With innovative thinking, leadership and continued public-private sector collaboration, the U.S. Virgin Islands has a good opportunity to further develop its cruise tourism sector.

MSC Cruises said that for the first time it will sail to Cuba from the U.S. The Geneva-based line said it plans to launch regular, seven-day cruises from Miami on its MSC Armonia ship that will spend two nights in Havana.

2017 was another record year for Germans cruising, with 2.19 million people, an 8.4% increase, choosing a sea-going holiday.

The focus of discussions and negotiations with cruise line executives was to increase destination calls, explore new marketing opportunities as well as the reinforcement of traditional ones.

The cruise industry is expected to generate up to $60 billion in ship orders in 2018 alone, even more proof of the “tremendous feeling of optimism about the global cruise industry,” according to CLIA President and CEO Cindy D’Aoust.

Royal Caribbean International's Symphony of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, will set sail on its first cruise in April.