By
Laura Hyde |
The keynote panel at Seatrade Cruise Global 2026 will be moderated by CNBC correspondent Contessa Brewer and will include insights from executives the leaders of Carnival Corporation, MSC Group, Royal Caribbean Group and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).
Brewer was chosen due to her experience covering markets, leadership and global commerce. It is hope she will guide a forward-looking discussion with Bud Darr president and CEO of CLIA; Jason Liberty, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group; Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Group’s cruise division; and Josh Weinstein, chief executive officer of Carnival Corporation and chair of CLIA. The keynote will explore how cruise leaders are balancing growth, innovation and operational complexity in a rapidly evolving travel landscape.
The event will take place from 13-16 April at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Florida, USA, with the theme ‘Beyond the horizon: leveraging cruising’s strength and scale to drive innovation’.
“The ‘Beyond the Horizon’ [theme] captures a defining moment for cruise,” said Chiara Giorgi, global brand and event director at Seatrade Cruise Global. “Our industry has long been known for innovation, but what’s most compelling now is how that scale is being leveraged – to invest in smarter technology, more immersive entertainment, healthier guest experiences and stronger partnerships with destinations around the world. Seatrade Cruise Global 2026 is designed to reflect that evolution and to challenge leaders to think about what comes next.”
Sessions during the conference sessions will delve into AI-driven operations, sustainable design, retail and concessions, community engagement, the evolving relationship between ships and the destinations they serve, and more. For 2026, the programme has been expanded to include heightened emphasis on wellness and entertainment, alongside further developing conversations on digital transformation, destination strategy and infrastructure investment and sustainability. Seatrade has expanded the programme to reflect the evolution of the cruise industry, which it says is not only “scaling in size, but in sophistication, cultural relevance and global economic impact”.
Find out more about Seatrade Cruise Global in our event preview.