Virtual ship seminars for agents to take place across the spring (UK)

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is offering agents the opportunity to join a series of virtual seminars, which will showcase both the new and existing ships that are set to take to the seas as the industry begins to start up again.

Firstly, launching this week are the 'CLIA Introduces' webinars, which will take place throughout the spring and give agents the chance to hear directly from lines on a brand new ship that will be joining their fleet this year.

A total of five complimentary sessions are on offer, starting this Thursday (March 25). Two cruise line representatives will host an hour-long session that will enable agents to benefit from insider information, as well as selling hints and tips. All webinars will be on Thursdays at 9.30am:

• March 25 - MSC Cruises and Ponant
• May 13 - Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America Line
• May 27 - Scenic Cruises and Avalon Waterways
• June 3 - Royal Caribbean and P&O Cruises
• June 10 - AmaWaterways and TBC

In addition, CLIA is reintroducing a second round of its virtual ship tours. The tours, which give agents expert onboard insight, were introduced last year and are back following popular demand from the trade.

The hour-long sessions are also free-of-charge and launch on April 8, 2021. They will similarly be held on Thursdays at 9.30am over four weeks in April and May.

Four cruise line representatives per session will give the lowdown on ships that are either a firm favourite with UK passengers or largely based overseas. The line-up is:

• April 8 - Carnival Cruise Line, AmaWaterways, Fred Olsen Cruise Line and APT
• April 15 - Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, Marella Cruises and Seabourn
• April 29 - A-Rosa, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises and Nicko
• May 6 - Amadeus, MSC Cruises, Silversea and Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

Attendance counts as credit towards CLIA Level 2 (Ambassador) certification, in place of in-person ship visits. Each session counts as one ship visit, so attendance at three will meet the requirements of Ambassador-level certification.

Andy Harmer, CLIA UK & Ireland director, said: “We are delighted to announce these sessions following a fantastic response from the trade to the virtual sessions we introduced last year. With cruise now firmly on the travel agent agenda, and all of us looking forward to its phased return, now is the perfect time to learn more about the amazing ships that will begin taking to the water soon.”

To register, visit cruising.org/en-gb/events