Cruise Corner

HX Expeditions’ Dr Verena Meraldi joins the Cruise Corner Podcast to talk about her journey from guest lecturer to becoming the cruise industry’s first-ever chief scientist, while highlighting the importance of citizen science in an increasingly vulnerable world. A Swiss/Mexican biologist, Verena began her scientific career studying biology at the National University before moving to the Universit...

Up next in Cruise Corner’s ‘How to sell’ series, CEO of Unforgettable Croatia, Graham Carter, reveals why the small ship operators is perfect for clients looking for unique, off-the-beaten track experiences According to Carter, incredible value, appeal to multi-gen families and exclusivity are just a few of the elements that make a yacht-style cruise with Unforgettable Croatia a one-of-a-kind expe...

It doesn’t take an expert to see that the cruise industry is in rude health. After several years of back-to-back growth, the prospect of a holiday at sea is more appealing than ever. However, within the wider cruise landscape, one sector is on a particularly steep growth trajectory… According to research carried out by digital travel marketing agency Adido and luxury operator Unforgettable Croatia...

The evolution of luxury, the strength of the lates market and the power of cruise industry collaboration were just some of the key takeaways from Cruise Trade News' inaugural Retreat. In this week's podcast episode, we hear feedback from attendees at last month's Retreat held at the Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa in Hampshire, which bought key stakeholders together for a day of networking and data-l...

Is there a hotter ticket in travel right now than expedition cruise? Fuelled by a desire for unique experiences and the possibility of exploring remote destinations, travellers are increasingly turning to expedition holidays for its mix of safari-style exploration and luxury onboard experiences. In the next instalment of the Cruise Corner Podcast’s new ‘How to sell’ series, Mark Walter, sales dire...

We explore the surging world of expedition cruising with HX Expeditions' Mark Walter and Dr. Verena Meraldi. We discuss the growing trend of younger travellers entering the sector and how HX’s science and education programme engages guests in meaningful research. Before that, co-hosts Jack Carter and Will Payne welcome Cruise Trade News and World of Cruising senior partnerships manager Abbie Downe...

With just over a month to go until the deadline for this year's Wave Awards entries, co-host Will Payne and Real Response Media COO Lee Hayhurst reveal exactly what judges are looking for when reviewing submissions, and how you can make yours stand out.

Just over one week on from attending the launch of Norwegian Cruise Line’s second Prima Plus-class ship, Norwegian Luna, Cruise Corner co-host Will Payne shares his first-hand take on what sets the vessel apart, and which customers it’s really built for. He’s joined by fellow hosts Jack Carter and Josie Klein, who reveal fresh details about this year’s Wave Awards, returning this November. Plus, N...

In the next instalment of our new 'How to sell' series, associate vice-president, sales & distribution at P&O Cruises Ruth Venn reveals the three key selling tips all agents need to know to boost their business with the UK cruise line.

From a three-week stint in the contact centre to becoming sales director for P&O Cruises, Ruth Venn has seen and done it all during her 20+-year career at Carnival Corporation. Ruth sits down with Cruise Corner co-host Jack Carter to discuss the importance of collaboration when it comes to moving through the ranks and how she's taken to her newly expanded role with P&O Cruises. Before Ruth...

Following the launch of Cruise Trade News' second Annual Report, co-hosts Jack Carter, Will Payne and Josie Klein dive into the white paper's most revealing findings, among which include the alarming news that repeat sailors are losing interest in the sector. Afterwards, we bring you the industry's reaction to the report data, recorded live from the Annual Report's official launch event at London'...

Welcome to the first episode of our brand-new podcast series ‘How to sell’, where we provide a succinct selling guide for a particular cruise line to help you boost your sales and reach more customers. First up, we shine the spotlight on Virgin Voyages, with UK sales director SJ Walker joining us in the studio to share three essential tips for pitching the adults-only cruise line to your clients.

In the first episode of the new-look Cruise Corner Podcast, co-hosts Jack Carter and Will Payne take a look back at the whirlwind start to the year for World of Cruising and Cruise Trade News. The duo also discuss January's CTN Investigates, which looks at the potential impact recent rulings by the CMA and ASA on price transparency could have on the cruise industry. Virgin Voyages UK sales directo...

There’s no doubt about it: touring holidays are having a moment. The hunger for immersive escapes that combine unbridled adventure with comfort and convenience has seen companies like Titan Travel step up to the plate, with its getaways for every type of traveller. In our third and final instalment of our special Titan Travel series, Shane Lewis-Riley explains why 2026 is the perfect time for agen...

As holidaymakers become more price-conscious and value-driven, the role of all-inclusive cruising has never been more important for UK agents. In this episode of the Cruise Corner Podcast, host Rashmi Narayan is joined by Sarah Whitehouse, training delivery manager for Marella Cruises, to explore how the trade can better communicate the true value of cruise. The pair also discuss why Marella’s all...

In the second instalment of our three-part special with Titan Travel, the operator’s director of trade distribution, Shane Lewis-Riley, talks to co-host Rashmi Narayan about delivering "true value for time" for avid explorers and how a cruise can complement a pre- or post-sailing tour. The episode also dives deeper into touring for first-timers, key selling points for travel agents and some of the...

In the first instalment of our three part special with Titan Travel, co-host Will Payne sits down with the operator's director of trade distribution, Shane Lewis-Riley, to discuss his plans to utilise his vast experience in the cruise sector to position Titan as the go-to adventure operator for UK holidaymakers in 2026. The duo also discuss Lewis-Riley's first year at the company, his recent trip...

The team behind the Cruise Corner Podcast sit down to reflect on their standout moments from 2025 and share what’s on the horizon for 2026. Co-hosts Will Payne and Jack Carter also welcome new host Rashmi Narayan, who offers a sneak peek at her first episodes, coming soon. The trio are joined by Cruise Corner producer Shelby Woods, who provides a behind-the-scenes perspective and shares practical...

Ambassador Cruise Line turned heads when it announced the launch of its first-ever Caribbean fly-cruise season at the turn of the year. So, what can the trade expect from the line's foray across the pond? In the latest episode of the Cruise Corner Podcast, co-host Jack Carter sits down with interim head of trade Karen Cameron and business development executive Jade Cheadle to lift the lid on the n...

From crossing the River Dart on a small passenger ferry to get to school everyday to leading one of the world's most exciting luxury cruise lines, Anna Nash's career trajectory was written in the stars and discovered in the seas. On this week's episode of the Cruise Corner, co-host Will Payne sits down with the Explora Journeys president to take a look back at her tenure in luxury travel, and how...

What does it take to maintain a successful career in travel for nearly 40 years? For AmaWaterways director of sales UK and Europe Andrea Stafford, a can-do attitude, an eagerness to learn and enough energy to sustain multiple late nights and early mornings. In this week's episode of the Cruise Corner Podcast, Stafford chats with co-host Will Payne about her glittering four-decade tenure in travel,...

Co-host Will Payne sits down with Scenic and Emerald Cruises head of sales Jonathan Davies to discuss the company’s standout year, the power of product diversification, and why travel agents remain central to the brand’s success story. Fresh from a stellar 12 months that saw Scenic report a 35 per cent year-on-year rise in trade sales, Davies reflects on his journey since stepping into the role in...

Juggling parenting with running the sales operation of one of the world's biggest cruise lines isn't for everyone. But for Princess Cruises' UK and Ireland sales director Hayley Moore, Teams meetings and quarterly reports go hand in hand with Thomas the Tank Engine and tea parties   In this week's episode of the Cruise Corner, co-host Will Payne sits down with Moore to discuss the challenges...

Join us live from the 2025 Cruise Summit, as hosts Jack Carter and Will Payne catch up with speakers and delegates to get the inside scoop on this year's key takeaways. The annual event delved into the importance of the "critical" mature market to the future of cruise, how podcasts can be utilised as an effective marketing tool and why the likes of TikTok and Meta are crucial to enticing new custo...

After two decades at Carnival House, which came to an end following the abrupt closure of Carnival Cruise Line’s UK office, Luke Smith finds himself at the beginning of a new adventure. “It was a really great period of my life and I was lucky to work with people I consider family,” he says. The new VP sales UK & EMEA for Crystal sits down with Cruise Corner co-host Jack Carter to discuss leade...