On March 20th, 2025, the educational programme “¡Todos a bordo!” (All Aboard!) held its first edition at C.E.I.P. Miguel Pintor in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, with outstanding success among students and teachers alike. This innovative initiative, promoted by CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) and Puertos de Tenerife, in collaboration with MSC Cruises, aims to bring the cruise industry closer to the local community—especially young generations—by fostering key values such as diversity, intercultural respect, teamwork, sustainability, and language learning.
The project was led by Ana Díaz on behalf of CLIA and by Luz Marina Espiau Moreno, Head of Commercial and Business Development at Puertos de Tenerife and a Board Member of MedCruise, whose strategic vision and commitment to education and international outreach were instrumental in bringing this first edition to life in the Canary Islands.
The session took place in the classrooms of C.E.I.P. Miguel Pintor and engaged 5th and 6th grade students, who became cruise professionals for a day. Through an interactive role-play format, the children assumed real-life positions such as captain, environmental officer, entertainers, medical staff, receptionists, engineers, shore excursion guides, or safety officers. Equipped with creative materials and a playful methodology, they not only discovered each role’s technical responsibilities but also embraced the human and cultural values that make cruise operations possible in a multicultural, global environment.
This experience was made possible with the support of the MSC Cruises crew, who generously contributed their time and professional insight to enrich the classroom experience. Representatives from CLIA and the commercial team of Puertos de Tenerife also participated, reinforcing the institutional commitment to education and community engagement.
The feedback from the school’s teaching staff was extremely positive. They praised the programme for being highly engaging, pedagogically enriching, and emotionally impactful for students. Teachers emphasized that it helped broaden professional horizons, spark technical and linguistic interests, and connect the port environment with the everyday reality of the classroom.
According to Luz Marina Espiau Moreno, who led the initiative from Puertos de Tenerife:
“Bringing this kind of educational project to life from the port’s perspective is essential to connect with our community, foster a local identity, and show our youngest generations that the cruise and port sectors are full of human, technical, and cultural opportunities. At MedCruise, we also aim to inspire other ports to replicate initiatives that merge education, diversity, and territory.”
Programmes like this reflect the port ecosystem’s deep commitment to society, strengthen the connection between cruise lines, institutions, and local communities, and position Tenerife not only as a leading cruise destination but also as a model for social innovation in the port sector.
At MedCruise, we are proud to highlight this outstanding example of collaboration and transformation that embodies the values we promote across our membership network. We warmly congratulate all the stakeholders involved for their leadership, vision, and dedication to fostering a meaningful bond between ports and people.
