Joel Katz, managing director, CLIA Australasia
Another Bumper Year of Cruising
As we approach the end of another year, we are once again witnessing a procession of cruise ships of every size and description visiting our coastal towns and cities. Close to 60 cruise ships will sail in Australian waters, carrying out more than 1200 port calls around the country, reflecting the continuing growth of popularity in cruises for Australian travellers.
Australia will welcome a number of ships making their maiden voyages to our shores this season; including two new CLIA member ships, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Jewel, and Oceania Cruises’ Regatta. Australians have shown that they are keen to experience the best that cruising has to offer, and there really is a ship for everyone with more and more lines sending their ships south for the summer.
Globally, the new year brings more choice than ever before, as we see cruise lines introduce many cutting-edge designs to reimagine the cruise experience. Many cruise lines are expanding their offerings with new spaces and features to make the ships even more exceptional. We have rarely seen such a close focus on the design aspects of ocean and river ships as we are now seeing.
And it’s not just design concepts but also new onboard innovation that is thriving in 2018, with a focus on wearable and mobile devices that will introduce facial technology, unlock staterooms, and locate family and friends on board.
New restaurants, spas, entertainment and now with the bonus of new technology, all make a cruise the best choice for your customers when choosing a holiday.
Asia River Cruise Conference & Destination Forum
CLIA is delighted to announce the inaugural CLIA River Cruise Conference and Destination Forum for travel agents this coming April. The conference will take place in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, followed by a cruise on the Mekong River.
Conference sessions which will focus on identifying potential river cruise customers and learning more about the wide variety of experiences offered on a river cruise holiday, particularly around the cruise holiday choices in Asia.
The CLIA Asia River Cruise Conference & Destination Forum is available to CLIA member travel agents only. Registration for this unique experience is based on a first come, first serve basis, and delegates will receive a total of 60 CLIA points for attending.
Tickets on Sale for the 17th Annual Cruise Industry Night of Nights — 24 Feb 2018
The annual CLIA Cruise Industry Awards is the biggest night on the cruise calendar. It’s a chance for our member agents, cruise lines and partners to don their finest and celebrate a big year of cruise with their peers, while also acknowledging all the hard work that goes into making our industry a great success.
A total of 20 awards will be presented including Cruise Agency of the Year, Online Agency of the Year, Homebased/Mobile Agent of the Year, Cruise Consultant of the Year, the Rising Star award and the latest entrant to the CLIA Hall of Fame, as nominated by CLIA members.
