MedCruise Adds Marmaris Cruise Port and 10 Associates
During MedCruise's 30th-anniversary year, Las Palmas also hosted Seatrade Cruise Med 2026, where its pavilion brought together 18 exhibiting members.
MedCruise admitted 11 members at its 69th General Assembly in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on September 15, adding Marmaris Cruise Port in Türkiye as a regular member and 10 associate members. The association also approved 16 constitutional amendments, including the addition of sustainability as an explicit objective.
All members present supported the sustainability provision, which emphasizes benefits for local communities, stronger relationships between ports and their cities, and destinations’ long-term wellbeing.
The membership additions span six countries. Three Spanish organizations joined as associates: Suardiaz, Lantimar Group and Shorelink Iberia. The Italian additions are AKS Advisory and Ravenna Civitas Cruise Port, while Petrol Ofisi and Istanbul Shipping joined from Türkiye.
The remaining associate members are Morocco’s Compagnie Commerciale Charbonniere et Maritime, France’s Worms - Medacruise and Croatia’s SeaCras. Ahead of the assembly, MedCruise said its network represented 22 countries.
Constitution updated on participation and sustainability
The constitutional revisions address communication methods and inclusive, gender-neutral wording. They also set out provisions for member participation and reporting. The new sustainability objective encompasses economic, social and environmental considerations.
Theodora Riga, president of MedCruise, said the changes would “provide MedCruise with a framework that will allow us to be even more effective in promoting and supporting the cruise sector.”
The meeting was the association’s second general assembly of 2026, following the 68th General Assembly in Palermo in June.
Assembly held ahead of Seatrade Cruise Med
The gathering took place during MedCruise’s 30th-anniversary year; the association was founded in Rome on June 11, 1996. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria also hosted Seatrade Cruise Med 2026, which opened the day after the assembly.
For the trade event, MedCruise had announced a pavilion bringing together 18 exhibiting members. More than 20 associated specialists were scheduled to participate in over 15 conference sessions. Its planned exhibition space was second in size only to that of host Las Palmas Cruise Port.
The conference agenda included community relations, port infrastructure, artificial intelligence and responsible shore experiences. Riga was scheduled to deliver welcoming remarks and participate in the opening discussion on the state of the Mediterranean cruise industry.
MedCruise’s anniversary program also included a September 17 meeting of its Economic Impact Assessments Working Group, led by board member Lorenzo Vera Franco.
A special edition of the Seatrade Cruise Talks podcast featuring former MedCruise presidents is planned for later in the year. The association’s 70th General Assembly will take place in Istanbul.
