By
Rebecca Gibson |
MedCruise officially opened its 66th General Assembly on 10 June 2025, welcoming 165 delegates to Cartagena, the second-oldest city in Spain.
The event, which will close on 13 June, is being co-hosted with the Port Authority of Cartagena and supported by the City of Cartagena. It is the second time Cartagena has hosted a MedCruise general assembly and this year coincides with the port authority’s 150th anniversary.
The welcome reception was hosted at the Historical Military Museum of Cartagena and was opened by Pedro Pablo Hernández, president of the port authority. He discussed how collaboration between public institutions and continuous investment in port and tourism infrastructures has driven the growth of Cartagena’s cruise business over the past 16 years. The port handled 49 cruise calls and 68,000 passengers in 2009 and is set to host a record-breaking 192 cruise calls and 250,000 passengers in 2025.
“The cruise industry will witness first-hand how Cartagena has gone from potential to reality – becoming a top-tier destination by building not only infrastructure, but a welcoming, vibrant city around it,” said Hernández.
The Roman Theatre is just one of the many historical sites within walking distance of Cartagena's cruise terminal
Over the next three days, representatives from 47 MedCruise member ports, 22 associate members, 27 executives from more than 20 cruise lines and eight international media representatives will participate in various meetings and conference sessions.
Highlights of the programme will include MedCruise Working Group meetings, a board of directors meeting and a session where MedCruise members will address key topics related to the association’s governance and future direction. Members will also participate in individual business-to-business meetings with cruise executives and other industry stakeholders.
In addition, delegates will be able to attend presentations and panel discussions focused on topics such as the innovations driving sustainable cruising in the Mediterranean, key trends shaping cruise itinerary planning in the region, the future of port infrastructure and how artificial intelligence is transforming destination services.
Some of the notable cruise executives speaking during these sessions will include industry expert Giora Israel, former senior vice president at Carnival Corporation; Crystal Morgan, senior director of deployment and itinerary planning at Seabourn; Simone Frontini, senior analyst for itinerary and planning at Costa Cruises; Sacha Rougier, vice president of itinerary planning and destination experiences at Orient Express; Sylviane De Tracy, director of cruise research and development at Ponant; and Serafin Blazquez, executive director of operations for Cruise Saudi.
“This assembly showcases the vibrancy of the Mediterranean cruise sector,” said Anne-Marie Spinosi, senior vice president of MedCruise, speaking at the welcome reception. “Cartagena offers the perfect setting to inspire meaningful discussions, forge new partnerships and chart the course for a more sustainable and inclusive cruise industry.”
Anne-Marie Spinosi, senior vice president of MedCruise, welcomed delegates to the event at the Historical Military Museum
MedCruise and the Port Authority of Cartagena have also created a programme of guided excursions to showcase the range of cultural, historical and gastronomic excursions on offer to cruise guests in Cartagena, which is more than 2,000 years old.
On 10 June, cruise line executives and media representatives took a historical tour of the city, passing various historical landmarks on a tourist train before visiting Concepción Castle and the Roman Theatre and Museum.
The tour group at Concepción Castle, which offers panoramic views of the city's port and various historical landmarks
Next, the group visited family-owned Maipe Horse Ranch, where they learned about pure-bred Andalusian horses, met mares and their foals, watched a traditional equestrian flamenco performance and dined on regional tapas dishes. The day closed with a museum and factory tour, followed by a cocktail tasting session, at Experiencia 43, the production facility for Liquor 43 (Cuarenta y Tres).
A group of cruise line and media representatives watched a traditional equestrian flamenco performance at family-run Maipe Horse Ranch
The programme on 11 June will include a guided walk in the city, a trip to the Naval Museum and a catamaran ride to Bodegas Undersea Winery, which is located on Escombreras Island, four nautical miles from the port of Cartagena.
Delegates will also be invited to join both a gala dinner and a farewell dinner, which will feature local dance, music and cultural performances designed to “reflect the spirit of Cartagena”.