The second annual Cruise Shipping Asia-Pacific opened today at the Marina Bay Cruise Centre in Singapore with a panel of top cruise line executives discussing the current state and potential for the Asia-Pacific region as the next great cruising market.

Cruise terminal operations, challenges and opportunities for supplying the cruise industry, emerging ports and itinerary development, shore excursions, a new river cruising project and passenger sourcing trends were all topics at the Seatrade South America Cruise Convention in Buenos Aires.

Captain Cook Cruises, “Venture Cruise” is returning for summer from 1 November 2012 to 31 March 2013.

The number of people around the world who took a cruise holiday grew by 10 per cent last year (2011) – an increase of almost two million people which topped 20 million global ocean cruise passengers for the first time.

South America's cruise industry has been growing fast and holds vast potential, but the region must work together to tackle issues, create demand and rein in costs, said speakers at the opening day of the Seatrade South America Cruise Convention in Buenos Aires.

The second annual Cruise Shipping Asia-Pacific conference and exhibition will feature two master classes on the topics of localizing the shipboard product to different markets and cruise line/airline cooperation.