Schedule of Content

Join our Advisory Board Chair, My Nguyen, as she opens the show and welcomes attendees. Following this, a winning interior design student will be awarded with the coveted NEWH scholarship, gifted by CSI Americas.

This session discusses mega ships and the trend towards bigger vessels

• What are the customer trends which drive venues, spaces, attractions, programming, neighbourhoods & creating memorable moments onboard?
• Designing family vacations, providing options for all demographics
• The economics and cost per berth / ROI of designing interiors for bigger ships

The personalisation journey starts from the moment the guest books. Providing direct access to the tools, controls and devices means that guests are able to use the touchpoints which suit them, and curate a personalised onboard experience. This session looks at moments of interaction, and the benefits of both realtime connectivity and data feedback.

This session continues the conversation on how to reduce waste in refurbishments developing from previous Sustainable Design Summit working groups. Speakers will provide recent updates on circularity projects, sharing their experiences and insights into the ‘how’ when it comes to circularity – and demonstrating the all-important ‘why’ which backs the business case. 

• Comprehensive refits at 10 – 15 years include replacing carpets and thousands of loose furniture items
• AIDA Evolution: closed-loop carpet initiatives demonstrate full circularity in action
• Breaking down barriers in furniture donations
• Bringing circularity on board vessels for true sustainability outcomes 
• Reducing the mid-life waste crisis can also meet the business case
• Beyond the demolition plan: how to make reduction and recycling a seamless process in hotel refurbishments

Hosted by:

Join MSC Cruises’ Saleta Valdes Marquez Concept Innovation Sr. Manager at MSC Cruises as she explores how innovation and technology are reshaping life on board. Discover how spaces like The Harbour integrate interactive attractions, gamification, and mobile connectivity to redefine engagement at sea. From continuing to evolve a new ship class to elevating the cruise-ship classic water park, this conversation will spotlight how cruise lines are using guest-facing technology — from apps to immersive zones — to elevate satisfaction and drive loyalty.

This session will be followed by a networking lunch connecting you with your peers in the guest experience and technology space.

Join this exclusive Q&A with The Parker Company — an opportunity to hear experienced insights, ask your burning questions, and gain insider knowledge from one of the industry’s leading procurement companies.

This session is held exclusively for CSI+ Pass & VIP Pass holders, Exhibitors, Sponsors, and Press.

Newbuild vessels entering service are continuously upping the bar on entertainment features and interactive experiences which delight the guest. Younger demographics are a discerning audience, which put a high value on unique experiences. This session takes a whistlestop tour of some of the industry’s newest and most inspiring features.

The introduction of immersive dining concepts brings the guest experience to life and makes the dining experience more meaningful. Guests feel more connected – to each other and to the cultures & places they are visiting. Our panel of experts will share their insights into the key elements of experiential dining – storytelling, theatre, art, connection and delivering something very special.

Land-based and cruise designers come together in conversations about key areas they can learn from each other. This session asks – how does each sector approach storytelling, authenticity and sense of place. And in the spirit of collaboration – where are the opportunities for working together, bringing different expertise to cross-fertilise designs?

Dive into a buyer-supplier case study, exploring the conception and creation of competitive socialising space 360 Golf, featuring Norwegian Cruise Line and Holovis. This bite-size session traces the process from NCL’s strategic planning and brand evolution, through interpretation and execution of the brief by Holovis. Gain first hand insights into the next generation of guest experience from the experts making it happen.

More speakers to be announced…

Join this focused session to hear first-hand from Ana Maria Girtu, Director Cruise Hotel Operations at The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.

This session is held exclusively for CSI+ Plus & VIP Pass holders, Exhibitors, Sponsors, and Press.

Sponsored by:

This session looks at the key parameters of wayfinding and using interactive signage as a part of the broader guest experience. It explores the content and ROI strategy, inspiring engagement through enhanced storytelling across multiple touchpoints. Our expert panel will share pro tips on how to bring signage to life; whilst integrating signage into the design of the space.

• What are the key considerations for deciding on scope of a refurbishment?
• Future proofing designs in refurb projects, e.g. providing the right technical infrastructure in the right places
• Rolling out new design features which connect the storytelling and extend the brand’s narrative across newbuild & refurb vessels
• Updating materials and finishes

In this interactive session, we spotlight Miami-based design studios, offering insights into their inspiring work across specialized sectors including hotel, cruise, retail, and restaurant design.