Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA)

About The FCCA

MISSION

The Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) is a not-for-profit trade organization composed of 11 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.

MEMBER LINES
Carnival Cruise Lines • Celebrity Cruises • Costa Cruise Lines • Cunard Line Ltd. • Disney Cruise Line • Holland America Line • MSC Cruises (USA) Inc. • Norwegian Cruise Line • Princess Cruises • Regent Seven Seas Cruises • Royal Caribbean International

PARTNERSHIPS
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 five 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 for destination partners and private organizations impacted by cruise tourism to foster an even closer, direct working relationship with the FCCA Member Cruise Lines.

Associate Member Benefits:

Member meetings and luncheons
Listing/profile in Membership Directory and in Caribbean Cruising magazine
Access to up-to-date research and statistical studies
$500 discount on first ad placed in Caribbean Cruising (first year of membership only)
Savings on registration fees for annual FCCA Caribbean Cruise Conference & Trade Show
Discount on insurance program for tour operators
Associate Member plaque and yearly updates
Use of FCCA logo on printed materials

Platinum Associate Member Benefits (in addition to the benefits above):

One complimentary registration up to $350 for the FCCA Gala Dinner
One complimentary registration for the FCCA Caribbean Cruise Conference & Trade Show
Private lunch and meeting at the FCCA Caribbean Cruise Conference & Trade Show
Serving on FCCA’s Platinum Associate Member Advisory Council (PAMAC)
Complimentary registration on annual PAMAC Cruise
Invitations to inaugural events & cruises
Complimentary registration for the PAMAC Conference
Biannual full-day meetings with FCCA operations executives, followed by networking cocktail receptions (open to all cruise executives)

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 American region. In its 15 years of existence, the Foundation has impacted thousands of citizens by providing over $3 million in funding to causes and charities throughout the region. Programs include:

Holiday Gift Project – FCCA reaches out to our partners in Caribbean and Latin American destinations to provide 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 2007, 28 destinations participated in the program, with over 8,000 children receiving holiday gifts.
FCCA On-line 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. Last year, this program raised over $25,000 for the FCCA Foundation.
FCCA Gala – The Gala was created by member lines 14 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. Most importantly, all proceeds from the Gala benefit the FCCA Foundation.

FCCA Magazines and Publications:

Caribbean Cruising – Published quarterly, Caribbean Cruising is the official magazine of the FCCA. that serves to educate and bring about an understanding of the cruise industry’s inner-workings. With a circulation of over 12,000, the magazine offers advertisers optimal access to over 3,000 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, Latin America and Mexico public and private sectors with information

The “Highlight Issue” features a who’s who in the cruise industry and contains cruise executive profiles and information for all FCCA member lines. It is a useful tool 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 all the Ministers of Tourism within partner destinations.
Conference Program and Gala Program – Members who attends 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 2008, the Conference will be held in Trinidad on Oct. 27–31. 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.

Home | Contact Us | Legal Notice | Site Map