Top Reason to Cruise is Value for Money

Top Reason to Cruise is Value for Money

The top reason for choosing an ocean cruise is value for money, according to new trade research.

Clia’s first Travel Agent Research Panel Questionnaire found the value of a cruise was ranked first, ahead of itineraries and standards of services. More than 75% of respondents said customers spent more on ocean cruising in 2016.

High standards of dining and promotional offers were ranked fourth and fifth as key reasons in choosing an ocean cruise.

Clia surveyed just under 100 agencies from the high street and online, as well as homeworkers.

Almost 75% of agents said the industry had grown in the past year, the biggest increase being sales from couples, followed by families.

The survey’s results were released at Clia’s cruise forum in Windsor this week, where it also announced that Royal Caribbean’s vice-president of Europe, Middle East and Africa, Stuart Leven, will succeed Lynn Narraway, managing director of Holland America Line and Seabourn, as chairman of the association.

Andy Harmer, director of Clia UK and Ireland, said: “I don’t think it’s a surprise that customers are choosing cruise for value for money.

“People are more conscious of not only a holiday’s price, but what they spend during the trip.

“More people want to go all-inclusive. Cruise is the best value for money because so much is included.”

Phil Evans, managing director of agency Cruise Nation, said: “Consumers take everything into account including spending and activities. This is why families are a massive, growing market segment.”

The key factor in customers choosing a river cruise was destination, followed by standards of service and value for money.

Cruise industry must do more to boost numbers, Clia chairman says

By Hollie-Rae Merrick

The cruise industry is not doing a good enough job to drive forward the number of Brits taking a cruise, Clia UK and Ireland chairman Jo Rzymowska has told cruise lines.

Speaking at the Clia UK and Ireland AGM on Friday, the Celebrity Cruises boss said the industry needed to get across the array of variety offered on cruise ships - compared to what is offered by land-based holidays.

She said that while the UK was leading the way in Europe in terms of the number of people taking a cruise, numbers hadn't risen as much as hoped.

"Just under 22 million people every year are cruising with us (globally) - that has doubled over the last decade, which is significant," she said.

"And in the UK we are still leading the way from a European point of view with 6 million cruises and just over 1.7 million of those from the UK. However, that has remained fairly static as we know for the last couple years.

"We are leading the way, but there is a country snapping at our heels - the Germans. It's up to us collectively to not let that happen."

Rzymowska said land-based holidays didn't offer the same variety as cruises, and that ocean and river vessels offer great access to destinations, a better and more consistent level of customer service, and more choice to suit all needs.

She added: "Land-based holidays don't offer these to the extent we do, but still only 1.7 million Brits take a cruise. Quite frankly, as an industry we are not doing a good enough job and we need to do a far better job than we are today."

Clia UK and Ireland's three working groups - PR, consumer engagement and trade engagement - have been coming up with great ideas on how to take the industry forward, according to Rzymowska.

Globally 95% of the cruise capacity is a member of Clia, with 61 cruise lines. In the UK, US and Australia, Clia works with more than 50,000 agents and Rzymowska said Andy Harmer's team in the UK was leading the way.

"Our aim is to talk to agents even better and more effectively than we are today. The UK and Ireland, under Andy's leadership, is leading the way in doing that."

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.