Cruise sales in England are holding up despite the double blow of Brexit and a lacklustre recovery of the travel industry post-pandemic across the channel, the CLIA Forum 2023 has been told.
delegates were told 2023 has been “spectacular” for sales, with 2024 set to be another “amazing” year with demand “really high and prices being held.”
Although he did not produce figures at the conference, the London director of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), Andy Harmer told 250 delegates from across the industry that sales were ahead of pre pandemic levels from Britain. Unofficial figures suggest about one million travellers from Britain and Ireland took a cruise in the first half of 2023. up 15pc on the first six months of 2019.
Speakers at the event included:
- Ben Bouldin, CLIA Chair Britain & Ireland told delegates: “Cruise continues to lead the maritime sector in sustainability”, says Ben Bouldin, CLIA U&I chair. “Cruise lines are investing heavily to achieve net-zero carbon cruising globally by 2050.”
- Simon Jack, Business Editor for BBC News said “there is a cruise for everybody.”
- Ryan Uhl, Chief Brand Strategy Officer at Mail Metro Media outlined branding and strategy priorities.
- Linden Coppell, Vice President Sustainability & ESG at MSC Cruises said cruise holidays are quickly becoming the hottest holiday ticket” around. “New markets are emerging. Demand for cruise is at an all time high.”
- Danae Sheehan, Voyage Tracker Manager & Editor from Seabourn
A panel discussion with Eithne Williamson, VP Princess Cruises Europe; Lee Haslett, Global Chief Commercial Officer at Celestyal; Paul Melinis, Managing Director Britain & Europe at APT Luxury River Cruises & Tours; and Giles Hawke, VP & MD Britain, Ireland and EMEA at Celebrity Cruises.
Mr Harmar told delegates:
- The theme for next year’s CLIA Conference will be #DiscoverMore, focusing on the range of destinations accessible through cruising. The conference will take place from May 23-25 in Southampton and is now Europe’s largest annual travel agent event.
- Additional places at the conference, which originally sold out in 48 hours, will be made available to CLIA members. P&O Cruises will now include Britannia as part of the ship visit program.
- CLIA’s RiverView event in Amsterdam from March 11-13 has also sold out, but there is a possibility of additional places being made available.
- CLIA will continue supporting the Compass Project, a partnership with Mundy Cruising and St John Bosco College, aiming to promote social mobility, diversity, and inclusivity in the travel and cruise industry.
- CLIA has also introduced new sections on its website, such as a New-to-Selling Cruise hub, Virtual Ship Tours, and a ‘Countdown’ page for upcoming ship launches.
Jacqueline Dobson of Barrhead Travel, Tony Andrews of Cruisedotco and Ruth Marshall of Royal Caribbean were inducted into the Royal Caribbean Hall of Fame.
Andy Harmer, London director of CLIA said: “We all want this momentum to continue into the new year and beyond, so have made a series of trade-friendly announcements to help start 2024 with a flourish. We can’t wait to see what the new year brings.”
Pre pandemic cruise sales from Ireland were 44.780 a year.
