Six of 10 agents (64%) expect to sell more river cruise packages this year and 21% forecast significant growth in river cruise sales.
The largest draw for river cruises is the intimacy of the experience, with 83% of agents reporting that as important or very important. Seventy-three percent said easy accessibility to the destinaton is important or very important, while other draws are the size of the vessels and the ease of embarkation.
More than half (54%) of agents expect growth in the large ocean ship segment, according to CLIA's third Travel Agent Cruise Industry Outlook Report of 2016.
Nearly three of four agents (73%) expect higher cruise sales this year while 15% see no change. Twenty-seven percent of agents are anticipating sales increases of 10% or more.
Agents also said clients are looking for all-inclusive cruising options, especially on luxury cruises. Two-thirds (66%) cited all-inclusive options as very important for their clients booking luxury cruises followed by 58% reporting that luxury cruise clients most value 'unique travel destinations'—whatever that means, presumably extraordinary destinations.
The report was compiled from online survey responses by the CLIA Travel Agent Research Panel, consisting of 700 North American agents and is available here.
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