Clia move means 'business as usual', says Ace

By Lee Hayhurst 

The Association of Cruise Experts has promised no reduction in the support it offers agents after it becomes part of a global cruise organisation next year.

Ace, and parent body the Passenger Shipping Association, this week announced they were one of nine international cruise bodies that will form the global Cruise Lines International Association (Clia).

The two UK brands will become known as Clia UK. They will retain their London office, from where their training and trade events will continue to be run.

The PSA is understood to be fully funded up until April 2013 but after that there will be a 12-month period of transition to Clia UK.

Cruise lines will join the global group, which will allocate funds to projects around the world.

Regional cruise bodies will generate their own funds to support local activity.

Ace director Andy Harmer vowed it would be "business as usual" in 2013:

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“All Ace activity will continue; we will just become Clia UK, with the Clia global organisation focusing on the regulatory side of things in Brussels and Washington.

“This will allow us to focus on what we are good at: travel agent training and events. We will be judged based on the work we do, not on what we are called.”

Clia was formerly a US-only trade body. Outside of the US, Europe has the most well-established cruise organisations, with the PSA and the European Cruise Council the two most significant entities.

Ace, which was rebranded from Psara five years ago, is considered a leading light in agent training and it is likely Clia will seek to emulate much of its work in other markets.

As part of the changes, all the PSA’s ferry interests will be transferred to the Chamber of Shipping.

The PSA this week became the official complaint-handling body after maritime passengers in Europe were given the same rights as rail and air traveller.