Home Travel News

CLIA's 'smart' Masters cruise

Cruise agents will be dancing with robots and surfing on simulators at this year's CLIA Masters Conference.

Cruise agents will be dancing with robots and surfing on simulators at this year’s CLIA Masters Conference.

 

 

It was a welcome surprise for agents at last week’s Cruise3sixty conference, when it was announced this year’s Masters Conference will be held aboard the world’s first ‘smart ship’ Quantum of the Seas.

quantume of the seas - karryon

This year’s Masters Conference will be held aboard the world’s first ‘smart ship’ during her inaugural season in Shanghai.

Event host and TV presenter, Hamish McLachlan, made the announcement to hundreds of agents who had travelled from around Australia and New Zealand to Sydney for the annual conference.

Master agents will board Royal Caribbean’s newest ship out of Shanghai in October this year, during her inaugural season sailing out of the port.

Departing on 16 October, the five-night will include two pre-night cruise accommodation before boarding the ship for stops in Japan, Korea and ending in Beijing.

“Asia is a hot destination for cruising and we know our members are champing at the bit to try Quantum of the Seas with its cutting edge cruise features.”

Brett Jardine, CLIA Australasia general manager

As well as experiencing the vessel’s North Star – a glass capsule, which lifts guests 300 feet above air for 360 degree views of the ocean and vessel; dining at Jamie Oliver’s first restaurant at sea; and enjoying the first skydiving simulator on the ocean, attendees will also participate in a series of sessions designed to shape their approach in selling cruise holidays.

Mr Jardine said US-based sales guru and motivator Scott Koepf would return to oversee the 17th Masters after being heaped with praise following the 2014 event.

Cruise3sixty 8

Information of CLIA Masters Conference was revealed at Cruise3sixty where guests heard from several speakers and received face-to-face time with various cruise lines.

After completing the course and a comprehensive post-conference assignment, agents will enter the prestigious Cruise Masters’ ranks.

Participation fees for the conference start from $2,300 per person twin share, and $3,400 for singles.

Cruise3sixty 2

The Avalon Waterways team at Cruise3sixty.

Cost covers the five-night cruise and two nights pre-cruise accommodation in Shanghai.

Meanwhile, last week’s Cruise3sixty saw hundreds of local agents gain valuable information from the sector’s professionals and bosses.

Cruise3sixty 3

This year, Cruise3sixty was made up of a number of speakers, panels and Q&A sessions.

The event provided a mix of speakers (including Royal Caribbean’s boss Adam Goldstein), panels and Q&A sessions.

All speakers on the day agreed that agents are vital to cruise sales, with 80 percent of cruisers still using an agent to plan and book cruise vacations.

image1

It wasn’t all about cruising, agents were treated to three flavours of gelato between sessions.

Click here for more images from Cruise3sixty.

For more information from Cruise3sixty click back onto KarryOn tomorrow.

Will you be boarding Quantum for this year’s conference?