Propel is the FCCA accelerator program designed to help early-stage companies bring practical innovation to cruise tourism. It connects founders with cruise line leaders, destinations, ports and tour operators across the Caribbean and Latin America.
Twice a year, Propel welcomes a small group of startups to a hybrid program that combines industry-specific curriculum, mentorship, pilot opportunities and direct introductions to decision-makers, without taking any equity in return.
Meet the Spring 2027 Destination Tech and Guest Experience Cohorts!
PortFlow builds real-time passenger flow software that helps ports and destinations forecast crowding, coordinate transportation and reduce wait times on busy multi-ship days.
Isla Analytics gives tourism boards a shared dashboard for cruise visitor spending, satisfaction and economic impact so destinations can plan with better evidence.
TenderTrack digitizes tender and shuttle operations with live boarding counts, vessel tracking and alerts that keep guests and crew informed from ship to shore.
Verde Shore measures and reports the environmental footprint of shore excursions, helping operators and cruise lines meet sustainability goals with verified data.
ShoreBook connects local tour operators to cruise line booking systems through a single inventory platform, opening new distribution channels for small and mid-sized operators.
Wayfare AI is a multilingual guide assistant that gives cruise guests personalized, accessible port information before and during their time ashore.
Access Ashore audits and certifies accessible tours and venues, helping guests with disabilities find excursions that meet their needs with confidence.
Mercado Local helps artisans and small retailers near cruise ports sell to visitors through digital storefronts, mobile payments and pre-arrival promotions.
Since launching, Propel has supported early-stage companies building solutions for ports, destinations, shore excursions, sustainability and guest experience. Participating startups have gone on to run pilots with FCCA member cruise lines and partner destinations across the region.
Propel is designed to shorten the path between a promising idea and a working solution in the cruise ecosystem. Each cohort is selected for its potential to solve real operational challenges identified by cruise line and destination partners.
Propel does not take any equity in the companies we support. The program is free to all participants.
ApplyPropel invites cruise industry professionals, destination leaders and subject experts to support participating startups through mentoring, volunteering as advisors or providing resources such as pilot sites and data.
Learn more: Get InvolvedOur partners include cruise lines, ports, tourism authorities and service providers who offer guidance, pilot environments and industry access to help startups grow in the cruise sector.
Learn more: Meet our PartnersMiami, Florida
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Cartagena, Colombia
Early-stage companies with a product, service or technology relevant to cruise tourism, including port operations, destinations, shore excursions, sustainability, retail and guest experience.
No. Propel does not take any equity, and the program is free for participating companies.
Propel is a hybrid program. Most sessions are virtual, with in-person programming at FCCA events and a closing Demo Day.
A selection committee of cruise line, destination and FCCA representatives reviews applications based on relevance, readiness and potential impact for the cruise ecosystem.
