56 INTERVIEW Entering a new era of expedition cruising Akvile Marozaite gives Rebecca Gibson an insight into how Expedition Cruise Network is working with cruise operators, travel advisors and an adventure travel organisation to drive the responsible growth of the sector Once considered a niche form of travel for intrepid explorers, expedition cruising is evolving at pace and becoming more mainstream. “The growing number of operators and newer, more luxurious ships are attracting the attention of a more varied clientele,” says Akvile Marozaite, CEO and co-founder of Expedition Cruise Network (ECN), which represents 30 expedition cruise operators and more than 2,400 travel advisors. “The travel trade is seeing more enquiries from retired couples and high-end, luxury clients, so there’s definitely more scope to attract travellers within these groups who may never have considered expedition cruising as an appealing way to explore the world.” Destinations are becoming more diverse too. “Cold-water regions are still the most popular places for expedition cruises but early findings from the travel advisor pulse study we’re conducting suggest there’s increasing consumer interest in warm-weather destinations like the Kimberley Coast in Australia,” says Marozaite. “This supports trends outlined in the ECN 2025 Industry Insights Report. The definition of expedition cruising is also expanding. More companies are offering cultural expeditions or sailing to destinations that would traditionally be found on ocean cruise itineraries.” This rapid diversification can sometimes present a challenge for travel advisors as they keep pace with new entrants to the market and an increasingly diverse range of expedition products. “This is particularly true when explaining the price and value of an expedition cruise in destinations traditionally served by ocean cruise ships,” says Marozaite. “As more expedition cruise operators enter the market or expand their fleets in heavily regulated destinations, it can also be difficult for advisors to identify each operator’s unique selling points and communicate them clearly to the right clients.” ECN has developed targeted training to help travel advisors overcome these barriers and ensure a lack of education doesn’t hinder the growth of the sector. “We’re creating new courses for travel advisors to take via our ECN “ We want ECN to be the go-to trusted resource for anyone wanting to learn everything there is to know about expedition cruising” Akvile Marozaite regularly joins expedition cruises to learn more about the sector and the experiences it offers
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