Buckle up, folks, because the cruise industry is about to set sail into a whirlwind of innovation and inspiration. The Cruise Xperience Innovation Summit (CXI) has just dropped its first-ever schedule, and it’s a doozy. Sponsored by Journey, this summit is all about connecting the dots between seamless guest experiences and those jaw-dropping ‘wow’ moments that cruise brands live for.
The party kicks off on June 3rd at the Miami Beach Convention Center, cozying up with the Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Americas and Hotel & Resort Design South. It’s a power-packed lineup, with heavy hitters like Virgin Voyages, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Carnival Cruise Line, and MSC Cruises taking the stage. If you’re not already marking your calendar, you should be.
Day one dives straight into the deep end with ‘Frictionless guest interaction for improved guest experience.’ We’re talking the nitty-gritty of personalisation and bespoke experiences. Cristina Fernandez, Senior Director of Digital Product Strategy at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, is leading the charge. Expect to hear some serious insights on how to make guests feel like they’re the only ones on board.
Day two starts with ‘New concepts in immersive experiences on cruise,’ a session that’s sure to spark some lively debates. With hospitality design pushing boundaries worldwide, this is where you’ll hear about the latest and greatest in interactive experiences. And if you thought dining was just about the food, think again. ‘Beyond the Plate: Experiential dining’ is on the menu, along with ‘Interactive signage+.’ Yeah, you read that right. Plus, there’s a lunch and learn session that’s like a backstage pass to the tech-driven entertainment game. A cruise line buyer and a supplier will dish the dirt on how they create those unforgettable moments.
But here’s where it gets really interesting. Suppliers are the unsung heroes of the cruise industry, and CXI is giving them the spotlight they deserve. There’s a ‘Battle of the Brands’ pitch-off on June 3rd, where suppliers will go head-to-head to show off their cutting-edge products. It’s like Shark Tank, but for cruise tech.
And let’s not forget the elephant in the room—the newbuild order book has grown by around 50% throughout 2024 and the first quarter of 2025. That’s a lot of new ships needing a lot of new ideas. CXI is co-located with CSI Americas, the only exhibition and conference dedicated to connecting the buyers and suppliers of the cruise design industry. With over 300 exhibitors and a jam-packed conference schedule, it’s a goldmine of inspiration and innovation.
So, what does this all mean for the future of the cruise industry? Well, buckle up, because it’s about to get a whole lot more personal, a whole lot more immersive, and a whole lot more tech-driven. We’re talking bespoke experiences that make guests feel like royalty, interactive dining that’s as much about the show as the food, and signage that’s anything but boring. And with suppliers stepping up their game, we can expect to see some seriously innovative products hitting the market.
But it’s not just about the wow factor. This summit is a call to action for the industry to up its game, to push boundaries, and to challenge the status quo. It’s a chance for cruise lines to learn from each other, to collaborate, and to innovate. And with the newbuild order book growing at a rapid pace, the pressure is on to deliver experiences that are truly out of this world.
So, if you’re in the cruise industry, you owe it to yourself to be at CXI. It’s not just a conference—it’s a movement. And it’s one that’s set to shape the future of the cruise industry in a big way. So, grab your notebooks, your business cards, and your thinking caps. It’s time to set sail into the future of cruise innovation.