NEWS and have chance to tour a selection of ships. Ella Sagar reports from Southampton


UK guests ‘lead Azamara repeat rates and cabin grade’


A


Moderator Lucy Huxley, Travel Weekly, with Sam Seward, Belinda Hindmarsh and zoologist guest speaker Billy Heaney


Seabourn’s Mark Tamis


zamara chief executive Dondra Ritzenthaler pledged to “deliver on promises” to UK agents after revealing the market generates better return rates and booking


value than others. Speaking to delegates, Ritzenthaler revealed 86% of the


US cruise line’s product was sold by the trade and it would “do the right thing and work with travel agents in a real way”. Ritzenthaler said she was “too focused on growing” when


she joined a year ago but was now focusing on “delivering the promise to be committed to travel advisors and hitting our numbers”, as well as raising average selling prices. She said the “proudest” achievements of her first year


at Azamara included changing the line’s leadership team, holding 13 events with travel agents around the world and launching Destination Immersion Elevated, a programme of updated itineraries, onboard experiences and an additional 3,000 excursions. The UK is Azamara’s second-largest source market after


the US and makes up the “biggest piece” of its international sales, which account for 40% of passengers. “The UK is the lifeline, and we’re extremely committed


to it,” she said. “It is an extension of Miami and it matters just as much as what goes on in the Miami office because this office and this market is closer to our product.” Speaking on a Travel Weekly webcast recorded prior to the conference, she said: “The guests that we get out of this


hes ‘best thing’ for sector He added that The Ritz-Carlton alone


could introduce 185 million customers to cruise through its partnership with Marriott Bonvoy. Seabourn’s Mark Tamis highlighted the


new entrants as one of the developments he was most excited about for the industry over the next three years. He said: “It is fantastic because it is


doing two things: bringing up an entire new audience who might not have considered cruise and helping combat misconceptions. “It is expanding the market and really


targeting within that funnel those guests that are ready to take this step into luxury, so I’m really excited about this growth.”


Dondra Ritzenthaler


market, they return more and they buy a cabin category higher. They are really valuable clients and a lot of that is because the travel advisors really love and support us.” Ritzenthaler said work with UK agents was also driving


newer and younger customers to the line. She added: “We’re getting a much higher [number of]


first-to-brand customers than we have ever had, and our repeaters are also growing.” Regarding plans to expand the four-ship fleet,


Ritzenthaler told the webcast she was currently focused on restoring prices to levels seen prior to the line’s move from Royal Caribbean Group to independent ownership, adding: “I do think the time will come [to increase tonnage] but we need to focus on keeping our ships full and at higher yield.”


Clia UK & Ireland adds training events and virtual ship tours


Clia UK & Ireland will bring back its Champion hybrid learning training programmes for river and expedition in the second half of this year, and will add a new stream focused on luxury, alongside other agent initiatives. There will also be a free-to-


attend new-to-selling cruise virtual training day on July 3, while Clia Cruise Week will take place from September 15-21. In addition, more virtual ship


tours and other resources will be added to the Clia website in July when it undergoes a refresh.


travelweekly.co.uk


Andy Harmer


He added that Clia’s agent


membership had increased by 10% since May 2024 to almost 4,300 members, and it now had 10,000 registered individuals accessing its resources and training. Harmer said: “Our latest


Addressing 850 delegates,


Andy Harmer, Clia UK & Ireland managing director, said 2024 had been “a record year”, with 2.4 million passengers from the UK and Ireland sailing on a voyage.


initiatives – from training days to enhanced virtual ship tours – reflect our ongoing commitment to supporting the trade with industry- leading information and advice. Whether agents are new to cruise or seasoned sellers, Clia is here to help them grow their confidence, knowledge and bookings.”


29 MAY 2025 11


PICTURES: Steve Dunlop


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