The cruise industry is arguably the last bastion of what some consider the "old model" of travel distribution.
It relies heavily on intermediaries to sell trips, arrange itineraries and organize excursions on behalf of the giant cruise lines.
This is, in part, due to the ticket price of a trip and the complexity of a typical journey, with multiple stops and other requirements that arguably do not lend themselves to being booked online.
Operators are selling more of their products direct via the web but the mainstay of their distribution strategy is through the experience and knowledge bases of travel agents.
This is not to say that the status quo will remain in place forever - but it's a process that works for the operators and, perhaps most importantly, the passengers.
Seamus Conlon, CEO of Cruise.co.uk, joined us at Phocuswright Europe 2018 to discuss these issues and other elements of the hugely complex world of cruise operating.
Under the hood of cruise