#CLIACruiseFest. Welcome to September! September 2015 CLIA UK & Ireland Informer.

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1 September 2015 CLIA UK & Ireland Informer Welcome to September! Getting ready for Cruise Week 2015 #MyCLIA on the Cruise Pinboard Some great photos shared with us Adele s Event Update Coming up this Autumn Meet our new Executive Partners Four new members join CLIA This Month s Cruise News Update By Augustus Lonsdale of CLIA A warm welcome to September which in addition to some further online developments and no less than two CLIA events is also the month when we celebrate a Festival of Cruising for Cruise Week. Between September 19 and 27, CLIA and our cruise line members will use social media, newspapers, radio, magazines and all marketing channels to promote the idea of cruise holidays as widely as possible. What does this mean? It is a great time for you to also talk about cruise holidays in your marketing and PR in order to capitalise on the extra noise that cruise is creating! And of course collectively we can make a difference. See inside and at cruiseexperts.org for further details of how you can get involved and let us all work together this year for a successful Cruise Week! Thank you for your support (and don t forget to apply for one of our special t-shirts!) CLIA Cruise Daily Autumn Webinar Series Launches Andy CLIA UK & Ireland, Director Special Guest Columnist Anthony Pearce, Cruise Adviser

SATURDAY 19 - SUNDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2015 Cruise Week is coming Your Chance to Win One of Seven Prizes!

cruising offers. And this year is no different!

Each day we will focus on a different area of a cruise holiday from accommodation to food, and from entertainment to relaxation - so that can share some of the great experiences that await from one

2 SATURDAY 19 - SUNDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2015 Cruise Week is coming Your Chance to Win One of Seven Prizes! Each year CLIA, our travel agent members and the finest cruise lines of the world work together for a whole week here in the UK and in Ireland to celebrate some of the great holiday experiences that cruising offers. And this year is no different! For Cruise Week 2015 we are going to celebrate some of the great aspects of a cruise that makes it a truly memorable holiday as we celebrate all aspects of cruise in our Festival of Cruising! Each day we will focus on a different area of a cruise holiday from accommodation to food, and from entertainment to relaxation - so that can share some of the great experiences that await from one of our 51 cruise line members. So take a look at some of the great information and suggestions we have below, and as we approach Cruise Week you will be able to watch some of the specially created videos we have, and take advantage of the latest Cruise Week offers and promotions that are available for you exclusively from CLIA member travel agents. Join our festival of Cruising at cruiseexperts.org and at facebook.com/cliaukireland Saturday 19 September Destinations Sunday 20 September Accommodation Monday 21 September Food Tuesday 22 September Entertainment & Activities Wednesday 23 September Health and Wellbeing Thursday 24 September Boutique Cruises Friday 25 September Family & Children

SATURDAY 19 - SUNDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2015 SHARE THE CRUISE WEEK VIDEOS WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS DOWNLOAD A POSTER Head

org for short taster videos on each of the different areas of a cruise holiday.

USE THE CRUISE WEEK LOGOS How do I get my hands on one?

org with your name, address and travel agency.

We are looking for the best photos of CLIA member travel agents that we can use on Facebook, Twitter and our

Simply take a photo of you in your Cruise Week T-shirt in your work environment, with or without colleagues -

3 SATURDAY 19 - SUNDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2015 SHARE THE CRUISE WEEK VIDEOS WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS DOWNLOAD A POSTER Head online to the Cruise Week pages of cruiseexperts.org for short taster videos on each of the different areas of a cruise holiday. Share them with your customers and spread the excitement of the Cruise Fest! CLAIM YOUR FREE CRUISE WEEK TEE! USE THE CRUISE WEEK LOGOS How do I get my hands on one? To be in with a chance of claiming your free Cruise Week T-Shirt, simply ukinfo@cruising.org with your name, address and travel agency. The first 60 drawn out of a hat will be sent a Cruise Week T-shirt. What do I do once I receive my t-shirt? We are looking for the best photos of CLIA member travel agents that we can use on Facebook, Twitter and our website. Simply take a photo of you in your Cruise Week T-shirt in your work environment, with or without colleagues - be as creative as you wish - the best photo as chosen by our panel of judges will win an exclusive cabin on the inaugural 1 night sailing of the Norwegian Escape in October. All of the best photos submitted will be shared on our Facebook and Twitter, so make sure you keep our channels in your favourites! ukinfo@cruising.org Deadline: Monday 7th September FOLLOW THE ACTION ON SOCIAL MEDIA Cliaukireland UKCruising

holiday and travel sector we know that potential cruise

holiday choices - and all of this means that as an

cruiser - and that is great for all of us.

spent on ship visits or fam trips or cruise holidays or in

.. And we can then share them on Twitter using #MyCLIA

cruise experiences available - but importantly we will

org to bring together, in one place, those experiences.

4 Join the Cruise Revolution! Given the level of advertising and marketing across the holiday and travel sector we know that potential cruise guests are constantly being presented with alternative holiday choices - and all of this means that as an industry we have to work even harder to convince someone to take their first cruise holiday. Of course we also know that once a cruiser then always a cruiser - and that is great for all of us. So what can we do to showcase the experiences that cruise offers? We can start by taking pictures or videos of our own time spent on ship visits or fam trips or cruise holidays or in cruise destinations... And we can then share them on Twitter using #MyCLIA Firstly it will demonstrate the enormous diversity of cruise experiences available - but importantly we will also capture them on our CLIA Pinboard at cruiseexperts.org to bring together, in one place, those experiences. Now it takes a couple of hours for our Pinboard to capture your tweet - but imagine this... All CLIA member travel agents, cruise lines and sponsors using #MyCLIA throughout the year - and imagine the huge impact that you can have on the perception of cruise holidays. Thank you for your support! Share your cruise photos and videos with us on Twitter #MyCLIA

CLIA UK & Ireland Informer Adele s Events Coming in 2015 LAST CALL FOR BOOKING Wednesday 23 September 2015 10am - 1pm Melt Offices, London CLIA are delighted to partner with Melt to bring you

We will explore and unravel how certain technologies are contributing to current industry dynamics the rise of mobile searches for cruise and the spike in smart phone penetration for the over

increased offline sales. Melt is a digital agency founded by, backed by and staffed by travel people.

senior positions within global brands. To register for this or any other event please login and head to the Events Page of cruiseexperts.org or call the CLIA team on 020 3582 4378.

NOW BOOKING Thursday 08 October RIVER CRUISE SHOWCASE, MANCHESTER This is a special evening where we bring together some of the finest river cruise operators at one event so you can keep up

5 CLIA UK & Ireland Informer Adele s Events Coming in 2015 LAST CALL FOR BOOKING Wednesday 23 September am - 1pm Melt Offices, London CLIA are delighted to partner with Melt to bring you this Digital Marketing Masterclass. The event will explore the digital challenges and opportunities that are facing the cruise industry today. We will explore and unravel how certain technologies are contributing to current industry dynamics the rise of mobile searches for cruise and the spike in smart phone penetration for the over 50 s. Conversely, we will explore the opportunities that digital technology presents for addressing the slowing growth in the UK and how a greater focus on UX and content marketing can drive increased offline sales. Melt is a digital agency founded by, backed by and staffed by travel people. Our experience extends far beyond the agency world Melt s core team has a combined 40 years in the travel industry, working across editorial, ecommerce and digital marketing and holding senior positions within global brands. To register for this or any other event please login and head to the Events Page of cruiseexperts.org or call the CLIA team on The event is free and open to all sectors or CLIA membership - travel agents, cruise lines, Executive Partners and college/university Alpha members. NOW BOOKING Thursday 08 October RIVER CRUISE SHOWCASE, MANCHESTER This is a special evening where we bring together some of the finest river cruise operators at one event so you can keep up with this rapidly growing sector FREE to CLIA Member Travel Agents Sunday 22 - Monday 23 November RIVER CRUISE CONVENTION, AMSTERDAM The ultimate river cruise event, and a unique event in the world join us in Amsterdam for 2 days and see 7 ships, attend conference and networking events, stay overnight onboard a river ship... and all created with you in mind! Tickets available at 70 + VAT

CLIA UK & Ireland Informer Meet our New Executive Partners For over 20 years, we ve had our fingers firmly on the pulse of adventure travel, and have worked hard to make it beat faster by offering

We thrive on bringing together curious travellers from all over the globe to experience, learn, share and explore this incredible planet of ours.

Whether it s the Arctic or Antarctica, an eight-day dip or 21-day odyssey, a quest in search of penguins or polar bears, there s a G Expedition cruise that s right for everyone.

Big enough to hold 134 passengers comfortably and small enough to access spots beyond the reach of big liners, she s a little ship that feels surprisingly big. www.gadventures.co.uk/travel-styles/cruising/expedition-cruises/ At Wendy Wu Tours we really know Asia; every vibrant, fascinating and incredibly rich corner of it.

Since Wendy s first tour departed in 1994, we ve been perfecting and diversifying our range of tours to capture the very essence of the destination, so you re not just admiring the top sights but

6 CLIA UK & Ireland Informer Meet our New Executive Partners For over 20 years, we ve had our fingers firmly on the pulse of adventure travel, and have worked hard to make it beat faster by offering the widest selection of affordable small-group tours, safaris and expeditions across the world. We thrive on bringing together curious travellers from all over the globe to experience, learn, share and explore this incredible planet of ours. We make travel meaningful by thinking small, thinking local, and thinking about what benefits the traveller, the trip, and the planet best. Whether it s the Arctic or Antarctica, an eight-day dip or 21-day odyssey, a quest in search of penguins or polar bears, there s a G Expedition cruise that s right for everyone. Completely refurbished in 2009, the G Expedition boasts a spacious, comfortable and safe experience for all her guests. Big enough to hold 134 passengers comfortably and small enough to access spots beyond the reach of big liners, she s a little ship that feels surprisingly big. At Wendy Wu Tours we really know Asia; every vibrant, fascinating and incredibly rich corner of it. That s why we are the UK s leading specialist tour operator to China, Japan and Southeast Asia. Since Wendy s first tour departed in 1994, we ve been perfecting and diversifying our range of tours to capture the very essence of the destination, so you re not just admiring the top sights but truly discovering them - our award-winning national escorts and their unparalleled knowledge are an integral part of this. For us, your journey begins from that very first enquiry. You can trust that we are dedicated to expertly guiding you through your Asian adventure, wherever you choose to explore. We believe that when visiting a place, it is important to not only feel, see, learn and experience, but to also give something back. We do this partly by supporting charities in Asia; and also by supporting local enterprise. Set up in 1989, Red Letter Days pioneered the concept of giving unforgettable experiences as gifts. The idea really caught people s imaginations and Red Letter Days has gone from strength to strength. Today we offer hundreds of experiences in the UK; an unrivalled choice with something to suit every taste, occasion and budget. But we don t just do experiences. Boasting the most extensive range of Experiences in the market to Lifestyle our signature high street voucher, we also provide bespoke Corporate Hospitality, Team Building & Incentive Travel to Gifts and Hampers we can help you create a flexible and results driven campaign which will engage employees and incentivise customers. Destinology have been providing luxury, tailor-made holidays to established and evolving destinations worldwide since being founded in With an enthusiastic team of experienced Travel Consultants, the staff have first-hand knowledge of the holidays they sell having visited many of the destinations and their hotels. Passionate about all types of travel from family holidays to cultural tours, city breaks and exotic escapes - Destinology have also expanded their brand to include cruise. Winners of the British Travel Awards 3 years in a row and selected as one of Britain s Cool Brands in 2014, Destinology has excelled in the luxury travel market with their expert knowledge, high levels of customer service and outstanding product range. Destinology not only has excellent relationships with the hotels they sell, but also with their customers, many of whom return year after year to book with them. Destinology is not your average tour operator: innovative, modern and extremely passionate about what they do travel is their appetite

7 CLIA UK & Ireland Informer Alex s Online Update CLIA Autumn Webinar Series September October November European Waterways Wednesday 9 September Belmond Wednesday 7 October Singapore Tourism Board Wednesday 4 November The Avalon Waterways Difference Thursday 17 September Amadeus River Cruises Wednesday 14 October Dubai Tourism Wednesday 11 November Puerto Rico Tourism Company Wednesday 23 September Selling Rhine River Cruises Thursday 15 October Selling Danube River Cruises Thursday 12 November Port Miami Wednesday 30 September Scenic Wednesday 21 October Seadream Yacht Club Wednesday 18 November Sign up online at Webinars can be found from the CLIA Cruise Daily

CLIA UK & Ireland Informer This Month s Cruise News Update by CLIA s Augustus Lonsdale You can tell it s been a busy year in Cruise if there are some people who may refer to the last month as quiet!

The announcement that Gerard Tempest was to leave his role as CCO at Carnival UK was huge news to start the month, and this was followed swiftly by a significant restructure at the Southampton based

Paul Ludlow, formerly of Princess Cruises, took on a new role as SVP at P&O Cruises, with a similar role in the pipeline at Cunard, as two of Britain s most iconic lines look to restructure ahead of

Meanwhile, Norwegian Cruise Line, themselves fresh from a move to new premises in Southampton, celebrated the float out of their latest ship Norwegian Escape ahead of its launch in October.

Guy Harvey, who is the latest to add his signature touch to the hull of a Norwegian Cruise Line vessel. Escape will be in Southampton in October.

Both P&O Cruise and Cunard announced a wide range of world voyages for 2017 - P&O will be celebrating 180 years with Aurora in particular echoing the trade route that were the beginnings of the

Olsen Cruise Lines and Silversea Expeditions have all announced a series of grand itineraries with MSC Lirica s epic journey from the Med to China, Black Watch s 107 night global voyage and a

8 CLIA UK & Ireland Informer This Month s Cruise News Update by CLIA s Augustus Lonsdale You can tell it s been a busy year in Cruise if there are some people who may refer to the last month as quiet! There may have been no new build announcements and no huge, star spangled ship launches but in reality this August has been far from uneventful. The announcement that Gerard Tempest was to leave his role as CCO at Carnival UK was huge news to start the month, and this was followed swiftly by a significant restructure at the Southampton based arm of Carnival Corp. Paul Ludlow, formerly of Princess Cruises, took on a new role as SVP at P&O Cruises, with a similar role in the pipeline at Cunard, as two of Britain s most iconic lines look to restructure ahead of a new era of engagement with the UK trade. Meanwhile, Norwegian Cruise Line, themselves fresh from a move to new premises in Southampton, celebrated the float out of their latest ship Norwegian Escape ahead of its launch in October. Escape came sailing out of the shipyard at Papenburg for the first time, resplendent with the marine wildlife based art of Dr. Guy Harvey, who is the latest to add his signature touch to the hull of a Norwegian Cruise Line vessel. Escape will be in Southampton in October. A number of Cruise Lines took advantage of this month to enlighten us with their plans for some epic circumnavigations of the globe over the next few years. Both P&O Cruise and Cunard announced a wide range of world voyages for P&O will be celebrating 180 years with Aurora in particular echoing the trade route that were the beginnings of the Peninsular and Oriental company, while Cunard will see all of their 3 Queens in an incredible 80 ports between them. Meanwhile, MSC Cruises, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and Silversea Expeditions have all announced a series of grand itineraries with MSC Lirica s epic journey from the Med to China, Black Watch s 107 night global voyage and a fascinating blend of land and sea adventures created by Silversea for guests of their expediton vessel Silver Galapagos. We also saw a number of new features announced onboard ships Royal Caribbean presented the first renders of what looks like an incredible kids experience in the interactive aqua park Splashaway Bay which will debut on Harmony of the Seas in May Princess Cruises also announced a new restaurant for their vessels Ruby Princess and Emerald Princess, SHARE, which will form part of their new link up with chef Curtis Stone. Chef Stone will also be debuting new main dining room dishes for a number of ships throughout the Princess fleet across the next month. While the ocean sector might not have seen any ship launches, the rivers came to the rescue. AmaWaterways inducted their new vessel AmaSerena into the fleet in Vilshofen in Germany with a ceremony including local dignitaries and guests on their recent Danube cruise. Not to be outdone Emerald Waterways named not one, but two ships with both Emerald Dawn and Emerald Sun receiving the traditional ceremony in the Hungarian city of Budapest. Also this month, Crystal Cruises announced more details of their latest River venture, with the Crystal River Yacht class coming to the European waterways in There were a number of great photos from Montreal as Cruise & Maritime Voyages celebrated the 40th birthday of their beautiful vessel, Marco Polo and there are more celebrations and festivities on the horizon with the launch of our theme for this year s CLIA Cruise Week. We look forward to celebrating a Festival of Cruise with you between the 19th-27th September using for more details, and of course all the latest news and opinion, keep your eyes on www. cruiseexperts.org. Augustus

CLIA UK & Ireland Informer Special Guest Columnist Anthony Pearce, Cruise Adviser I recently spent eight nights on board Oceania Cruises beautiful Riviera, and have been pining for it ever since.

to readjust to normal life, out of the sun back in dark, damp London. It also didn t take long on board to work out why the luxury sector is in such rude health.

And greater capacity, of course, means more customers and more opportunities for you to pitch and sell high-end cruises.

As cruiseselling travel agents, you ll know that while spotting them isn t always easy, putting in the effort to find them is well worth your while.

They are a more diverse bunch than some might imagine. They re affluent, sure but they come from a broad church. Many are return cruisers.

lines, now tempted by the all-inclusive nature of luxury.

9 CLIA UK & Ireland Informer Special Guest Columnist Anthony Pearce, Cruise Adviser I recently spent eight nights on board Oceania Cruises beautiful Riviera, and have been pining for it ever since. It takes a matter of minutes to get used to life on board a luxury ship the plush, spacious room with veranda, four- and five-course meals, the attentive, friendly staff looking after you and weeks to readjust to normal life, out of the sun back in dark, damp London. It also didn t take long on board to work out why the luxury sector is in such rude health. Demand means operators are not only expanding, but continually finding new and exciting ways to diversify. And greater capacity, of course, means more customers and more opportunities for you to pitch and sell high-end cruises. But even as the number of passengers grow, the luxury customer can still feel a little elusive. Who exactly are they? As cruiseselling travel agents, you ll know that while spotting them isn t always easy, putting in the effort to find them is well worth your while. One of the many positives of the trip, which features in Cruise Adviser s latest issue, the Luxury guide , was the fact it gave me the chance to meet and chat to some of these luxury customers. They are a more diverse bunch than some might imagine. They re affluent, sure but they come from a broad church. Many are return cruisers. They could be luxury cruise fanatics; parents, who, with the kids now grown up, have a little extra cash to spend on something special; or passengers who usually opt for suites on mainstream cruise lines, now tempted by the all-inclusive nature of luxury. But some cruise lines make a point of targeting the new-to-cruise luxury traveller; those accustomed to the opulence of boutique hotels but looking for adventure, not content with seeing just one destination. Indeed, there are plenty of customers who want to explore the world without forgoing comfort. At first, these new-to-cruisers may seem a more difficult sell than upgraders but once you re able to explain the all-inclusive nature of luxury and ultra-luxury cruises, they will surely come around. Where on land will customers find food, drink and excursions included in the price (as is the case on many top lines)? With added capacity, there are lots of rooms to fill and plenty of luxury travellers just waiting to be convinced. To read all Opinion articles, head online to and head to the CLIA Cruise Daily Anthony Pearce is co-publisher of

Share your summer. #MyCLIA. Welcome to July! July 2015 CLIA UK & Ireland Informer

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