UK & Ireland
Certification
CLIA offers the only cruise industry certification program for travel agents in Europe, with a flexible e-learning path spanning three sequential levels, from Introduction to Cruise Sales to Ambassador and Master Certification, recognising true cruise industry expertise.
CLIA offers the only cruise industry certification scheme for travel agents in Europe, where every individual can follow their own e-learning path and gain a cruise Certification.
There are three levels of certification available. These must be completed in sequential order, beginning with The Introduction to Cruise Sales, progressing to Ambassador status and ultimately achieving the Master Certification with us, confirming your status as a true advocate of the cruise industry.
Please find details of the different levels of Certification below, and a number of handy links as well.
CLIA Certifications
Estimated Completion Time: 5 hours
Module 1: The Foundation of Cruise Sales
This module outlines the proven method to sales that involves a process: a progression of steps that, if followed correctly, converts more enquiries into sales than any other.
Module 2: Creating Options for Your Clients
How to understand and interpret cruise brochures so you can help customers select the on-board experience that is right for them.
Module 3: Recommending and Closing the Sale
How to conjure up in the client the emotional connection with your cruise product that is essential to make a sale. It is all about keeping it simple, painting a picture of your client's potential experience and picking out the relative benefits that apply to your client's motivation.
Module 4: Becoming a Cruise Specialist
All cruise areas in the world have their own appeal. This module gives a brief introduction to the main selling points of each area and goes on to explain how with the help of your CLIA membership, you can become a cruise specialist and a true advocate for the industry.
Module 5: Assessment
Estimated Completion Time: 10 hours
Learners must have already completed “The Introduction to Cruise Sales” certification
Elective online modules
For Ambassador level Certification, you will need to complete 10 modules from the below options:
Destination Modules:
- Cruising the Eastern Mediterranean
- Cruising the Western Mediterranean
- Cruising the Atlantic Isles
- Cruising Round Britain
- Cruising the Baltic
- Cruising Norway
- Cruising the Eastern Caribbean
- Cruising the Western Caribbean
- Cruising Alaska
- Cruising Transatlantic
- Cruising Eastern Canada and New England
- Cruising South America
- Cruising the Arctic & Antarctic
- Cruising in the Middle East
- Cruising the Far East
- Cruising the Indian Ocean
- Cruising the Pacific Islands
- Cruising Australia and New Zealand
Specialist Modules:
- Why Do People Cruise?
- Choosing the Right Itinerary
- Emerging Cruise Destinations
- Emerging Ocean Cruise Destinations
- Ten of the World’s Hottest Cruise Ports
- Essential Marketing
- Attracting Newcomers to Cruise
- European Rivers
- Worldwide Rivers
Ship visits
Learners will be required to register three ship visits to CLIA cruise line ships they have made
Estimated Completion Time: 10 hours
Learners must have already completed “The Introduction to Cruise Sales” certification and Ambassador certification
Elective online modules
For Master level Certification, you will need to complete 15 additional modules from the below options (they must be different from the ones completed as credit towards the Ambassador level):
Destination Modules:
- Cruising the Eastern Mediterranean
- Cruising the Western Mediterranean
- Cruising the Atlantic Isles
- Cruising Round Britain
- Cruising the Baltic
- Cruising Norway
- Cruising the Eastern Caribbean
- Cruising the Western Caribbean
- Cruising Alaska
- Cruising Transatlantic
- Cruising Eastern Canada and New England
- Cruising South America
- Cruising the Arctic & Antarctic
- Cruising in the Middle East
- Cruising the Far East
- Cruising the Indian Ocean
- Cruising the Pacific Islands
- Cruising Australia and New Zealand
Specialist Modules:
- Why Do People Cruise?
- Choosing the Right Itinerary
- Emerging Cruise Destinations
- Emerging Ocean Cruise Destinations
- Ten of the World’s Hottest Cruise Ports
- Essential Marketing
- Attracting Newcomers to Cruise
- European Rivers
- Worldwide Rivers
Personal cruise experience
Learners will be required to register one cruise holiday(a minimum of 5 nights) aboard a CLIA cruise line ship that they have taken.
Upload of original content
Learners will be asked to upload a short cruise-inspired blog. Rather than a full review of a cruise, we would like you to focus on a particular element of the cruise experience that you think deserves a mention. Approximately 500 words or less would be perfect. Whether it was the dining options, entertainment, the destination experience, onboard activities, the welcome of the crew, your stateroom. Feel free to name the cruise line and ship, along with your cruise itinerary.
CLIA Cruise Master Award at the Travel Weekly Agent Achievement Awards
Nominate yourself or a colleague
Member agents who have achieved or refreshed their Master level Certification will be able to nominate themselves in 2026 (or be nominated by a CLIA member colleague) for this Award.
As part of the nomination, we will ask for evidence or confirmation of:
- Positive promotion of cruise knowledge and industry news across their own social media channels
- Sharing of cruise knowledge with peers through multiple channels, creating their own video blog content from cruises/ship visit experiences
- Being a visible advocate of CLIA membership through their own website / social channels / email signature etc
- Attendance of a CLIA event in the last 12-months
Nominations for the 2026 Cruise Master Award will open on 1 May 2026, and the shortlist announced at the start of June ahead of the Travel Weekly AAAs in July.
Once achieved, we ask that you complete an annual refresher course with us in order to maintain your status level. The refresher course is written each year to ensure you receive a timely update on the latest statistics, trends and innovations of the industry. the refresher course will be available to complete from 1st January each year, ensuring that on its successful completion, you can proudly promote your CLIA certification status for the full 12 months.
Please note that the course will only be available to you on 1st January provided the agency you are affiliated with has completed their agency membership payment for the new year.