Cruise Month celebrates Luxury Cruising

Luxury cruise lines are creating some of the most rewarding experiences available in international travel, bringing authentic cultural encounters to the fore as they explore the world in style.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) today launches the fourth of its weekly themes in October’s Cruise Month initiative, celebrating luxury cruising and the growing variety of experiences available to high-end travellers.

“Luxury cruising has evolved into one of the most exciting areas of travel, where the creation of extraordinary experiences on shore is just as important as the experience on board,” said CLIA Managing Director in Australasia Joel Katz. “The definition of luxury now means different things to different people, and this is reflected in the diversity of choices available and the level of customisation offered to the luxury traveller.”

Dozens of luxury cruise ships now sail the world’s oceans, often combining sophisticated interior design with a focus on fine dining, wellness and cultural experiences. Mr Katz said a strong theme among luxury operators was the creation of exclusive events or activities to connect guests to the destinations they visit, whether through arts, music, ancient history, food & wine, or Indigenous traditions.

CLIA’s Cruise Month initiative runs throughout October and includes an expanded social media campaign using the hashtag #LoveCruise; digital advertising aligned with the four weekly themes; Cruise Month coverage in newspapers and specialist publications; Cruise Month promotions by CLIA cruise lines; and a competition in which CLIA travel agents who launch their own Cruise Month events can win a travel package to attend next year’s CLIA Awards gala dinner.

To support members, CLIA has produced a new Cruise Month toolkit that allows travel agents to mount their own Cruise Month initiatives and amplify CLIA’s social media campaign. The toolkit includes Cruise Month logos, social media tiles, imagery, videos, digital banners, a customisable flyer, posters, and more.

Agents can also take part in Cruise Month webinars hosted by CLIA cruise lines, allowing them to expand their product knowledge and take advantage of the latest cruise line initiatives.