The 66th General Assembly of the Association of Mediterranean cruise ports takes place at Auditorio El Batel, gathering over 26 delegates from 20 cruise lines, 47 ports, and 8 media outlets from 10th to 13th June, 2025
Cartagena, Spain – June 10, 2025 – With the official press conference held in the Museum of the Roman Theatre of Cartagena, MedCruise, the Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports, officially launched its 66th General Assembly that will be hosted for the second time in its history in the historic port city of Cartagena.
Held at the modern Auditorio El Batel, the event is organised in cooperation with the Port Authority of Cartagena with the support of the City of Cartagena, marking a celebratory year for the port’s 150th anniversary. This milestone Assembly underscores the city’s rising prominence in Mediterranean cruise tourism and reaffirms MedCruise’s role in shaping the future of the industry.
From June 10th to 13th the city becomes the meeting point for the global cruise industry, hosting over 26 delegates, including representatives from more than 20 cruise lines, 47 MedCruise member ports, 22 Associate Members and 8 international media representatives.
During the press conference, opened by the President of the Port Authority of Cartagena, Pedro Pablo Hernández, highlighted the city’s remarkable transformation into a premier cruise destination over the past 25 years.
He noted that Cartagena has evolved from receiving just 49 cruise calls and 68,000 passengers in 2009 to a record-breaking year in 2025, with 192 cruise calls and 250,000 passengers expected. This growth is the result of strong collaboration between public institutions and continuous investment in port and tourism infrastructure.
Visitors attending this year’s MedCruise General Assembly will experience Cartagena’s rich cultural and historical offerings, including the Roman Theatre, the Roman Forum, the Castle of La Concepción, and the city’s vibrant modernist route. The President also underlined the city’s gastronomic, commercial, and museum offerings, along with its efforts to promote sustainable tourism through initiatives such as cruise berth electrification and LNG bunkering services.
In his words: “The cruise industry will witness first-hand how Cartagena has gone from potential to reality – becoming a top-tier destination by building not only infrastructure, but a welcoming, vibrant city around it.”
Anne-Marie Spinosi, MedCruise Senior Vice President, together with Luz Marina Espiau, Director for Digitalisation and Innovation, delivered regards on behalf of Theodora Riga, President of MedCruise, who will open the assembly tomorrow morning. “This Assembly showcases the vibrancy of the Mediterranean cruise sector. Cartagena offers the perfect setting to inspire meaningful discussions, forge new partnerships and chart the course for a more sustainable and inclusive cruise industry.”
Both members of the Board of Directors underlined the importance of MedCruise being in Cartagena, being one of its oldest members in the largest cruise ports association in the world. MedCruise embraces its diversity as a strength and is committed to promoting sustainable, innovative, and inclusive growth in the cruise sector across the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas.
“The Assembly will host 27 executives from 20 cruise lines,” said Anne-Marie Spinosi, “alongsideinternational media representatives, engaging in meaningful discussions on the future of ports, destinations, and passenger experiences for a total of 165 participants.”
The Director of the Instituto de Turismo de la Región de Murcia (ITREM), Juan Francisco Martínez, praised the decision to host the 66th MedCruise General Assembly in Cartagena, referring to the city as “the tourism capital of the Region of Murcia”, and noted that the area is experiencing its best tourism figures in over two decades, with record numbers in international visitors, overnight stays, and tourism-related employment.
“Nothing is recommended more genuinely than what one has personally experienced,” he said, underlining the significance of having so many key decision-makers discover Cartagena in person during the General Assembly.
During her remarks at the press conference, the Mayor of Cartagena, Noelia Arroyo, warmly welcomed the participants of General Assembly. She praised the long-standing collaboration between local and regional institutions, port authorities, and the tourism sector, which has enabled Cartagena to emerge as a leading cultural and heritage destination in the Mediterranean.
She underlined the city’s efforts to achieve sustainable tourism growth and combat seasonality through international promotion campaigns and the strategic role of cruise tourism in attracting foreign visitors year-round. She emphasised Cartagena’s unique cultural offering. “The city, with a population of just over 217,000, boasts 17 museums, archaeological sites, and interpretation centres developed under the “Cartagena – Puerto de Culturas” initiative. Each cruise ship that arrives brings new ambassadors for Cartagena — visitors who fall in love with our city and become its best promoters around the world.”
The work of the General Assembly officially starts with discussions on the internal matters of the Association followed by a programme that features keynote panels, technical working groups, networking events, and cultural excursions. Among the core sessions:
- The Future of Mediterranean Cruise Itineraries
- Cruise Passenger Experience and Community Engagement
- Charting a Greener Course – Innovations for Sustainable Cruising in the Med
- Looking to the Future of Port Infrastructure
Delegates will also enjoy Cartagena’s cultural offerings through exclusive evening events, including a reception at the Historical Military Museum of Cartagena, a Gala Dinner at the Cuarentaytrés Restaurant, and a Farewell Dinner at El Parador del Mar Menor Restaurant, reinforcing the Assembly’s unique blend of business and experience.
📄 Full program available at: 66th MedCruise General Assembly Programme
About MedCruise
The Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports.
The mission of MedCruise is to promote the cruise industry in the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas. The Association assists its members in benefiting from the growth of the cruise industry by providing networking, promotional, as well as professional development opportunities.
Established in Rome on the 11th of June 1996, by a collaborative agreement between 16 ports in seven different countries, the MedCruise membership spreads today in 22 countries and is located in three different continents, Africa, Asia and Europe. MedCruise represents more than 158 ports and 51 associate members.
For more information, visit the MedCruise website.
