This can be the ‘year of cruise’, but to do so we must seize the opportunity, says Clia UK & Ireland director Andy Harmer
If you head to the Clia Facebook page this month, you will see our header proudly displaying the slogan: ‘Make 2015 the Year of Cruise.’
Many Clia members share the sentiment that this year, more than any in recent memory, offers the biggest opportunities for growth in the number of cruise holidays sold.
We have been lucky in the UK and Ireland that, despite recent challenging economic conditions, there has been a steady rise in the number of cruise holidays being taken. Ocean cruises have surpassed 1.7 million, and European river cruises, in particular, are growing rapidly.
The growth has been fuelled by an agent community that has been ever-creative and persistent in presenting cruise holidays to those who are the still ‘yet to cruise’ – most holidaymakers.
Something for everyone
This year, the cruise industry will do more than ever to demonstrate to those customers that there is a cruise that is right for them, and that this year is the right time to try a cruise for the first time.
The high-profile launches in the spring of Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas and P&O Cruises’ Britannia will do much to shine the spotlight on cruising. These are incredible examples of investment, innovation and of placing the customer experience at the heart of everything we do.
You only have to look at these two ships as examples of the innovation that is taking place in technology, dining, entertainment and ship design to see how they will attract a whole new audience – those who currently think that a cruise simply isn’t for them.
They are also a reminder that much of the recent growth in UK cruising is a result of people choosing to start their holiday from a UK port.
This increase isn’t just down to new ships being based out of the UK, but also the continued presence of ships from an array of British-focused lines that serve regional markets so well.
Increasing choice
Other launches taking place in 2015 will serve to remind us of the huge diversity of ship, destination and experience available. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Escape and Ponant’s Le Lyrial will join the worldwide fleet, as will 25 river ships.
These are all incredible opportunities for agents. But being presented with opportunities and making them work are separate things.
So make a belated New Year’s resolution to jump right into the cruise community and realise the full potential that 2015 has to offer. Attend the training events
and ship visits offered by cruise
lines; complete the excellent online learning that many cruise companies offer; utilise the unique resources and events available via Clia; and, perhaps, make it a year to become a recognised cruise professional via the Clia accreditation programme.
This can be the ‘year of cruise’, but to do so, we must seize the opportunity.