WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao’s maritime sector continues expanding its international visibility after participating in one of the cruise industry’s largest global events in Miami.
According to the Curaçao Maritime Association, board member Albert Elens represented Curaçao during Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami, where the island participated in a high-level CEO roundtable alongside members of the Dutch Royal Family and international business leaders.
Curacao harbor
The roundtable brought together representatives of the Dutch government, the government of Florida, major Dutch multinationals and the Dutch business federation VNO-NCW.
For Curaçao, participation in the meeting represents an important strategic opportunity as the island continues positioning itself as a maritime and cruise hub in the Caribbean.
The following day, Curaçao was again represented during an official networking reception attended by Willem-Alexander and Máxima Zorreguieta.
The island’s delegation included representatives from the Curaçao Ports Authority, Curaçao Investment & Export Promotion Agency (CINEX), and the Curaçao Tourist Board.
The participation underscores the growing importance of maritime diplomacy as Curaçao seeks to strengthen its position in cruise tourism, cargo logistics and international trade.
Cruise tourism remains one of Curaçao’s strongest economic pillars, with record passenger arrivals contributing significantly to local spending, port fees and tourism employment.
Seatrade Cruise Global is widely considered one of the most influential annual events in the cruise industry, where ports, cruise lines and tourism authorities negotiate future business and partnerships.
For Curaçao, direct access to cruise executives and investors creates opportunities for route expansion, increased ship calls and broader tourism partnerships.
The event also comes at a strategic moment, as Curaçao prepares to host major maritime events such as Velas Curaçao 2026 and the Caribbean Shipping Executives’ Conference.
Industry leaders say these connections could translate into future investments and stronger integration of Curaçao within global maritime networks.