INTRODUCTION An industry that was nearly decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic is now seeing a rise from the ashes. Over the last year, the cruising industry has shown a steady recovery graph. Health concerns are no longer an obstacle for travellers while booking a cruise vacation. If 2022 was the year for an air travel boom, 2023 is likely to see that in the cruising space. The change can also be seen on the supply side with cruise lines 1 introducing or looking at introducing new ships fitted with state-of-the-art entertainment, gaming zones and multi-functional venues that can be used to host a variety of events. This is in line with the expansion of the cruising demographic. An industry that has largely attracted a clientele of baby boomers is now gearing up for a significant shift towards attracting a younger crowd, including Millennials and even Gen Zs. In addition to empty-nesters, young couples are also looking at taking a cruise vacation to new destinations. With the appetite for travel growing across all age groups and income segments, demand has increased for amenities such as on-board Wi-Fi and entertainment 2 . There’s also room for expanding the cruising experience to women’s only, LGBTQ, and even single communities, advisors have shared. New ideas are entering the industry as entrepreneurship increases. Advisors are now also connecting with clients across more platforms, saying they need to be where the client is. The power of social media too is being harnessed for everything from trip inspiration to lead generation. There’s even a call to get more influencers to talk about cruises. The one thing that will not change is how advisors form the backbone of the industry. They continue to remain a client’s favorite influencer, matching the destination/ship to the client perfectly. It’s why experience and age pay off so well in this industry. Young and newly independent advisors need to be supported, through business training programs, physical and virtual. Their demand for better call center operations should be met to make booking a smoother process. The advisors have unequivocally said that they’d like commission on non-commissionable fees. This, too, should be addressed. 1 https://www.worldofcruising.co.uk/cruise-news/first-look-at-princess-cruises-new-gen-ship-sun-princess 2 https://www.cruisebooking.com/articles/cruise-tips-and-tricks/cruise-trends-2021#Working%20and%20Playing