobal! 🛳️ #WeARECruise #STCGlobal

🥂Cheers to great partners! ➡️ The CLIA Diamond Executive partners kicked off the night with an exclusive reception aboard the Seafair Yacht just before CLIA’s Business on the Bay at the Perez Art Museum Miami. 🤝 It’s always great to raise a glass to the valuable partnerships that bring this community together. 👏We appreciate Crum & Forster, Procell Insite, and RINA for sponsoring the Diamond Reception. 🛳️ #WeARECruise #STCGlobal

Ahead of Seatrade Cruise Global, @cliaglobalceo Bud Darr reconnects with @seatradecruise ‘s Chiara Giorgi for a look at what’s in store for an exciting week ahead. 🛳️ #WeAreCruise #STCGlobal

📢 We’re excited to share the CLIA speaker lineup for Seatrade Cruise Global 2026, with leaders set to participate in sessions and panels across #STCGlobal on key topics including global trends, economic impact, sustainability, policy and regulatory developments, shipbuilding innovation, regional market insights, technology-driven security, passenger experience, and collaboration between ports and cruise lines. 🔽 Monday | 13 April 🧭 Cruise Port Compass | Andrea Hoffman, Vice President, Communications Tuesday | 14 April 🛳 State of the Cruise Industry Keynote | Bud Darr, @cliaglobalceo 📊 CLIA & Oxford Economics in partnership with Seatrade Cruise: Research Update | Chris Mastrippolito, Director, Global Research 💡 Global Maritime Policy and Innovation: Perspectives from Government and Industry | Donald Brown, Senior Vice President, Maritime Policy 🌐 European Cruising CEO Panel | Nikos Mertzanidis, Executive Director, Europe 🏗 Safe and Sustainable Shipbuilding: The Present and Future | Barr Turner, Vice President, Maritime Policy 🏞️ River Cruising: CEO Panel | Andy Harmer, Executive Director for the United Kingdom and Ireland ♻️ The Future of Sustainable Cruising: Priorities, Pressures, Progress | Donald Brown, Senior Vice President, Maritime Policy Wednesday | 15 April 💵 Beyond the Ship: Measuring Cruise Tourism’s True Economic Impact | Chris Mastrippolito, Director, Global Research 🌏 Lessons from Australasia - What mature and emerging markets can learn about attracting and sustaining cruise deployment | Joel Katz, Executive Director, Australasia ⚙️ Faster and Better - Immense Improvements in Security and Passenger Experience Through Advanced Technology and Design | Maureen Hayes, Director, Maritime Policy 🌍 Ports and Cruise: Strengthening the Global Partnership for Sustainable Growth | Bud Darr, President & CEO 📝 Inside Cruise Procurement: How Sourcing Decisions are Really Made | Carla Guilbaud, Vice President – Membership Thursday | 16 April 🧭 Cruise Port Compass | Andrea Hoffman, Vice President, Communications View the full schedule including dates, times, and location ➡️ / 🛳️ #WeARECruise

Cruise ship christenings are truly special, and CLIA member @norwegiancruiseline did an amazing job of welcoming Norwegian Luna to their growing fleet. What a fun and memorable event this past weekend in Miami!

📣 The global cruise community will take center stage this April as industry leaders gather at @seatradecruise Global for one of the event’s most anticipated moments: the State of the Global Cruise Industry Keynote Address. ➡️ @cliaglobalceo Bud Darr will deliver the keynote address, outlining the trends, opportunities, and challenges shaping the cruise industry’s future. 🤝 Following the keynote, Darr will participate in a high-level leadership discussion featuring some of the most influential executives in the industry. Joining the conversation will be: • Jason Liberty, President & CEO of @Rroyalcaribbean Group • Pierfrancesco Vago Executive Chairman of @msccruisesofficial Cruise Division • Josh Weinstein, President, CEO & Chief Climate Officer of @Carnival Corporation & plc 🎤 Together, the panel will explore how cruise companies are navigating a rapidly evolving travel landscape while balancing growth, innovation, sustainability initiatives, and increasing operational complexity. 💬 “Our industry continues to advance with confidence through innovation, stronger guest experiences, deeper partnerships with destinations, and growing value across the global economy. This year's programme reflects that momentum and the strength of the opportunity before us.” – CLIA President and CEO Bud Darr CLIA @ Seatrade Cruise Global — State of the Global Cruise Industry 📆 14 April 2026 at 9:30 AM 📌 Miami Beach Convention Center – Grand Ballroom 📍 Miami Beach 🛳️ #WeARECruise #STCGlobal

❄️ Wishing you peace, joy, and renewed inspiration this holiday season. 🛳️ #WeARECruise