The Association reinforces its leadership in the Mediterranean cruise sector with a strong institutional presence and multiple initiatives
Hamburg, 12 September 2025 – MedCruise marked a successful participation at Seatrade Europe 2025, held in Hamburg from 10 to 12 September, reaffirming its role as a key player in the Mediterranean cruise industry. The event gathered cruise industry leaders, stakeholders, and destinations from across Europe, providing a strategic platform to foster dialogue, share knowledge, and strengthen cooperation. In addition, on 9 September, MedCruise actively participated in the CLIA Port & Destination Dialogue, a key industry forum held on the eve of Seatrade Europe. The Association contributed to discussions with cruise lines on sustainability strategies and port innovation, while underlining the importance of Mediterranean ports and destinations in shaping the future of the global cruise network.
Over the three days, the MedCruise booth became a dynamic hub for networking, hosting numerous B2B meetings that enabled members to showcase their offerings and explore new opportunities with cruise executives and industry representatives.
MedCruise was also strongly represented in the conference programme. MedCruise President and President of the Corfu Port Authority, Theodora Riga, joined Cruise Europe, Cruise Norway, Cruise Britain and Cruise Baltic in the panel “European Port & Destination Associations: Community Engagement in Port Cities”, where the associations presented the main findings of their joint survey on the impact of cruise tourism on destinations. This panel was moderated by Figen Ayan, Honorary President of MedCruise.
Laura Cimaglia, Vice President of MedCruise and Manager of the Port Network Authority of the Ionian Sea – Port of Taranto, took part in the CLIA Ports & Destinations Dialogue, where she shared the MedCruise vision on how ports and communities can work together towards a sustainable and inclusive future.
Luz Marina Espiau, MedCruise Board Member and Head of Commercial and Business Development at the Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, together with Aziz Güngör, General Manager at Ege Port Kusadasi, contributed to the session “Port Tech Innovation: Smart Ports & Digitalisation”, highlighting how Mediterranean ports are adopting digital solutions to optimise operations.
Valeria Mangiarotti, MedCruise Board Member and Marketing Manager at the Port Network Authority of the Sardinian Sea, together with Ana Lourenço, Cruise Manager at the Port of Lisbon, spoke in the panel “Shore Power at Scale: Where Are European Ports Now & What Is the Roadmap to Onshore Power?”, outlining the progress of ports across the region in implementing sustainable energy infrastructure.
Cristina De Gregori, MedCruise Board Member and part of the Communication and Marketing division of the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority, together with Ceylan Erzi, Marketing Director at Ege Port Kusadasi, participated in “Rewriting Cruise Marketing: Destinations (Not Discounts) Drive Demand”, showcasing how Mediterranean destinations are placing authenticity, culture, and experiences at the heart of their promotion strategies.
Other MedCruise members also contributed actively to the event, including Mashhoor Baeshen from Cruise Saudi, Ioannis Bras from Five Senses Consulting and Development, Susana Gutiérrez from Málaga and Las Palmas Cruise Ports, Stephen Xuereb from Valletta Cruise Port, Leyla Oner from Tura Turizm, and George Spirakis and Kim Donkers from Intercruises Shoreside and Port Services.
Highlights of MedCruise’s agenda included the kick-off meeting of the Working Group on Economic Impact Assessments, led by Lorenzo Vera (Port of Motril-Granada), and a dedicated presentation by President Riga to German Travel Agents, showcasing the diversity of Mediterranean cruise destinations.
Seatrade Europe 2025 also provided the stage to announce the upcoming International Congress of Nautical and Cruise Tourism, CITCA Suncruise 2025, which will take place in October in Motril, a MedCruise member port. Furthermore, MedCruise reinforced collaboration with European associations through a dedicated meeting with Cruise Europe, Cruise Norway, Cruise Britain, and Cruise Baltic to advance joint initiatives.
With its strong presence in Hamburg, MedCruise reaffirmed its commitment to positioning the Mediterranean as a leading cruise region, while actively engaging with European partners to address common challenges and future opportunities.
The next key gathering for the Association will be the MedCruise General Assembly in Šibenik, Croatia, from 30 September to 3 October 2025. The event will bring together MedCruise members – ports, destinations, and industry partners – to discuss future strategies and cooperation opportunities for the Med and its adjoining seas. More information is available on the official website: medcruise.com
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 159 ports and 50 associate members.
For more information, visit the MedCruise website.
