MedCruise Names Anne-Marie Spinosi President as Riga Steps Aside

MedCruise, the association representing Mediterranean cruise ports and destinations, has appointed Anne-Marie Spinosi as its president, after Theodora Riga resigned from the role for personal reasons. Spinosi moves up from senior vice-president, while Riga stays inside the organisation as honorary president — a handover that keeps the outgoing leadership formally attached rather than cutting ties.

For an association whose job is to speak for ports in negotiations with cruise lines, continuity at the top matters. A president who already ran internal committees and partnerships doesn't need a learning curve with the membership, and that appears to be exactly what MedCruise has chosen here.

Why did Riga leave, and what did she say?

Riga cited personal reasons for stepping down. She framed her exit as a positive one, saying: "MedCruise has given me much to be proud of and even more to be grateful for. I leave the presidency with lasting friendships and wholehearted confidence in Anne-Marie as she leads our next chapter."

According to the association's press release, Riga's presidency was marked by three things: stronger cooperation among member ports, greater international visibility for the association, and consistent promotion of Mediterranean cruise ports' interests. Her move to honorary president gives MedCruise a visible link to that record.

Who is Anne-Marie Spinosi?

Spinosi brings a long track record inside the industry. She has served as cruise manager at the Chamber of Commerce of Corsica since 2009, giving her more than fifteen years of hands-on experience in the cruise and port sectors. That's a port-side career, not a cruise-line one — relevant for an association that exists to defend port and destination interests.

She has also been an active MedCruise member for many years, with particular involvement in communication, public relations, events and strategic partnerships. She has worked on strengthening cooperation among members and promoting the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas as leading cruise destinations.

In her first remarks as president, she credited her predecessor: "First and foremost, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Riga for her outstanding leadership, dedication and unwavering commitment to MedCruise. Her contribution to our association, both professionally and personally, has been invaluable."

She added: "It is with a profound sense of honor, humility and responsibility that I take on the presidency of MedCruise. I am fully committed to building on the work accomplished together, ensuring continuity and further strengthening our association's role as a leading voice for cruise ports and destinations."

What's on the agenda for the new president?

The timing is significant. MedCruise celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026, and the association itself describes this transition as a new chapter in its development. Under Spinosi, the stated priorities are:

• Strengthening international partnerships
• Supporting members in addressing evolving industry challenges
• Promoting sustainable cruise tourism
• Reinforcing dialogue between ports, cruise lines, destinations and local communities

That last point — dialogue between ports, cruise lines and local communities — is where port associations earn their keep, since disputes over ship calls, congestion and shore-side impact increasingly land on ports rather than operators.

In plain terms: MedCruise has replaced a departing president with an insider who already knows the members and the agenda, and it has done so a year out from its 30th anniversary.