CLIA Awards for the Cruise Trade
How the cruise lines’ association recognises the agencies and agents who sell cruises.
Sell Award-Winning CruisesCLIA — Cruise Lines International Association — is the cruise lines’ trade association, and it also represents travel agencies and agents. Its regional offices run awards that celebrate the people who sell cruises.
CLIA Australasia Cruise Industry Awards
The best-documented CLIA awards are CLIA Australasia’s annual Cruise Industry Awards for Australia and New Zealand. Trade press reported that the 23rd awards were held on 7 March 2026 at the International Convention Centre Sydney, with 15 awards announced from 83 finalists (Travel Weekly Australia). CLIA has set Saturday 13 February 2027 for the 24th awards (Travel Weekly Australia).
| Element | How it works |
|---|---|
| Who is recognised | Travel agencies, individual agents and cruise industry people in the region |
| Typical categories | Cruise Agency of the Year in several formats (for example single or multi-location), agent and industry awards |
| Hall of Fame | Long-serving industry figures are inducted into the Cruising Hall of Fame |
| Where to look | CLIA Australasia news |
CLIA Awards in Other Regions
Other CLIA regions run their own recognition programs and events, and the details change from year to year. CLIA UK & Ireland, for example, has honoured top-performing agents at awards held during its trade events and inducts members into a Hall of Fame. In North America, CLIA’s best-known agent programs are its professional certifications rather than awards.
The CLIA trade site is the place to find the programs that apply to your region and membership.
Certifications Are Not Awards
CLIA’s certification ladder — from Accredited Cruise Counsellor through Master Cruise Counsellor and Elite Cruise Counsellor — is earned by training and experience, not won. It is often the more useful credential with clients. Master Cruise Counselor explains the advanced levels and Cruise Agent University maps the full training landscape.
Positioning Your Agency for Recognition
- Keep records: bookings by line, client feedback, training completed, community involvement.
- Read each program’s criteria before the nomination window opens, not after.
- Ask your host agency or consortium whether it nominates members.
- Treat a nomination as marketing in its own right — finalists are often published.
What a CLIA Award Means to a Client
Most travelers have never heard of CLIA’s agency awards, so a win is best mentioned simply: the agency was recognised by the cruise lines’ own association for the way it serves cruise clients. That is a meaningful statement because the judges know the business from the inside. Keep the year and category with it, as with any award.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does CLIA give awards to travel agents?
Yes, through its regional offices. CLIA Australasia’s Cruise Industry Awards, for example, include agency categories such as Cruise Agency of the Year. Other regions have run their own agent awards and Hall of Fame honours.
How do I enter a CLIA award?
Each region sets its own nomination process and eligibility, often tied to CLIA membership. Check your region’s CLIA site for the current rules.
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