FCCA Prepares for
8th Annual FCCA Gala Dinner
February 15, 2002

Cruise executives from the 11 Member Lines of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) are preparing for the 8th Annual FCCA “Evening with the Stars” Gala Dinner and Entertainment Extravaganza, scheduled for Thursday, March 14, 2002 at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. Last year’s event generated an overwhelming number of accolades which included, Robert Giangrisostomi, Deputy Executive Director for Business Development, Canaveral Port Authority’s statement, “…the Gala was a stunning success,” and Roger Blum, VP Cruise Programming, Carnival Cruise Lines, “This years’ Gala was the best ever. This year, it is expected that well over 600 cruise industry partners will be in attendance at the American Airlines Arena.

The Arena, located at the Port of Miami, will once again be transformed into a stunning dining atmosphere, where the cruise industry’s top cruise executives will serve as table hosts. The evening will commence with a cocktail reception beginning at 6:30 p.m., which will include a silent art auction sponsored by Park West Galleries (who will donate over 100 pieces of exquisite artwork for the auction). Dinner will follow at 8:00 p.m. as the FCCA Foundation for the Caribbean presents awards to the first place winners of the Foundation’s Environmental Poster Competition. A fun-filled evening of entertainment and dancing will immediately follow.

The Chairman of the FCCA, Micky Arison, Carnival Corporation’s Chairman and CEO, enthusiastically stated “We are proud to again have the Port of Miami and the Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau as our host in the Miami Heat’s house for our Gala dinner, our exclusive evening during Seatrade.”

The Gala Dinner, which takes place during the Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention, is an annual fund-raiser benefiting the FCCA Foundation for the Caribbean, whose goal is to increase funding and generate a greater presence in the Caribbean region. Since its inception, the FCCA Foundation has given assistance and grants to hundreds of charities and organizations and have impacted the lives of thousands of Caribbean citizens providing over $2 million in funding to worthy causes and charities including a number of ongoing programs such as Caribbean Special Olympics and the Holiday Gift Project. Our goal is to accomplish more each year for the organizations that depend on the Foundation for assistance.

NOTE TO EDITORS: PHOTOS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

Back to Main Press Release Page