FCCA Platinum Associate Membership Advisory Council Meets During Seatrade

Pembroke Pines, FL. – (March 24, 2005) – The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association Platinum Associate Membership Advisory Council (PAMAC) kicked off the week of the Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention with the first of three gatherings in Davie, Florida on Sunday, March 13, 2005.

Platinum Members, Cruise Executives and their families spent the afternoon at a country western party hosted by Michele M. Paige, President, FCCA.  The day’s events proved to be successful, providing a terrific occasion for Platinum Members, Cruise Executives and their families to renew old friendships and establish new relationships with industry peers.

On March 17, PAMAC Members were invited to a cocktail reception at Bongos Cuban Café at the American Airlines Arena, where they had an opportunity to discuss some of the key issues addressed during the Seatrade.  FCCA’s Chairman, Micky Arison, Carnival Corporation’s Chairman and CEO, greeted PAMAC Members at the cocktail reception before they were escorted to the Arena to watch the Miami Heat vs. Los Angeles Lakers basketball game.

As the week drew to an end, PAMAC Members met with senior purchasing, marketing and operations executives from the FCCA’s 13 Member Lines aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Spirit on Friday, March 18, 2005.  PAMAC is comprised of port authorities, tour operators, tourism agencies and suppliers from throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America and the USA.   Michael Ronan, Regional Vice President, Government & Community Relations, Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited, chaired the meeting that addressed numerous issues pertaining to individual members’ respective destinations. 

A number of issues were addressed including:

Freestay Caribbean Cruise Conversion Program– It was announced that three new destinations would join the program: Mexico, Belize and Jamaica - the introductionof which will kick off in the summer of 2005.

Puerto Rico Incentive Program – It was revealed that the new incentives program was created to achieve a higher level of stability between Puerto Rico’s central government and the Member Lines of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association.

Honduras Cruise Port – Announced that plans are in effect to expand the Port of Roatan and add an additional berth.

Following the meeting, Platinum Members and Cruise Executives joined other FCCA Associate Members for a luncheon hosted by Norwegian Cruise Line.

The Platinum Advisory Council is scheduled to meet again on June 6th – 8th, 2005, in New Orleans for a two day Conference at the Chateau Sonesta Hotel New Orleans.  This two-day event will be hosted by the Port of New Orleans.

The FCCA Platinum Associate Membership Advisory Council (PAMAC) meets four to five times each year and is comprised of port authorities, tour operators, tourism agencies and suppliers representing the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America and the United States.

NOTE TO EDITORS: PHOTOS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

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FCCA is a trade association composed of 11 Member Lines: Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruise Lines, Cunard Line, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises (USA) Inc., Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, and Windstar Cruises. It was created in 1972 by the Member Lines operating more than 100 vessels in Florida, Caribbean and Mexican waters, in order to discuss and exchange views on issues relating to: legislation, tourism development, ports, safety, security and other cruise industry issues.