TV star and cruise enthusiast Susan Calman was the surprise guest at this week’s UK and Ireland CLIA RiverView conference in Amsterdam, which attracted a record number of delegates.
In total, 600 agents and cruise partners attended the event, which was last hosted in Amsterdam in 2024. Some 22% of the agents attending were new to selling river cruises, and 20% had only started selling cruises in the previous 12 months.
Susan joined the CLIA business sessions, held on Monday afternoon, to talk about her career and filming her popular TV show Cruising with Susan Calman.
The star revealed that the Channel 5 show, which has highlighted multiple cruise lines, itineraries and ships, is currently on pause due to rising insurance costs.
During the RiverView conference, delegates attended a networking trade fair and training workshops, and agents were given the opportunity to visit eight ships moored in Amsterdam.
CLIA also announced the return of its one-day River Cruise Forum in Manchester in October, which will offer business sessions, networking and product training.
Representatives from river cruise operators and associated partners will help lead sessions, with further details to be announced shortly.
CLIA also unveiled a new initiative, ‘Opportunity Docks’, which launches this month for all agent members. The new online platform will make a raft of videos available, covering: cruise brands and ships; destinations and itineraries; and key people from across the industry.
The destination and itinerary information will be supplemented by a downloadable factsheet, covering additional details including the CLIA cruise brands that sail to the highlighted ports of call.
CLIA also said a limited number of tickets are still available for its annual conference, which takes place from 4-6 June and will include business sessions, a networking trade fair, ‘Sailaway’ party and ship visits.
An optional ‘New to Selling Cruise Sales Day’ is scheduled for the day before the conference starts.
CLIA UK and Ireland Managing Director Andy Harmer said: “The record-breaking numbers we’ve seen at RiverView highlight the positive momentum and demand we’re seeing across the river cruise sector. Many thanks to everyone attending, our sponsors, and the river cruise lines who have made the sessions and ship visits possible.”
