- Cruise line leaders, Government Ministers from across Europe, and senior representatives of international institutions, to meet at CLIA’s European Summit, 12-14 March 2025
- Apostolos Tzitzikostas, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, to deliver keynote address
Brussels, 20 February 2025 – Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the leading authority of the global cruise industry, announces a strong line up of Government Ministers, cruise line CEOs, and international institution representatives for Cruise Week Europe, 12-14 March 2025.
For the first time, CEOs of European shipyards will take part in a dialogue on the criticality of the cruise sector for European maritime technology and ship building. The Summit will also feature sessions on investment needs for the industry’s net zero ambitions, with insights from CLIA’s European Investment Plan, and debates on the importance of a resilient and competitive tourism sector.
Speakers for the European Summit include: Apostolos Tzitzikostas, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism; Maja Bakran Marcich, Deputy Director General, DG MOVE; Maive Rute, Deputy Director General, DG GROW; Fotini Ioannidou, Director Waterborne Transport, DG MOVE; Christos Stylianides, Minister for Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Greece; H.E. Marina Hadjimanolis, Shipping Deputy Minister to the President of the Republic of Cyprus; Petri Peltonen, Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs and Employment, Finland; Heike Deggim, Director Marine Environment Division, International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
Sam Maubanc, Director General, Europe, CLIA, said: “The strong participation and interest is a testament to the growing understanding of the significance of the cruise industry to European industrial innovation and maritime strategies. We look forward to exploring how the cruise industry can enhance the competitiveness, sustainability and resilience of Europe’s maritime manufacturing sector.”
The cruise industry is making concrete investments in sustainable energy solutions and building fuel flexibility into ships sailing today to be capable of transitioning to lower carbon energy in the future. Other topics on the agenda will include deployment of sustainable maritime fuels, onshore power pricing, tourism management best practices and future skills, as well as industry talks on sustainable supply chain and innovation, as highlighted in CLIA’s ‘Made in Europe’ report on the industry’s European value chain.
Cruise Week Europe 2025 is organized in partnership with local hosts Cruise Port Rotterdam, the Port of Rotterdam, and the City of Rotterdam. Our lead sponsors include Founding Partner RINA, returning this year as the Presenting Sponsor, along with Lloyd’s Register as the Premier Sponsor. The full list of sponsors, who are making it possible for this unique event to take place, can be viewed here: SPONSORS2025 – CLIA Cruise Week Europe
++
CLIA’s Cruise Week Europe brings together stakeholders of the sector globally: shipowners, maritime authorities, government institutions and regulators, but also managers of purchasing offices and technical sectors of cruise companies, together with the world of suppliers to the cruise sector. It is comprised of CLIA’s European Summit and Innovation Showcase.
CLIA’s annual European Summit is when the cruise community and its stakeholders, including shipyards, port authorities and terminals, NGOs, and international organisations, come together to debate policy priorities, industry trends, and common challenges and ambitions.
CLIA’s Innovation Showcase, is a forum where exhibitors will showcase solutions and products from across Europe. Supplier companies from across the value chain will be able to come directly into contact with company decision makers to develop significant business opportunities, and showcasing products, services, solutions, and projects.
About the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)
CLIA is the world’s largest cruise industry trade association, providing a unified voice for the industry as the leading authority of the global cruise community. CLIA represents oceangoing member lines which comprise 95% of global cruise passenger capacity, including the world’s most prestigious ocean, river, and specialty cruise lines, as well as a business community of leading ports, destinations, shipyards and maritime product and service providers, and the largest network of travel professionals who specialise in cruise travel. Together with its members and partners, CLIA supports policies and practices that foster safe, secure, healthy and sustainable cruise operations; tourism strategies that maximise the socioeconomic benefits of cruise travel; and technologies, innovations, and practices as cruise lines pursue net-zero emissions by 2050. For further information, please visit cruising.org or europe.cruising.org
