At its annual conference in Southampton, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) UK & Ireland shared a wave of new updates aimed at enhancing support for travel agents, as the sector continues its post-pandemic resurgence.
Andy Harmer, Managing Director for CLIA UK & Ireland, addressed more than 850 delegates from across the trade, highlighting a 10% growth in membership since May 2024. CLIA now boasts nearly 4,300 agency members and 10,000 individuals actively engaging with its resources and training programs.
Key announcements included:
Expansion of virtual ship tours, with 12 new vessels added to the growing online portfolio in 2025.
The CLIA Cruise Champions Class of 2025 will graduate in June. A new Luxury Cruise stream will debut for the autumn intake, joining the current Expedition and River Cruise programmes.
A complimentary “New to Selling Cruise Virtual Day” has been scheduled for July 3, open to all newcomers in the cruise trade.
CLIA Cruise Week 2025 will run from September 15–21, with agents encouraged to begin preparations now. Additional promotional resources and updates are expected in the coming months.
These agent-friendly initiatives reflect CLIA’s ongoing commitment to education, innovation, and engagement within the cruise retail sector.
