CLIA in Australasia

CLIA LIVE Cruise Line Training has officially kicked off in Melbourne with a full house! This year’s theme, “Connecting Travellers to Their Perfect Cruise,” dives into key topics like: 🌍 Target audiences & travel styles 🗺️ Itineraries & destinations 🚢 Unique onboard features 🏖️ Shore-side experiences 💎 Value & differentiation 📈 Trends & expectations Attendees will gain insights from multiple CLIA cruise lines over the next two days, learning how to match their clients with their ideal cruise. 📍CLIA LIVE will be hitting multiple cities across Australia and New Zealand through to May this year! #WeARECruise #CLIALIVE

CLIA is delighted to welcome Riverside Luxury Cruises to our Australasian cruise community. “Riverside Luxury Cruises is an exciting new face in the river cruise sector, and our CLIA partnership will provide an important platform for our business as we increase our presence in the Australian and New Zealand markets,” said Susie Coughlin, Riverside Luxury Cruises Commercial Sales & Marketing representative in Australia and New Zealand. “We will be a familiar sight at CLIA events and training initiatives, and our travel agent partners will be an important part of our vision for growth in this region.” Riverside Luxury Cruises commenced sailings in 2023 and operates three all-suite luxury river ships in Europe – the Riverside Mozart, Riverside Ravel and Riverside Debussy. https://lnkd.in/gxJphUdu

The brightest stars of the Australasian cruise community were honoured in Sydney this weekend, as hundreds gathered to celebrate the continued growth and success of the global cruise industry. 🌟 A huge thank you to our headline sponsor, Visit Qatar, and all our sponsors for making this unforgettable evening possible. Hosted by actor and television presenter Luke Jacobz at The Star Event Centre, the night featured 15 prestigious awards, recognising outstanding travel agencies and individuals. CLIA Managing Director in Australasia, Joel Katz, said: "The cruise industry is incredibly grateful for the passion and professionalism of our travel agent members. We congratulate all award winners and finalists for their vital role in cruising’s global success." A highlight of the evening was the induction of Stuart Allison into the CLIA Hall of Fame, recognising his leadership in transforming the Australasian cruise market. The celebrations continued at Royal Caribbean’s after-party, where The Wiggles, featuring DJ Dorothy, Anthony Wiggle, Evie Wiggle, Henry the Octopus, Wags the Dog, and the Tree of Wisdom, surprised guests and packed the dance floor. Entertainment throughout the evening included spectacular performances by Brent Street, showcasing emerging Australian talent and inspired by Norwegian Cruise Line’s upcoming production, Revolution: A Celebration of Prince. Congratulations to all the winners on your exceptional achievements and contributions to the cruise industry! 📢 To view the full list of winners, visit https://lnkd.in/gfcU-WNB

The wait is over! Tonight we celebrate the outstanding achievements of our Australasian cruise community at the 22nd Cruise Industry Awards. With 75 finalists across 16 categories, this year’s awards will be a spectacular tribute to the leadership, innovation, and dedication within our cruise community. We’ll be announcing the winners live on our Facebook page. Follow us now to stay updated as the awards are revealed in real time! https://lnkd.in/g4KG-daD 🌟Good luck to all our finalists! We look forward to celebrating with you tonight. #TheCLIAs #WeARECruise

This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the cruise industry’s global and diverse workforce – creating opportunities to learn and grow as a community as we work to build a more equitable and inclusive future for women. 🛳️ #WeAreCruise #IWD2025 #AccelerateAction

Get ready for our biggest celebration of the year, the 22nd annual Cruise Industry Awards! Hundreds of members from across Australia and New Zealand will gather in Sydney tomorrow, celebrating 75 finalists who will be in the running to win one of cruising’s highest honours. To view the full list of finalists, visit https://lnkd.in/gPzPKdvN #TheCLIAs #WeARECruise

Congratulations to Nick Abrahim and the NSW Taxi Council on the launch of the Taxi Driver Ambassador Program – a fantastic initiative to enhance Sydney’s visitor experience! It was a pleasure for CLIA in Australasia Managing Director, Joel Katz to join Business Sydney and participate in today’s panel with Paul Nicolaou, Nick Abrahim, Josh Clements and Peter Lynch, GAICD. Cruise tourism and taxis go hand in hand. Every year, thousands of cruise guests rely on taxis to move seamlessly between the port, hotels, airports, and key attractions. Whether it’s a pre- or post-cruise stay or a day ashore, a knowledgeable and welcoming taxi driver plays a crucial role in shaping a guest’s experience. #WeAreCruise

This morning onboard Royal Princess in Melbourne, the Cruising Means Business event brought together key industry and tourism stakeholders to discuss the future of cruising in Victoria. With strong demand, and a growing appetite for homeported cruises, the discussion underscored the immense economic potential of cruising and the collective action needed to maximize its benefits. The panel discussion emphasized the need for: - Better infrastructure to support more homeported cruises. - Stronger collaboration between government and industry to plan for long-term growth. - Improved connectivity and accessibility to enhance the passenger experience. - Integration of Melbourne’s culinary, cultural, and events scene into the cruise offering. The message was clear: cruising is a major economic driver for Melbourne, and with the right strategy, collaboration, and investment, the sector can thrive even further. Now is the time for stakeholders and government to come together to unlock the full potential of Victoria’s cruise economy. Speakers included: Deputy Lord Mayor, Roshena Campbell Carnival Corporation & plc Vice President Corporate and External Affairs, Teresa Lloyd Tourism and Transport Forum CEO, Margy Osmond CEO of Mabu Mabu and Celebrity Chef, Nornie Bero Carnival Cruise Line Vice President Sales and Marketing, Kara Glamore #CruisingMeansBusiness #WeAreCruise

Disney Cruise Line had the pleasure of welcoming 120 CLIA Cruise Masters and their Guests onboard Disney Wonder for an exclusive CLIA Famil in January. This trip provided Cruise Masters the opportunity to experience the magic of Disney Cruise Line for themselves, and included special moments like a meet and greet with Goofy, a conversation with the Cruise Director and Hotel Director, and an interesting session on growing sales. Disney Cruise Line was honoured to host you all, and they hope to see you onboard again real soon! 🪄 Disney Cruise Line #WeAreCruise

Thank you to Cruise Weekly for featuring CLIA in Australasia MD, Joel Katz’s opinion piece on what lies ahead in 2025 – a year full of opportunity for the cruise industry! Cruising has undeniably become the strongest and most prosperous sector within the travel industry, and 2025 is set to break new records. With more than 37 million people forecasted to cruise this year, including new-to-cruise guests and younger generations, the opportunities for travel agents and the wider cruise community are immense. The diversity of experiences has never been greater, creating an essential role for travel advisors in matching guests with the perfect cruise. From the nine exciting new ships showcased in next month’s Ocean Debut Virtual Showcase to innovative dining, immersive shore experiences, and thriving segments like luxury, expedition cruising, and fly cruise, the potential for growth is extraordinary. At CLIA, our mission this year is to empower travel agents with the tools, insights, and education they need to capitalize on these trends. Together with our cruise lines, we’re also advancing a crucial advocacy agenda to encourage governments to create favorable conditions for cruising, enhancing the value of cruise tourism. 2025 is a year to be optimistic about, with endless possibilities for both cruise specialists and travelers. https://lnkd.in/gPqzgeaF #WeAreCruise