Charles Sylvia, ECC - CLIA

10/03/2024

Don’t you love it when you grab the last stateroom and it puts an end to the whole “Well, I looked online and found…”
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10/01/2024

10/01/2024

ℹ️ CLIA Statement on International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) Work Stoppage | 1 October 2024

10/01/2024

It was a marvelous affair, last night, as Ponant celebrated the spirit of exploration at The Explorers Club in New York. A heartfelt thank you to Ponant CEO of the Americas, Sam Chamberlain, for his gracious hospitality and VP Sales, North America, Ellen McIlvaine for such a warm welcome.

09/30/2024

Looking forward to celebrating the spirit of exploration with our good friends from , tonight!

09/19/2024

Yesterday was an emotional day for the team and me and I still feel somewhat bewildered.

In my 30-year relationship with CLIA (20 years as a travel trade member and the last 10 years as an employee), I have seen a lot of leadership changes. This change cuts into me profoundly, and I had to take last night to gather my thoughts.

Kelly Craighead has been the most consequential, elevating, and unifying leader CLIA has ever had at the its helm. Kelly turned a global organization into a village of teammates working collaboratively and seamlessly together regardless of geography. She made every CLIA employee feel important and valued, and took the time to know each one of us personally, taking genuine interest in our lives and families.

Kelly is a once-in-a-lifetime boss, whose leadership style revolves around gratitude and forward thinking. She is instinctually focused on advancing causes by bringing smart people together to solve complex problems and chart a better way forward.

While navigating the cruise industry through the pandemic is only one part of Kelly’s legacy at CLIA, her contribution to the restart of cruise travel was immeasurable. She was the right leader at the right time, and I cannot express the depth of my gratitude for Kelly’s tireless, round-the-clock efforts to lead us through our darkest days. Kelly Craighead was the champion the cruise industry needed as it faced the greatest existential threat in its history.

Personally, I know I will always be Kelly’s friend, but I will miss our daily interactions very much. She always left me feeling appreciated, inspired, and with a sense of boundless possibilities.

Kelly… Congratulations on the brilliant future ahead of you, and thank you from the bottom of my heart. You made me proud to serve at the pleasure of the president. 💙

After nearly six years with CLIA, Kelly Craighead, president and CEO, has decided to depart the association at the end of the year as part of a thoughtful transition. The CLIA team is grateful for her leadership to the industry.

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09/18/2024

BEST. NEWS. EVER.

The U.S. Department of State has launched an online passport renewal service for all citizens following a successful beta test.

08/26/2024

Oh... yeah. Great. This ought to help... 🙄

From the brilliant mind of Ryan Murphy comes high-octane procedural “Doctor Odyssey.” Max (Joshua Jackson) is the new on-board doctor for a luxury cruise shi...

08/16/2024

What a lovely few days it was with so many dear cruise industry friends at Week in Las Vegas!

07/30/2024

Are you a Virtuoso advisor who loves booking luxury cruises? If so, we might use your quote for an upcoming presentation. Please email me at [email protected] if you're interested. Thank you!

07/18/2024

Thank you for the privilege of sailing on Utopia of the Seas’ trade event cruise, Vicki. The ship is truly utopian in every way, and I enjoyed every moment aboard her!

07/14/2024

Are you like me? Does the first glimpse always get you? It’s just like the first time, every time. Even 300+ cruises later.

07/12/2024

For those who may not know, Utopia of the Seas arrived at its home port, Port Canaveral, for the first time, yesterday, and is now ready to enter service with revenue passengers. I am honored to be among those who will attend her naming ceremony and sail on her on Monday for three nights, just before her maiden voyage.

A heartfelt congratulations and thank you to Michael Bayley, Vicki Freed, and the entire Royal Caribbean International team!

07/08/2024

What a great time sharing cruise sales tips with my dear friend John "Partners First" Chernesky on today's Johncast! Thank you to John and the entire Norwegian Cruise Line team for inviting me.

Oh, and if you missed the live Johncast, here's the recording for you and your fellow travel advisors. Thanks for watching! ⚓

07/08/2024

These two guys will be talking about how to grow new-to-cruise business at 3:30 ET today. What could possibly go wrong? Register for the Partners First Johncast here ➡️ https://streamyard.com/watch/FzVXkX2eXUxm

07/04/2024

Happy Independence Day, everyone! I’m working on a project, this morning, and need to know who will be aboard Utopia of the Seas’ trade sailing on July 15th. If you’re a CLIA member and will be aboard, please let me know. Thank you and God bless America! 🇺🇸

06/30/2024

So excited to be sailing on The Love Boat cast reunion cruise, once again, in August! Who’s coming and who would still like to book??

Sail into the ultimate VIP experience aboard "The Love Boat" themed cruise! 🌟 Mix and mingle with stars and dive into the nostalgia. 💙

Limited spots available—secure your VIP status today! 🔗 https://spr.ly/6186gAycy

06/28/2024

🛳️ Cruise lines are building the ships of the future, which will run on new, more sustainable engine technologies.

🟢 An increasing number of vessels sailing and launching over the next five years will either use alternative fuels or be able to incorporate zero-carbon fuels once available at scale.

Learn more ➡️ https://bit.ly/CLIASOTCI2024

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06/27/2024

Royal Caribbean International's brand new officially departed the shipyard in France and has begun a transatlantic journey to her homeport of Port Canaveral to begin her service life! I am so excited to experience aboard this spectacular new ship.

06/24/2024

❓ Did you know that the age of the average cruise traveler is 46 years? Cruises are a top choice for multi-generational travelers—with one-third of families sailing with at least two generations.

💡 Learn more about the latest Cruise trends in the 2024 State of the Cruise Industry Report: https://bit.ly/CLIASOTCI2024

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06/21/2024

A birthday remembrance of someone very special who was so kind to me when I embarked on my current role. Words cannot describe how missed you are, Vicky. ❤