CruiseWorld Asia 2025
programme schedule

Attend and stand a chance to win a cruise holiday!*
Happening on 17 September 2025.
Time Session
08.30am Networking & Registration
09.10am Welcome Address by Travel Weekly Asia
  • Irene Chua, Vice President and Group Publisher, Asia, Northstar Travel Group
09.15am Opening Keynote
Cruising Ahead: The Global and APAC Outlook
  • Arnie Weissmann, Editor in Chief, Travel Weekly
09.25am Cruise Leaders Panel
Taking Asia’s Cruise Industry to the Next Level
  • Chad Grospe, Vice President and Managing Director, Singapore and Asia Pacific, Royal Caribbean
  • Michael Goh, President, StarDream Cruises
  • Sarah Fox, Vice President and Regional General Manager, Disney Cruise Line
10.05am Travel Agents Panel
Innovation in Today’s Travel Agent World
  • Dr Frederick Yip, Executive Director, Goldjoy Group
  • Ong Hanjie, Director, EU Holidays
  • Varun Chadha, CEO, TIRUN Travel Marketing
10.35amCoffee Break & Networking
11.00amCruise Line Showcase
StarDream Cruises
  • Terence Lim, Vice President, Sales, StarDream Cruises
11.20amCruise Port Showcase
Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore
  • Jacqueline Ng, Head, Special Projects, SATS-Creuers Cruise Services
11.40amCruise Line Showcase
Royal Caribbean
  • Chad Grospe, Vice President and Managing Director, Singapore and Asia Pacific, Royal Caribbean
12.00pm Cruise Experience Panel
Engaging and Attracting a New Generation of Travellers
  • Adam Kamal, CEO, Suka Travel & Tours
  • Ratrudee Sittisint, Executive Director, TT Travel Agency
  • Vina Cuadra, Manager – Tours Operation Management, Rakso Air Travel & Tours
12.35pmLunch & Trade Partner Showcase
2.00pmLucky Draw
2.10pm Industry Insights
Who’s Buying What? Insights into the Evolving Consumer Behaviour
  • Simon Baptist, APAC Principal Economist, Visa
2.25pmCruise Line Showcase
Trafalgar River Cruises
  • Mae Cheah, Managing Director, Asia, TTC Tour Brands
2.35pm River Cruise Panel
Rivers of Opportunity: The Rising Tide of River Cruising
  • Chanet Ham, CEO and Founder, Xpedition Travel
  • Fiona Sainsbury, Specialty Markets Manager Asia and South Africa, Avalon Waterways
  • Johnny Judianto, President Director, Best Tour and Cruise Centre
  • Mae Cheah, Managing Director, Asia, TTC Tour Brands
3.05pmCruise Ports Panel
Sailing into the Cruise Terminals of Tomorrow
  • Datuk Ng Kiat Min, Managing Director, Sabah Ports
  • Jeff Bent, Managing Director, Worldwide Cruise Terminals
  • Wattana Choksuvanich, Managing Director, E.A.S. Maritime Agencies
3.30pm Travel Agent Association Panel
Rumour Has It: What’s Really Happening in Asia Travel
  • Dr Evangeline “Mariegel” Tankiang Manotok, President, PTAA
  • Nigel Wong, President, MATTA
  • Pauline Suharno, President, ASTINDO
3.55pmCoffee Break & Trade Partner Showcase
4.15pm Destination Showcase
Hong Kong Tourism Board
  • Marilyn Tham, General Manager of Mega Events, MICE & Cruise, Hong Kong Tourism Board
4.25pmTech and Marketing Panel
Selling Smarter: Marketing & Partnerships That Drive Conversion
  • Chee Chong Chan, CEO, GlobalTix
  • Edmund Ong, Senior Regional Director, Trip.com
  • Josh Wen, Regional Director, Int2Cruises.com
4.50pmLucky Draw
5.00pmNetworking
5.30pmEnd of Programme
Session 1

Rebuild: Steering Toward a Safe Cruise Future

Thursday, 8 October
1500hr – 1630hr (GMT+8)
In the first installment of a three-part travel agent training series, the key focus of this session is to get the Asia travel agent community up to date on the latest protocols and guidelines in the cruise industry.

Key session highlights:

- CLIA Training
· Cruise industry response to Covid-19 across key geographic regions – Asia, Australia, North America and Europe
· An overview of recovery guidance and policies adopted by cruise lines and destinations

 - Dream Cruises Updates
· Costa Cruises’ health and safety standards
· How Costa Cruises is working with travel agents to chart cruise recovery

 - Panel discussion featuring CLIA, STB & Dream Cruises


Session 2:

Reassure: Boosting Confidence in Cruising

Tuesday, 13 October
1500hr – 1630hr (GMT+8)
In the second installment of the travel agent training series, this session emphasizes on bolstering travel agents’ confidence in the cruise industry, taking a closer look at a cruise resumption success story in Asia and tips on selling cruises in the new norm.

Key session highlights:

- CLIA Training
· Navigating in the new post-Covid norm - How travel agents can uncover opportunities and sell cruises in a different environment

 - Costa Cruises Updates
· Case study on Dream Cruises’ resumption of sailings in Taiwan
· How Dream Cruises is working with travel agents to chart cruise recovery

 - Panel discussion featuring CLIA, STB & Costa Cruises


Session 3:

Renew: Building Sales Strategies for the New Norm

Wednesday, 14 October
1500hr – 1630hr (GMT+8)
The final session of this three-part travel agent training series aims to get Asia’s cruise community poised for the industry restart by examining the new opportunities and sales strategies when sailings resume.

Key session highlights:

- CLIA Training
· Identifying the key segments to target during the recovery period
· Tips and tools that cruise agents can use to upgrade themselves

 - Royal Caribbean Cruises Updates
· Royal Caribbean Cruises’ health and safety protocols
· How is Royal Caribbean Cruises working with travel agents to chart cruise recovery

 - Travel insurance company sharing on Covid-19 cover - Panel discussion featuring CLIA, STB, Costa Cruises, Dream Cruises and Royal Caribbean Cruises


Programme is tentative and is subjected to change. Last updated on 27 August 2025.
*For travel agents only.