AAPA Cruise Seminar Draws Enthusiastic Audience to San Diego

Massport Deputy Port Director Michael Vanderbeek, PPM®, leading a panel discussion at this year’s AAPA Cruise Seminar in San Diego
Photo/AAPA

Approximately 85 cruise port leaders and staff, cruise line executives, government officials and private-sector experts from throughout the Americas (and beyond) assembled in San Diego, February 14-15, for AAPA’s biennial Cruise Seminar.

Participants included cruise port execs from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and the United States.

The seminar began with a discussion on the state of the cruise industry by a panel of three cruise line leaders, followed by other panels focused on how to maximize the cruise guest experience and increase passenger volumes through port/cruise line partnerships. Among the featured presenters were key executives from Carnival Cruise Lines, Disney, Hurtigruten, Princess and Carnival Corporation.

The conference also featured sessions covering cruise-related environmental and security issues.
Mike Mierzwa, retired port director from the Port of Galveston, received AAPA’s 2017 Cruise Award for his contributions to the cruise industry.

AAPA expresses special thanks to its host, the Port of San Diego, and to the following seminar sponsors for their generous contributions to this successful program: Cruise Port Boston, Montreal Port Authority, the Port of New Orleans, Holland America Line, FMT, ADELTE, and Bermello, Ajamil & Partners, Inc.

Click here to download the seminar proceedings.

AAPA Cruise Committee Chair Brandy D. Christian presents the 2017 AAPA Cruise Award to retired Galveston Port Director Mike Mierzwa
Photo/AAPA