Ana Karina Santini, Director Project Development and Assets Management EMEA Royal Caribbean Group

Ana Karina Santini was born in Argentina. She pursued her undergraduate in Political Science & International Relations from the University of Córdoba (Argentina), and obtained a Masters in International Cooperation from the University of Bologna (Italy), supplementing these two with studies at the European Commission DG1 International Cooperation (Brussels) and a second degree in Political Science with an economics focus at the University of Genoa (Italy). 

She joined MedCruise as Secretary General in 1997 and helped grow that port association from a handful of ports to its current significant size and purpose. She was also Commercial representative of Port of Buenos Aires in Genoa reporting to the National Secretary for Maritime Transportation.

In 2003, she opened her own firm, providing consultancy activities to ports, cruise terminal companies, industry exhibition and congress organizers, local governmental bodies and tourism boards, shipping and tour agencies in the cruise sector for the Mediterranean and Latin America Regions. 

Since January 2012, Karina has worked exclusively for RCL as Italian PR and Communications Manager; she was also involved in organizing theme cruises and new products. 

In 2013, she began working with Commercial Development Department; supporting RCL Joint Ventures in the Mediterranean region. Over time she has assumed responsibilities as an operating company Board of Directors member in RCL’s port companies and developing new projects. 

Since 2017 she is Director Project Development EMEA of Destination Development Department. She leads strategic RCL port developments throughout EMEA area, follows long term concession projects (including Public Private Partnerships, having relationships with all stakeholders and Governments) and serves as RCL’s board member in: Lisbon Cruise Port, Cruceros Malaga, Barcelona Cruise Port, Barcelona Port Investment, Roma Cruise Terminal, Terminal Napoli, Venezia Investimenti/Finpax,  Kusadasi/Ege Ports and La Spezia and Carrara Cruise Terminal. 

Ana Karina lives in Genoa (Italy) with her husband and her 14 years old son.