--- title: "Cruise Group: Despite Storms, the Caribbean Is Still Open" id: "40197" type: "post" slug: "cruise-group-despite-storms-the-caribbean-is-still-open" published_at: "2017-10-17T20:34:18+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T16:14:48+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2017/10/17/cruise-group-despite-storms-the-caribbean-is-still-open/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2017/10/17/cruise-group-despite-storms-the-caribbean-is-still-open.md" excerpt: "The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association has launched a large-scale awareness campaign to ensure the public knows that most ports in the Caribbean weren’t seriously affected by the recent hurricanes and are still operational." taxonomy_category: - "Marketing / Communications" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "Caribbean" - "cruise industry" - "tourism" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "C-Level" - "Director" - "Executive Team" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Industry Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Cruise Group: Despite Storms, the Caribbean Is Still Open Given the continuing news coverage of devastation in the Caribbean after two major hurricanes this fall, you’d be forgiven for believing that island ports across the region are closed. But a cruise-industry group wants to make sure you know otherwise. This week, the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association, which represents cruise-industry interests in the Caribbean and Latin America, launched a campaign called [The Caribbean Is Open (opens in a new tab)](http://CaribbeanIsOpen.com) . It’s spreading the message that about 100 ports of call are operational, even as Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and other destinations are still recovering from the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. [As the Miami Herald notes (opens in a new tab)](http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article179196936.html) , the ports hit the hardest by the storms—two in the U.S. Virgin Islands, two in Puerto Rico—are likely to reopen by the end of next month. But travelers might choose to stay home, which could pose a serious economic threat to the region’s tourism industry. The campaign’s website, launched on Monday, “will be an invaluable resource for destinations and cruise lines to spread information about and footage of the beautiful destinations awaiting guests,” [FCCA President Michele Paige said in a news release (opens in a new tab)](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fccas-caribbean-is-open-for-business-campaign-launches-landing-site-for-cruise-vacations-300537519.html) . “It is crucial to connect with potential travelers and show them that most of the unparalleled experiences in the Caribbean are operating normally.” Multiple cruise line companies have assisted with hurricane relief efforts in recent weeks. A Carnival ship out of San Juan, Puerto Rico, for example, has been used to house relief workers. But Carnival President and CEO Arnold Donald [told Skift (opens in a new tab)](https://skift.com/2017/10/17/cruise-execs-are-talking-up-the-caribbean-as-key-ports-recover/) that recovery efforts are unlikely to affect normal operations in most places. “We know some people wonder if it’s a good time to go to the Caribbean or if they should wait,” he said. “The answer is it is a great time to go to the Caribbean.” FCCA will highlight the campaign as part of its annual [FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show (opens in a new tab)](https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=1967599) , which starts next week. (ALEXIUZ/iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#Caribbean](https://associationsnow.com/tag/caribbean/) [#cruise industry](https://associationsnow.com/tag/cruise-industry/) [#tourism](https://associationsnow.com/tag/tourism/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoMessage from Kathy McAdams Senior Vice President, Convention Sales for Los Angeles TourismJuly 10, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/07/10/message-from-kathy-mcadams-senior-vice-president-convention-sales-for-los-angeles-tourism/) - [VideoMessage from Adam Burke, President & CEO for Los Angeles TourismJune 18, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/06/18/message-from-adam-burke-president-ceo-for-los-angeles-tourism/) - [VideoUsing DEI to Create Welcoming EnvironmentsAugust 29, 2023](https://associationsnow.com/2023/08/29/using-dei-to-create-welcoming-environments/) - [VideoUrban Land Institute- Project Recovery: Rebuilding Los Angeles After the January 2025 WildfiresSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/urban-land-institute-project-recovery-rebuilding-los-angeles-after-the-january-2025-wildfires/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2017%2F10%2F17%2Fcruise-group-despite-storms-the-caribbean-is-still-open%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !