Ahead of the Wave period, Clia has begun the #FirstSetSail initiative, asking agents to recall their first ever cruise experience and the memories created. Clia wants agents to post details of their first cruise line and ship, plus the itinerary, favourite excursion and best meal, among other details.

Andy Harmer, senior vice president membership and director, Clia UK and Ireland, said: “There has never been a better time to take a cruise holiday, with the technology; the dining onboard; the entertainment; the destination experiences – with everything a cruise holiday offers.

“As cruise sellers we should be recognising and celebrating that fact because actually it means there has never been a better time to sell a cruise holiday.”

To take part, agents need to record and share a short video of themselves describing their #FirstSetSail cruise experience on Twitter (@CLIAUK) or Facebook (@CLIAEurope) using the hashtag. Deadline for entries is January 15.

Judges including cruise line executives and Clia senior team members, will decide which entry best illustrates the “first time” cruise experience. The top #FirstSetSail videos will win prizes from Ponant, Princess Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Scenic, Emerald Waterways, Holland America Line, Seabourn and AmaWaterways, including fam trips and luxury goodie bags.

Meanwhile, Clia has announced the theme of next year’s conference as Generation Cruise. The event will take place in Southampton on May 23-25.

Harmer added: “We are going to be talking a lot about #GenerationCruise…this is our time, this is our moment.

“This is our chance now to take cruise from something that was once a niche product to what is now a mainstream holiday product.”