NEWS Clia Cruise Forum: Sustainability and new-to-cruise barriers on agenda. Harry Kemble reports
Industry slated for not trumpeting its green credentials
A
sustainability expert has criticised the cruise industry for not shouting about the
steps it is taking to reduce carbon emissions. Andy Jefferson, owner of
environmental consultancy firm A&G Jefferson, which assists companies in tackling green issues, urged the cruise industry to “start a conversation” on sustainability. Jefferson said: “Some of these
really exciting innovations are not getting out there. I am not hearing it, and that’s as someone who is interested in sustainability. “Use the forums that you have
right now to start a conversation. People see media stories that look and sound quite shocking. “We have got to get out to these
people and say ‘yes, there is an issue and we’re tackling it’.” Jefferson said British Airways
and Virgin Atlantic were looking at converting landfill waste and emissions from industrial processing into jet fuel. He said the airlines’ schemes could help reduce carbon emissions by 70%. Giles Hawke, Clia’s deputy
chairman, told delegates that Clia produced a two-page guide last year to help agents talk about sustainability to customers.
‘Find another holiday’: Rzymowska’s blunt stance on Celebrity brand ethos
Celebrity Cruises’ UK boss has told passengers who disagree with the line’s sustained push for diversity to “find another holiday”. Speaking on a panel at Clia’s
Winter Forum, Jo Rzymowska (pictured), the line’s UK managing director, said brand purpose was as important as sustainability. Rzymowska said:
“Whenever I interview people I always ask ‘Why [join] us?’ Our brand purpose always comes through. “We have guests say
that they do not like the fact that we bang
10 2 JANUARY 2020
on about gender equality and are so supportive of LGBT [issues]. You know what? Find another holiday.” Next year, to raise awareness of
diversity, the line’s Celebrity Edge ship will have a bridge and officer team consisting of 27 women for an eastern Caribbean sailing departing on International Women’s Day on March 8. Rzymowska added:
“On Celebrity Edge, all of the senior roles on that sailing will be filled by women from 16 countries. We have worked hard to achieve that.”
However, just three agents among
300 delegates said they had down- loaded the guide from Clia’s website. Clia also plans to give agents a
five-point cue card with facts to tell customers about what the industry is doing to be more sustainable. However, three panellists at the
Clia Winter Forum admitted no particular carbon-offsetting scheme was widely used by the cruise sector.
Hawke said: “One of the
challenges is knowing which are the good schemes. There are so many out there. I think it has been proven that carbon offsetting is not the answer.” Stuart Leven, Royal Caribbean
International’s vice-president for the EMEA region, said: “There are many things happening across our industry. “The trick is having that distilled into a clear and simple message.”
Nuttall: Cabin categories are a barrier
Choosing a cabin on a ship is one of the biggest barriers to selling to new-to-cruise customers, according to a leading travel agent. The Travel Village managing director Phil Nuttall said cabin grades
can be off-putting for agents and customers unfamiliar with cruise ships. Customers choose their cabin at the time of booking and are often
faced with a wide array of cabin categories. Nuttall contrasted this with the hotel sector, where guests “never get a choice” of room. “Despite what all the cruise lines will argue, cabin grades are right up
there with the biggest barriers to selling cruise,” Nuttall (pictured) said. Nuttall, who is also chair of the Clia
UK travel agent advisory council, said cabins should be allocated on arrival, while clients who wanted to choose their cabin beforehand should pay a fee. He said: “If we do not challenge
ourselves to make the entry into cruise easier, we’ll still be talking how we engage guests and agents in five years’ time. This is a big deal.”
Panellists Giles Hawke, Stuart Leven and Andy Jefferson, with moderator Lucy Huxley
CRUISE FORUM 18 DECEMBER 2019
CLIA UK & IRELAND
travelweekly.co.uk
PICTURES: Steve Dunlop
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