Demand ‘soars’ for ex-UK sailings Harry Kemble


Cruise agents have reported a surge in demand for ex-UK itineraries as interest in 2022 fly-cruises cools due to rising air prices, low flight availability and ongoing delays at airports. With European aviation bodies


warning of disruption this summer, agents said near-term bookings for cruises from UK ports were “strong” and prices “really keen”. Phil Evans, owner of Cruise


Nation, said about 50% of all current bookings were for ex-UK sailings. “We’re seeing huge demand for


ex-UK cruises,” he said, adding that booking volumes for Med fly-cruises


were “not where they need to be”. He highlighted the difficulties


Holland America Line (HAL) was having with its flights deal for selected European departures. The line is offering £350 credit


towards European flights, but Evans said a lack of availability on services from UK regional airports meant some customers were facing the prospect of having to travel for 10 hours to get to Barcelona. A HAL spokeswoman said:


“We’re doing the best we can to fit our guests with the best air connections that are available.” Kirkham Travel managing


director Carol Kirkham said there was “quite a lot of availability” on


One in three Clia delegates will be event first-timers


Harry Kemble


Almost a third of delegates at this weekend’s Clia Conference in Southampton will be attending their first event hosted by the association. The conference will welcome 550


delegates and will feature a recorded interview with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings boss Frank Del Rio, in addition to in-person presentations by Royal Caribbean International vice-president EMEA Ben Bouldin, P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow and MSC Cruises UK and Ireland managing director Antonio Paradiso. Conference sessions and events will be held on board three ships:


6 19 MAY 2022


P&O Cruises’ Iona, MSC Cruises’ MSC Virtuosa and Royal Caribbean International’s Anthem of the Seas. A ‘specialist operators’ session


will include leading figures from the river, luxury and expedition sectors, showcasing opportunities for ocean specialists to diversify. The interview with NCLH chief


executive Del Rio will feature across the first two days of the conference and will cover topics including the sector’s restart and the company’s sustainability drive. Andy Harmer, Clia UK and Ireland


managing director, said: “As the global leader of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Frank Del Rio has


been on the journey in getting the right protocols in place. He will also talk about the liberalisation of border restrictions and the industry getting back to normal.” Confirming about 30% of


delegates at the Love Cruise-themed conference would be attending their first Clia event, Harmer said: “We’ve really tried to keep the programme at a level where we feel it benefits the agent delegates the most. “We want to give practical and


high-level advice for when they go back to their workplace.” Harmer promised there would


be “some surprises” and said: “The one thing people always love about


CLIA CONFERENCE


For a full preview of the Clia


Conference, see T


ravel Weekly


Cruise, out with this issue


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All you need to know about the ships at the show this May


Last week, cruise


sales were 13% of our business, normally they would be 4%


UK-based ships at “really keen” prices. “Commissions are going down,”


she added. “But it’s better to have the customers going [on a sailing] than sitting at home. Hopefully they will book another cruise.” Amanda Matthews, managing


director of Designer Travel, said: “We’re booming in cruise. Last week, cruise sales were 13% of our business, normally they would be 4%.” But she said customers were reporting “hit


or miss” experiences at UK airports. Cruise Circle managing director


Jason Daniels said: “We’re seeing strong demand for ex-UK [cruises], although we’re seeing strong demand for everything at the moment.” However, he added: “Flight


availability is not the only issue, the prices of those flights are also having an impact.” Cruise365 director Anthony


Blackmore said booking levels were good and that ex-Southampton cruises were less problematic. “If you go on a cruise in


Southampton you know that you’re going to get on that ship,” he said. “Our customers are more concerned about flight cancellations.”


Frank Del Rio


the Clia Conference is seeing the collaboration in the industry and the passion we have for cruise. “Our advice is to be open-minded,


do not come with pre-conceived ideas, and listen to the content. This is the biggest cruise industry gathering in the UK. Talk to the sponsors, the cruise lines and other agents.”


cruise MAY 2022 THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT


The new wave of ships making cruising fun for the whole family


MEKONG MAGIC Culture and food en route from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh


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