FIU Launches the Cruise Excellence Center — and the Industry Showed Up

Florida International University has launched the FIU Cruise Excellence Center, a new initiative led by its Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management designed to make Miami — already the Cruise Capital of the World — the global academic hub for cruise-industry research, talent development, executive education, and innovation.

The announcement coincided with the inaugural meeting of the Center's Cruise Executive Advisory Board, a founding group of presidents, CEOs, a CFO, and other senior executives drawn from cruise lines, travel distribution, destinations, maritime services, and other critical parts of the cruise ecosystem.

Board members will help FIU identify high-value industry challenges and translate university knowledge into practical outcomes — establishing research priorities, strengthening academic curricula, expanding experiential learning and internship opportunities, developing executive and professional education, and creating stronger connections among students, faculty, and the global cruise community.

"Cruising is an extraordinarily complex global industry, and the issues shaping its future increasingly cross traditional academic boundaries," said Michael Cheng, dean of the Chaplin School. "The Chaplin School will serve as the academic lead for the Center, connecting the right FIU expertise and discipline across the university to the questions industry leaders bring forward."

Larry Pimentel, FIU Distinguished Cruise Executive-in-Residence and chair of the Cruise Executive Advisory Board, framed the ambition plainly: "This is intended to be a working partnership, not an advisory board in name only. Our opportunity is bigger than creating another academic center — it is to build a resource for the global cruise industry that is relevant, independent, connected and useful."

The Center's initial strategic priorities span academic research, education, and industry collaboration, with a particular focus on opening career pathways for FIU students. Potential research areas include the future cruise workforce, changing consumer demand, emerging technologies and AI, environmental responsibility, crew well-being, destination and managed-tourism strategies, and the economic and geopolitical forces affecting global cruising.