Agents praise ‘invaluable’ insights from CLIA Expedition Showcase
Travel agents have hailed the 2025 CLIA Expedition Showcase for providing “invaluable” insights into the world of adventure cruising
Speaking to Cruise Trade News during the event in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Robbie O’Grady, co-founder of The Cruise Room, said he is now better equipped to sell expedition cruises to his customers.
“It was an amazing conference,” he added. “It’s been absolutely invaluable to see the differences between the ships and operators, and how they appeal to different customers yet offer similar experiences.
“Being able to do this while in a location like Longyearbyen makes it even better. Understanding the area and the culture, learning about the weather, and all the challenges that come with that, really helps us in promoting the destination and sector.”
O’Grady said the 50 plus market is the agency’s target audience for expedition itineraries, as well as solo travellers and semi-retired passengers.
“Expedition in general is certainly growing,” he said. “We’ve done a little bit but it was an area we wanted to get into much more anyway. We’re now able to go back better equipped to talk to our guests and explain the differences in the sector.”
O’Grady was echoed by Kirsty Van Wyk, owner of KVW Luxury Travel, who praised CLIA for “getting the balance right” between product training for agents and immersive experiences.
“We’ve been very fortunate to see six ships, especially seeing three X Bows and the differences between them,” she added.
“Expedition is an area that I’m going into, I’ve sold one 23-night Seabourn Venture cruise already and I’ve got two or three people that I’ve had conversations with who will hopefully book in the near future.”
Van Wyk believes the sector can attractive customers from a range of demographics. “You’ve got so many different products in expedition, like cold destinations and warm destinations, and within that you have different cruise lines, from the likes of Ponant and Swan Hellenic to Quark Expeditions and AE Expeditions.
“You’ve got your standard demographic, the empty nest-ers and 60-plus market, but also families with kids at the higher end of the market who are keen on travelling to far flung destinations.”
Six learnings from the 2025 CLIA Expedition Showcase
Van Wyk encouraged agents who are looking to expand their expedition cruise offering to focus on what their client wants. “Expedition cruising is very nuanced and you need to consider that it’s not really about the cruise. It’s about the experience.
“As always, it comes down to what your client wants. Do they want to be off the ship as much as possible, or do they want to experience these places with a touch of luxury back on board with the likes of Silversea, Ponant or Seabourn, for example.”
Rezida Ross, founder of private yacht brokerage firm Rezida Yachts, explained how she was inspired to join the showcase after identifying a connection between charter customers and the small-ship expedition industry.
“This is a product between the mass market and private market. It’s a new market and it has only really come together over the past few years but it’s now really blooming,” she said.
“This event was a great opportunity to learn about how we can tie these two markets together. My competitors aren’t here as they haven’t identified it as an opportunity, but these vessels really appeal to the private market and charter business.”
