LONDON: Seaports, shippers and cruise lines are focusing on Cuba as the next big thing in their industries. And that was the focus of attention this week at the Caribbean Shipping Association’s conference in Cocoa Beach.
As conference host, Port Canaveral also is focusing on something else: Show off the port’s cargo and cruise operations for the conference’s 180 attendees, with the ultimate goal of boosting business. Representatives of about 25 countries were represented at the conference, and more than 100 attendees toured Port Canaveral cruise and cargo facilities on Tuesday.
The start of cruise service this month from Miami to Cuba by a unit of Carnival Corp. presents both opportunities and obstacles for the traditional Caribbean cruise business, speakers said at the conference Wednesday. Caribbean cruises are the focus of Port Canaveral and other east Florida cruise ports. Fritz Pinnock, executive director of the Caribbean Maritime Institute, said the addition of Cuba as a cruise destination from the United States could represent a renewal of interest in the Caribbean region for cruise passengers.
