CLIA preps agents for international cruise return with ‘summer schools’

Published on Monday, August 2, 2021

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is readying travel advisors for the return of international cruising from UK waters.

CLIA is helping prepare the trade for the return of overseas sailings with a series of ‘summer schools.’

The next sessions are due to take place later this month comprising product updates and training briefs, delivered via cruise lines, and destinations, and will include the latest international travel news.

The one-hour morning sessions take place weekly from 12 August, starting with MSC Cruises and Celebrity Cruises.

On 19 August Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, APT and Port of Seattle are present, followed by Amadeus River Cruises, Fred Olsen and Carnival Cruise Line on 26 August.

It us in addition to two agent-dedicated ‘selling cruise days’, which will give the trade insight and advice from a wide range of expert speakers and panels.

These will now cover both domestic and international sailings, with the first seminar taking place in Southampton on 8 November and then Dublin on 11 November.

“The international travel announcement is fantastic news for everyone within the cruise community, and it is a thrilling prospect to once again be able to offer guests the opportunity to sail the world,” said Ben Bouldin, CLIA chair for UK & Ireland.

The government announced that international sailings from UK ports can resume following the successful restart of domestic cruises earlier this year.