CLIA Australasia’s Cruise360 is backCLIA Australasia’s Cruise360 is back

The twice postponed event, with the theme #LoveCruise, was CLIA’s first regional in-person gathering since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event at the Hyatt Regency Sydney was preceded by a cocktail party on Wednesday and opened virtually by global CLIA chairman and MSC Cruises Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago, who said the conference had united Aussies and Kiwis.

‘One of the world’s most passionate regions of cruising is back,’ Vago said. 

State of the Industry

The State of the Industry Panel followed, featuring Marguerite Fitzgerald, Carnival Australia and P&O Cruises Australia president; Gavin Smith, VP & MD Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd; and Steve Odell, SVP & MD Asia Pacific, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises.  

Their verdict? Loyal past passengers are the backbone of the industry’s recovery and enhanced shipboard protocols are attracting people new to cruising.

Ellen Bettridge keynote

Keynote speaker Ellen Bettridge, Los Angeles-based Uniworld Boutique River Cruises’ president and CEO, said the post-pandemic industry is going to be stronger than ever.

‘Life will never be the same,’ Bettridge said, ‘but who says it can’t be better?’

She said pent-up demand is real and bucket-list trips are hot.

Panel discussions

A series of panel sessions with industry leaders discussed Understanding Cruise Trends Post-Pandemic, Rebuilding and Looking to the Future, The Evolution of Cruise and Searching for Authenticity.