NEWS ‘excellent’ shape and visit a range of ships in port. Ella Sagar reports from Southampton


UK trade ‘should capitalise on late bookings for cruise’


A


From left: session moderator Lucy Huxley, Travel Weekly; Dame


Irene Hays; Nicki Tempest-Mitchell, Barrhead Travel; and Lisa McAuley


Giles Hawke


gency leaders and cruise line chiefs have highlighted “a real opportunity” for UK travel agents to lean


into cruise late bookings amid shifting international demand and continuing geopolitical uncertainty. Dame Irene Hays, owner of Hays


Travel, said average booking windows had shortened from seven months to four since the start of the Middle East conflict, adding: “The [booking window] has become even shorter and there is a real opportunity for cruise even this year to capitalise on those savings.” She revealed bookings for destinations such as the UAE


and elsewhere in the Gulf region “went off a cliff” during the peak of the conflict, prompting the agency group to double down on its cruise marketing investment. Lisa McAuley, managing director of World Travel


Holdings UK, which owns Cruise118, agreed high levels of unsold capacity meant a focus on the lates market was essential. “Because of the amount of inventory left in the market, we will absolutely double down on the lates market. It is [a case of] making hay while the sun shines,” she said. This available capacity is being driven by a softening in global source markets, cruise lines revealed. Celestyal


Lee Haslett


chief commercial officer Lee Haslett noted a double-digit decline in Americans travelling to the eastern Mediterranean, alongside softness in Australia and New Zealand. “There is going to be some late


inventory available for the European market,” he told delegates. “If I were a travel agent, I would be looking at what opportunities there are for late booking.”


Princess Cruises UK, Ireland and EMEA vice-president


Eithne Williamson echoed this view, noting that flight impacts and geopolitical tensions had challenged Asian and Australian source markets. “Maybe some of our American guests are a little


concerned about travelling to Europe,” she said. “It is driving the importance of international sourcing, and the UK and Ireland market is one people believe in.” Gerard Nolan, Royal Caribbean vice-president


and managing director for EMEA, said despite recent uncertainty, the family brand had seen guests gravitate strongly towards Europe, driven heavily by the line’s latest ship deployments. “What is really clear is guests still want to travel; people


are ring-fencing their savings for travel and we are leaning into that,” Nolan explained.


concern’ for cruise lines


markets, agreed, highlighting that many river and ocean ships have shore-power capabilities while in port, which helps vessels to consume less fuel. Loizou added: “A lot of us are


hedging fuel as well, so it is bought in advance.” Clia chief Bud Darr emphasised that


the cruise industry is “very resilient and adaptable”, adding he was “confident” the sector will be able to face “whatever comes at us”. “We are really good problem-solvers as an industry,” he said.


‘Regard AI as a tool to boost business rather than job threat’


Agents need to embrace AI and create “authentic content” to boost their businesses in the future, industry leaders told delegates. Clia chief Bud Darr said there


was “no doubt” AI will “force everyone to up their game” as third-party sellers of cruises. He said: “Agents and agencies need


to embrace the technology – not to replace their role, but to help them be more effective and efficient, to help their business and become better agents.” This view was echoed by John Lovell, board member


and senior advisor at Virgin Voyages, who said: “Accept it and embrace it, as it’s only going to make you more


travelweekly.co.uk John Lovell


efficient and make you more money.” Azamara chief executive Dondra


Ritzenthaler echoed Lovell’s view, saying: “Do not be afraid of [AI]. Elevate your game and visualise success.” She warned those that fail to do so risk “somebody using AI taking your job”. Meanwhile, Celestyal’s Lee Haslett


urged agents to use “authentic content creation” to differentiate themselves. “Information was maybe your point of difference


before it was commoditised, but now it’s out there [through AI],” he said. “But you can create authentic content no one else can, which can be more effective.”


11 JUNE 2026 13


PICTURES: Steve Dunlop


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52