The region’s premier cruise industry conference, Cruise Lines International Association’s Cruise360 Australasia 2025, commenced with the two-day event attracting a record 850-plus travel advisor delegates to Brisbane from 27–28 August. Karryon was on the ground.
The CLIA Australasia’s Cruise360 2025 showcased its biggest-ever lineup of international and speakers, including new CLIA President & CEO Bud Darr, who kicked off the 10th anniversary proceedings with a keynote address on the state of the sector.
He spoke about the challenges and constraints of major shipyards’ capability to deliver large ships, with 81 currently on order, the continued rise in multigenerational cruising and the opportunities arising from an 82 per cent repeat customer and younger cruiser.
“We’re capable of offering really unique experiences and that is a great opportunity to bring new people into the market,” Darr said.
“Where I think a travel advisor can really provide a true value in making sure we get the right guest matched up with the right cruise line on the right itinerary, so they have a great experience,” he said.
It’s a sentiment that flowed throughout the conference sessions.
A follow-up panel discussion of five local industry leaders – Deb Corbett, Peter Little, Lisa Pile, Ben Angell and Gavin Smith – filled in the blanks where the opportunities lie to engage a more dynamic, multigenerational, younger and first-time cruise market than ever before.
Ponant CEO APAC Deb Corbett said the local industry outlook for the next five years would be about high-value, itinerary, diversity and access with cruising ideally positioned to capitalise on inclusions.
“People want more meaningful journeys and to go deeper than ever before into a destination. And I think the small exhibition ships are absolutely leading the way for this new trend, excitingly, for Australasia and South-East Asia,” she said.
NCL VP & MD APAC Ben Angell highlighted the untapped potential of new-to-cruise travellers and the opportunity to tap into AI to personalise itineraries for clients.
“As a cruise industry, we’re engaging with a more dynamic, multigenerational audience. We are engaging with first-time cruisers that we’ve never had before and domestic cruise as a fantastic on-ramp to new cruise over the last two decades,” he said.
“I think cruise is, in this part of the world, going from niche to becoming mainstream – as it should be.”
With 200,000 Australians taking an overseas cruise holiday, RSSC VP Sales ANZ Lisa Pile noted that increased airline capacity from Australia is crucial for the surging fly-cruise market: “We rely heavily on airlift and we need more seats!”
Charting the course
Under the conference theme, ‘Navigate, Innovate, Excel’, speakers and panel discussions steered travel advisors towards success, including unlocking global trends for local sales, luxury travel insights and engaging the next generation of cruisers.
Disney Destinations VP International Sales & Marketing Jeff van Langeveld shared the global industry trends from his perspective at the helm of Disney Cruise Line, while a panel discussion on expedition cruising charted how to achieve success in this niche.
Luxury travel advisors received insights from RSSC and Oceania Cruises Senior VP International & Consumer Sales Steve Odell and about navigating global events into cruise itineraries, along with dedicated river cruising research and informative talks.
Several sessions also delved into how advisors can level up their sales strategies, destination knowledge and personal brand for a buoyant career in the cruise sector.
In addition, the largest-ever Cruise360 tradeshow, featuring more than 50 exhibitors, and an evening cocktail event at Howard Smith Wharves offered the opportunity for attendees to mix and mingle with suppliers in an informal environment.
CLIA Australasia currently has record membership levels with almost 7,000 travel agents in Australia and New Zealand.
CLIA Managing Director in Australasia Joel Katz said the Cruise360 Australasia 2025 conference eclipses the previous event staged in Brisbane in 2023 as the biggest cruise industry event held in the region.
“Our travel agent membership is bigger than ever and very clearly focused on the opportunities available in cruising,” he said.
Katz noted the region’s nascent growth with more than 1.3 million cruisers in 2024, up almost six per cent year-on-year, with the upcoming summer season to welcome 63 cruise ships between October and April.
He thanked travel advisors for the role they play in the industry’s global prosperity.
“I’m incredibly proud of the CLIA membership we have in this region. You punch above your weight,” he said.
“We want to help you navigate and understand our evolving industry, while at the same time inspiring you to lead as innovators and to ultimately excel in cruise.
“Our mission is to support your dedication with practical insight and inspiration to help you enhance and grow your cruise business.”
For more info, visit cruising.org.au
