Show Preview: Cruise Industry Gathers in Miami

Every March, the cruise industry gathers in Miami, Fla. for the Sea Trade Cruise Shipping Convention - which usually sometime during March. Just in time to relieve the mid-winter blahs, this year's Convention will be held from March 3-6, 2003 at its "homeport" of the Miami Beach Convention Center. With last year's total attendance tallying in at 10,041, and 1,216 conference delegates, the conference boasted more than 1,000 exhibitors.

Beginning on Tuesday, March 4, from 9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. will be the ever popular and sometimes controversial, "State of the Industry Debate."

Featuring some of cruise's heavy hitters, such as Pam Conover, president & COO of Cunard Line; Bob Dickinson, president Carnival Cruise Lines; Howard Frank, vice chairman & COO Carnival Cruise Lines; Gregg Michel, president Crystal Cruises; Richard D. Fain, Chairman & CEO, Royal Caribbean; and Colin Veitch, president & CEO, Norwegian Cruise Line, the debate will more than likely focus the subject of the recent merger activities between Carnival and P&O Princess.

On each morning and afternoon of the exhibition, attendees will have a choice of several panels to observe - on all sides of the industry. Participants can familiarize themselves with U.S. Coast Guard activities via the USCG Forum to be held on the afternoon of March 4 from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Participants include CDR Linda Fangan, division chief, Foreign & Offshore Compliance Division; LCDR Rich Pruitt, mass rescue operations program manager, Foreign & Offshore Compliance Division; Lt. Buddy Reams, USCG Marine Safety Center; and Capt. Steve Sawyer, Chief, Office of Search & Rescue. To make reservations for the exhibition, conferences and FCCA Dinner, please contact: CMP Princeton, 125 Village Blvd., Ste. 220, Princeton, N.J. 08540, tel: (609) 452-2800; fax: (609) 452-9374, or e-mail [email protected]. Visitors can also log on to the official web site at: www.cruise-community.com