Other Cruise Industry Associations

Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA)

Description of Services:

The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) is a not-for-profit trade organization composed of 15 Member Cruise Lines operating more than 100 vessels in Floridian, Caribbean and Latin American waters. Created in 1972, the FCCA’s mandate is to provide a forum for discussion on legislation, tourism development, ports, tour operations, safety, security and other cruise industry issues. By fostering an understanding of the cruise industry and its operating practices, the FCCA seeks to build cooperative relationships with its partner destinations and to develop productive bilateral partnerships with every sector. The FCCA works with governments, ports and all private/public sector representatives to maximize cruise passenger, cruise line and cruise line employee spending, as well as enhancing the destination experience and the amount of cruise passengers returning as stay-over visitors. Some of the ways the FCCA works with the cruise-oriented destinations include:

Port Improvements – The FCCA provides technical assistance on port expansion, including input on port and pier design and improvements and new services being planned.

Research – Research is conducted and provided to destination partners in an effort to create a better understanding of cruise passengers, improve the landside product delivery and maximize the benefits of cruise tourism.

FCCA Outreach Program – FCCA training seminars provide destination partners with valuable information regarding cruise passengers – their wants, needs and habits – enabling them to maximize the impact of cruise tourists in their country. The FCCA has two core training programs:

• Service Excellence – Cruise Passengers Equal Profits: A workshop on the importance of excellent customer service and the economic impact of the cruise industry. A happy guest not only spends more money, but will return again and again, thereby producing greater profits and converting cruise passengers into return stay-over guests.
• Caribbean Taxi Pride – This presentation geared towards taxi drivers, tour operators and vendors providing ground transportation. This entertaining and informative workshop focuses on three main areas: courtesy, professionalism, marketing, rules and safety.

In addition, the FCCA has designed outreach programs for destination requests, including, but not limited to, the following areas: Cleaning Beaches/Roads, Painting Schools/Hospitals/Orphanages, Hurricane Clean-Up, Visiting Elderly, Community Projects and Volunteering at Hospitals.

Associate Membership:

The FCCA has designed a two-level Associate Membership program, the Platinum Membership program and the Associate Membership program for destination partners and private organizations impacted by cruise tourism to foster an even closer, direct working relationship with the FCCA Member Cruise Lines.

FCCA Foundation:

The FCCA Foundation provides a tangible mechanism for the cruise industry to fund a range of humanitarian causes in the Caribbean and Latin America region. In its 16 years of existence, the Foundation has impacted thousands of Caribbean citizens by providing over $3 million in funding to causes and charities throughout the region. Programs include:

Holiday Gift Project –The FCCA reaches out to the Caribbean and Latin American destinations by providing gifts to children in foster homes or institutions where holiday gifts would not ordinarily be possible. The gifts are delivered on Member Lines’ vessels to the destinations where the children enjoy a holiday party in their honor. In 2008, 31 destinations participated in the program, with over 7,000 children receiving holiday gifts.

Foundation Events:

FCCA Online Auction – This project, which takes place in December each year, is open to anyone with a valid email address. The auction allows guests to bid on items ranging from vacation packages, artwork, jewelry and sports memorabilia donated by cruise industry partners throughout the Caribbean and Latin America.

FCCA Gala – The Gala was created by the Member Lines 16 years ago to enable cruise executives and industry partners to gather on a social level, establish new relationships and enhance existing ones. Attendees dine with the cruise executive of their choice, giving them the opportunity to foster a better relationship with their table host.

FCCA Golf Classic – This annual Golf Tournament has become an important resource for meeting top executives in an exclusive casual atmosphere. Play in a foursome hosted by a Cruise Executive and contribute to a worthy cause.

FCCA Magazines and Publications:

Cruising Magazine – Published quarterly, Cruising is the official magazine of the FCCA and cruise industry that serves to educate and bring about an understanding of the cruise industry’s inner-workings. With a distribution of over 18,000 magazines via the web, direct mailings, the FCCA magazine offers advertisers optimal access to over 13,000 travel agents and the decision-makers in the marine operations, marketing and strategic planning departments of the major cruise lines. Providing cruise executives and the Caribbean and Latin American public and private sectors with information. • The “Highlight Issue” - Features a who’s who in the cruise industry and contains cruise executive profiles along with information on the FCCA Member Lines. As a valuable tool, the Highlight Issue is essential when dealing directly with the cruise industry.

Membership Directory - The FCCA directory contains a complete listing of all FCCA Associate and Platinum members as well as Cruise Line executives and all Ministers of Tourism within partner destinations.

Conference Program and Gala Program - Delegates who attend these functions receive comprehensive programs packed with useful FCCA schedules, information and accomplishments.

FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show:

For many cruise executives and destinations, suppliers and tour operators, this is the premier industry event of the year, an opportunity to meet in a roundtable format with key players to analyze industry trends and discuss current issues. The FCCA Conference brings together over 100 cruise executives and 1,000 industry partners. For 2010, the Conference will be held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on Oct. 25–29. As the FCCA proceeds into tomorrow, they will remain steadfast in their mission to create win-win partnerships between the cruise lines and cruise destinations throughout the greater Caribbean and Latin American region.

North West CruiseShip Association

Description of Services:

The North West CruiseShip Association (NWCA) is as a non-profit association working on behalf of its member lines to build positive relationships and partnerships with communities, government agencies and businesses throughout the Pacific Northwest including Alaska, Hawaii, Washington State and British Columbia.

Security
Passenger and baggage screening and security at the Vancouver cruise ship terminals. NWCA works with various U.S., Canadian and international agencies responsible for the establishment of security standards for passenger vessels. By working with these agencies through NWCA, the industry ensures compliance with all international maritime standards established to maintain shipboard security.

Environmental Stewardship
The cruise industry has incorporated strict waste management policies and practices into its operations to meet U.S., Canadian and international agreements. In working closely with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC), the U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian Regulatory Agencies, the industry observes -- and in many cases exceeds -- international and national standards designed to protect the environment.

The member cruise lines of NWCA are Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Disney Cruise Line Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and Silversea Cruises.

Alaska Cruise Association

Description of Services:

The Alaska Cruise Association (ACA) is an Alaska-based, not-for-profit organization, established to build strong partnerships between local businesses, communities and cruise companies. Led by lifelong Alaskan John Binkley, our goal is to work with businesses and public leaders to improve community relationships, increase economic benefits for Alaskans and address environmental concerns. Our job is to listen, to educate and to establish mutually beneficial relationships and opportunities.

As a way to open communications between the cruise lines and Alaskans, ACA formed an associate membership program. We have invited Alaskan businesses to join our associate membership to support and assist the organization with a broader base of statewide members.

Environment:

From aggressive onboard recycling programs to utilizing the latest waste water treatment technologies, Alaska cruise companies are committed to maintaining a safe and healthy environment. ACA members have invested millions of dollars to improve the environmental performance of vessels and have voluntarily adopted higher standards than those required by law. New technology such as smokeless gas-turbine engines, state-of-the-art wastewater management systems and cleaner burning, low-sulfur fuels are helping to eliminate waste and air emissions. Alaska has some of the strictest environmental and safety regulations in the country. These are enforced by state and federal agencies including the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Coast Guard and International Convention of Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) among others.

Operations:

ACA members operate approximately 28 ships from May to October with departures from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver. But unlike many destinations, Alaska’s cruise business isn’t limited to port communities. Cruise passengers in Alaska travel throughout the state on land-based tours or on their own, pre- or post-cruise. Cruise companies invest millions of dollars each year in land-based construction, equipment and infrastructure improvements.

The current member cruise lines of the ACA are Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and Silversea Cruises.