“¡Todos a bordo!” brings together over 500 students in a pioneering initiative led by the Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and driven by MedCruise Board Member Luz Marina Espiau Moreno
Santa Cruz de Tenerife has hosted the inauguration of the first exhibition of the educational project “¡Todos a bordo!” (All Aboard!), a pioneering initiative that marks a global milestone as the first international educational competition of its kind within the cruise industry.
MedCruise supported the initiative through the presence of its Secretariat, reinforcing its commitment to projects that strengthen the connection between ports, communities and future generations.
The project has been promoted by the Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and led by Luz Marina Espiau Moreno, MedCruise Board Member and Head of Commercial and Business Development at the Port Authority, together with her team. It reflects how leadership within the association can translate into tangible, high-impact initiatives at both local and international levels.
Developed in collaboration with MSC Cruises and CLIA, and supported by key public and private stakeholders including the Santa Cruz City Council, the Tenerife Island Council, Sociedad de Desarrollo and Why Tenerife, the project stands as a strong example of effective public–private partnership.
Over the past months, more than 500 students from 19 classrooms have taken part in the initiative, discovering the more than 400 professions that coexist on board a cruise ship. From technical and operational roles to hospitality, entertainment and environmental management, students have gained a comprehensive understanding of the cruise ecosystem.
The exhibition showcases the students’ work, reflecting creativity, teamwork and a forward-looking vision of the industry. As part of the programme, students from the winning school were given the opportunity to visit a cruise ship, experiencing first-hand the professional environment they had studied.
Speaking during the event, Luz Marina Espiau Moreno stated:
“Today we are not just opening an exhibition. We are giving visibility to a project that connects the port with the city, the present with the future, and the maritime sector with the next generation.”
She added:
“A cruise ship is not only a destination or an experience. It is a complex ecosystem where more than 400 professions coexist, and above all, where people work together.”
This initiative highlights the evolving role of ports as active contributors to society, not only as infrastructure hubs but as platforms for education, talent development and community engagement.
For MedCruise, “¡Todos a bordo!” clearly reflects the association’s core values in action at destination level: collaboration, community integration, talent development and sustainable growth. It demonstrates how ports can go beyond their traditional role to become catalysts for social impact and long-term value creation.
Born in Santa Cruz de Tenerife with a clear international ambition, the project has the potential to be replicated across other cruise destinations, positioning itself as a benchmark initiative for the global cruise community.
MedCruise will continue to support initiatives that connect the industry with society, foster future talent and reinforce the role of cruise ports as key drivers of sustainable economic and social development.
