WILLEMSTAD – On September 29th, the Curaçao Tourist Board (CTB) kicked off the “Shore to Ship: Elevating the Local Cruise Experience” Cruise Symposium. This two-day symposium brought together Curaçao’s cruise tourism community, to learn, connect, and elevate the industry. The first day featured keynote speaker Ms. Antoinette Wright, Chief Supply Chain Officer, North America at Carnival Corporation, who elaborated on the topic “Shaping the future of Cruise Tourism: Trends, Expectations & Opportunities for Local Stakeholders”, followed by a panel of experts consisting of representatives from Curaçao Ports Authority, FBTT Travel, Maduro Shipping, Aquila Center for Cruise Excellence and CTB. The panel discussed the full passenger journey – from arrival to departure highlighting the importance of strengthening local partnerships, delivering authentic and memorable experiences, and the economic ripple effect of cruise tourism. The second part of the day featured two workshops: Driver Excellence and Service Excellence. Participants included attraction hosts, tour operators and guides, bus drivers, and taxi drivers. On Tuesday, the third workshop, ‘Tours & Guest Experiences’, will follow. Participants who complete the workshops will receive a certificate recognized by Aquila Center for Cruise Excellence.
Drivers of guest transportation are responsible for the safety of guests, but the expectations of today’s guests go far beyond that, covering excellent service, professional behavior, managing difficult situations, and more. The Driver Excellence workshop provided participants with skills and tools to meet those expectations. Attendees gained valuable insights into safety and professionalism, while also building confidence in handling tough situations.
During the Service Excellence workshop, participants learned how to deliver standout experiences that leave guests saying “WOW!” The training covered going above and beyond guest expectations, clear and effective communication, managing challenging situations, handling complaints and more.
The last workshop, Tours & Guest Experiences, will take place on the second day. It will guide participants in reimagining and creating innovative tour products and guest experiences.
CTB extends its gratitude to the keynote speaker Ms. Antoinette Wright, Ms. Beth Hatt (CEO Aquila Center for Cruise Excellence), the panelists, and all participants who invested their time for the benefit of Curaçao’s cruise industry.
