By
Laura Hyde |
Cruise Ship Interiors (CSI) Design Expo America will feature speakers from Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruise Line, Virgin Voyages, Holland America Line and Regent Seven Seas. Executives will share their insights on several topics, including what’s next in cruise design and guest experience, designing for achievable sustainable outcomes, new technologies driving the industry and the US refurbishment market.
The two-day event will take place at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Florida from 9-10 June 2026 and will begin with opening remarks from My Nguyen, senior director of design and innovation at Holland America Line and Seabourn.
The event programme also includes a design mega trends session discussing design for meaningful cruise experiences to understand how cruise lines can extend the guest experience beyond ‘Instagram moments’ to deliver deeper, authentic experiences.
Participants in the ‘how to work harder’ panel, moderated by Alix Loiseau, director of virtual design and construction at Royal Caribbean, will present viewpoints on project management. They will discuss what’s changing about the way cruise interiors are designed and delivered, as well as which new technologies and workflows ensure an efficient project.
The refurbishment-focused panel titled ‘Refurbishment, Modernization and Expansion’ will explore the changing face of the refurbishment market with Lisa McCabe, vice president of hotel refurbishment at Carnival Cruise Line; Joseph Miorelli, associate vice president of newbuild, revitalisation and technical projects at Royal Caribbean; and Chris Earl, CEO of the Grand Bahama Shipyard, which has opened two new piers in the last 12 months. The panel will discuss the US refurbishment industry as well as how the sector is likely to change in the coming years.
New for 2026 is The Design Deck, which will present the latest case studies from SMC Design, YSA Design, Tillberg Design of Sweden and JOI-Design. Creative visual displays and content sessions will explore the needs and limitations of preserving and elevating authentic designs.
The Sustainable Design Summit (SDS), titled ‘Breaking the cycle: How designers’ impact measurable sustainable outcomes’ will include a new Sustainable Materials Library, supported by Cruise & Ferry Interiors. The summit will be led by Marriott International, Holland America Line, Brightmark and Carnegie Textiles. The interactive session will feature small groups who will workshop what it means to design an innovative, eco-friendly space from the beginning to end of the design process.
Visit the CSI Design Expo America website for the full schedule and speaker line-up.