FCCA, Port in discussions for St. Maarten to host its next major Cruise Conference in 2027

GREAT BAY--If ongoing discussions are successful, St. Maarten could be scheduled to host the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Cruise Conference and Trade Show from October 18 to 22, 2027, marking the fourth time the island will welcome one of the Caribbean's most important cruise industry gatherings.

The event is listed on the FCCA's official calendar and will once again bring cruise line executives, port authorities, government representatives, tourism professionals and industry stakeholders together to discuss the future of cruising in the Caribbean and Latin America. Though listed by the FCCA, there has been no official announcement by Port St. Maarten Group or the government of St. Maarten, indicating that discussions are still ongoing.

The announcement comes as Port St. Maarten Group continues strengthening its relationships with major cruise operators following its participation in the recently concluded FCCA Cruise Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

A St. Maarten delegation, including Port St. Maarten Group Chief Executive Officer Alexander Gumbs and Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunication (TEATT) Grisha Heyliger-Marten, attended the October 12 to 16 conference, where discussions focused on cruise industry development, destination partnerships, sustainability and opportunities for local economic growth.

The 2027 conference will provide another opportunity for St. Maarten to showcase its cruise facilities, tourism attractions, hospitality sector and business community directly to executives responsible for itinerary planning, destination development and investment decisions. The gathering also offers opportunities for local tour operators, transportation providers, attractions and other businesses to establish relationships with cruise companies and explore commercial opportunities.

St. Maarten most recently hosted the FCCA Cruise Conference and Trade Show from October 22 to 25, 2024, when the island welcomed the organization's 30th annual gathering. According to the FCCA, that event attracted 670 destination stakeholders and nearly 100 cruise line executives, including senior decision-makers from some of the world's largest cruise companies.

The 2024 conference also established a record for direct business engagements, with more than 940 prearranged, one-on-one meetings between participants and cruise executives. That represented a 34 percent increase over the previous record of approximately 700 meetings and demonstrated the strong interest in direct cooperation between cruise operators and Caribbean destinations.

The conference featured discussions involving senior executives from Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, MSC Cruises, Princess Cruises and Margaritaville at Sea. Topics included expanding cruise tourism's economic benefits, increasing local employment and sourcing opportunities, developing port infrastructure, encouraging longer destination visits and strengthening relationships between cruise lines and host communities.

Following the 2024 event, FCCA Chief Executive Officer Michele Paige commended St. Maarten for its organization, hospitality and commitment to cruise tourism development. The association highlighted the record number of business meetings and the opportunity the conference provided for participating destinations to establish direct contact with industry decision-makers.

Island previously hosted in 2003 and 2014

St. Maarten's relationship with the FCCA conference extends back more than two decades. The island first hosted the event in 2003 and welcomed it again in October 2014, before returning as host in 2024.

The 2014 conference brought approximately 1,000 tourism stakeholders and 100 cruise executives to St. Maarten, reinforcing the island's position as a major cruise destination and a venue for international tourism meetings.

Hosting the conference has historically provided St. Maarten with opportunities to showcase its port infrastructure, destination experiences and tourism services while facilitating discussions about cruise deployment and industry investment.

With the 2027 edition now on the FCCA calendar, St. Maarten is positioned to host the conference for the fourth time, further extending its longstanding relationship with the organization.

Opportunity for local businesses and tourism stakeholders

The anticipated return of the conference in 2027 has potential economic implications beyond the cruise port. International conferences generate demand for accommodations, transportation, restaurants, event facilities, technical services and other business activities associated with hosting delegates.

The conference also provides opportunities for local businesses to participate directly in industry discussions and establish relationships with cruise executives who influence purchasing, excursions, destination partnerships and future cruise itineraries.

Its return would come at a time when cruise companies are expanding their fleets and placing increasing emphasis on authentic destination experiences, environmental sustainability and greater community participation in tourism.

At the recently concluded 2026 FCCA conference in Puerto Rico, industry discussions highlighted the Caribbean's growing importance within the global cruise market, increased year-round cruising and the opportunities associated with new ships entering service.

For St. Maarten, hosting the 2027 conference would provide a platform to engage cruise companies on these developments while promoting the island's tourism products and discussing how the local economy can benefit from continued industry growth.

Although the FCCA has published the dates and host destination, detailed local organizing arrangements, venues and the conference program have not yet been announced.

The conference is scheduled for October 18 to 22, 2027, three years after St. Maarten's most recent hosting in 2024.

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