Cruise Ship Interiors Expo, a first-of-its-kind conference focusing exclusively on interior design and refitting of cruise ships was launched at Miami Beach Convention Center on June 19th welcoming more than 2,800 attendees. FIU’s Department of Interior Architecture was invited to participate and network with cruise lines, design firms, and global leading suppliers of this highly niche industry. Newton D’souza, chair and associate professor of the department of interior architecture, opened up the conference with his opening remarks and welcome. He was invited to moderate the ‘Cruise Industry Outlook: Leaders’ Debate’, in which design leaders and consultants participated from internationally acclaimed cruise vessels such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, and MSC Cruises. Besides expert speakers, the expo also displayed exciting innovations at the live product demos. Darci Pappano, Director of the FIU Cruise Ship and Super Yacht (CSSY) program displayed a booth with student work and program history.
This year the CSSY program marks its 10th year of success and is the nation’s only formal educational initiative that prepares interior designers to work in the cruise ship and yacht industry. Cindy Guthrie, international president at NEWH, alongside Cruise Ship Interiors Expo’s CEO Toby Walters, also awarded a scholarship to Interior architecture alumni Brennan Broome.
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