CLIA agents see higher sales, say inclusive pricing draws first-timers

This is according to 1,000 North American retailers who are members of Cruise Lines International Association's Travel Agent Research Panel.

Seventy-seven percent of the agents said their sales volume is up in 2017, while 74% expect clients to spend more on cruises this year.

Among age groups, sales to baby boomers are up, according to 67% of the agents, followed by Generation X (about 60%) then millennials (about 50%). The CLIA agents also said multigenerational and group sales continue to rise.

Agents reported the most effective features to draw people to take a first cruise are all-inclusiveness and variety of destinations (more than 90% each). Packing/unpacking once is a key draw, according to about 70% of agents, followed by pricing/value (more than 40%) and variety/quality of food (more than 30%).

Nearly half (47%) the CLIA agents ranked ocean cruises as delivering the highest customer satisfaction from among four types of vacations. After that came all-inclusive resorts (21%), with resort/hotel vacation packages and other land-based vacations (house or condo rental) rated much lower.

CLIA's Travel Agent Cruise Industry Outlook is produced on a quarterly basis. The full report can be downloaded here.

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