Cruise groups to merge

The International Council of Cruise Lines and the Cruise Line International Association will form one group based in Miami starting next year.

The merger of CLIA and ICCL was announced June 15. The former is based in New York, with the latter based in Washington, DC, handling much of the lobbying and regulatory issues for the cruise line membership. In addition to cruise lines, CLIA represents more than 17,000 travel agents selling cruises worldwide.

The merged organization will continue to be called CLIA and will be under the direction of CLIA president Terry Dale.

“As the cruise industry continues to grow as a global force in the international travel market, it becomes increasingly important that the industry speak with one strong, clear voice," says Richard Fain, ICCL Chairman and the CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Staffing changes are still in the works, though CLIA indicated in its press release that personnel from both organizations will be called on to manage the new group.