Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has announced that it will host its first-ever cruise conference dedicated to Irish travel agents on 20 November in Dublin.

The cruise association has created the Ireland Cruise Conference to be able to work closely with the Irish agents and offer them expert knowledge, selling advice and industry insight. The Irish cruise market grew by 8.3% in passenger numbers in 2018 compared to the previous year, with 48,300 cruises taken.

The inaugural event is open to all Irish travel agents and will include conference sessions with industry experts, a trade fair offering agents the chance to meet with cruise lines face-to-face, plus the choice of a special breakout, with one being aimed at ‘new to cruise’ agents.

Andy Harmer, UK & Ireland director of CLIA said: “We are hosting CLIA’s first-ever cruise conference in Dublin. By attending this exciting event, Irish agents will have the opportunity to connect directly with cruise lines and learn about the latest news, trends and updates in the ever-changing industry.”

The Ireland Cruise Conference is part of a series of CLIA events to be held in the country. Other events include a cruise showcase which offers day visits to ships, such as Princess Cruises’ Crown Princess on 13 September.