Penny Matthews' CLIA certifications, in full
Penny Matthews is a Canadian travel advisor and river cruise specialist who holds three certifications from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA): Accredited Cruise Counsellor (2019), the RiverView Certificate (2024) and the Luxury Cruise Certificate (2019). Each certificate is published below in full, as issued.
Accredited Cruise Counsellor (ACC)
Issued by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) · Awarded
CLIA's foundational professional certification for cruise advisors, earned through required coursework, ship inspections and live sailing experience.
What it means for you
- ✦Formal training in cruise product knowledge, cabin categories, fare structures and booking practice.
- ✦Requires documented ship inspections and sailings — not a course you can complete from a desk.
- ✦Held since 2019 and maintained through ongoing CLIA professional development.
RiverView Certificate
Issued by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) · Awarded
CLIA's dedicated river cruising programme, covering the European rivers, ship classes and the practical differences between river and ocean sailing.
What it means for you
- ✦Specific study of the Danube, Rhine, Rhône, Seine, Moselle and Douro, and how itineraries are built around them.
- ✦Covers water levels, lock systems, ship design and cabin selection on 100–200 guest vessels.
- ✦Completed in 2024, so the guidance reflects current ships and current operating conditions.
Luxury Cruise Certificate
Issued by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) · Awarded
CLIA's luxury segment programme, focused on the service standards, inclusions and expectations of the premium and luxury end of the market.
What it means for you
- ✦Training in what genuinely distinguishes luxury inclusions from marketing language.
- ✦Covers suite categories, all-inclusive fare structures and bespoke shore experiences.
- ✦Applied directly to matching a traveller to the right ship rather than the highest price point.
Straight answers
- Is Penny Matthews a certified river cruise specialist?
- Yes. Penny Matthews holds the CLIA RiverView Certificate (awarded October 25, 2024), the CLIA Accredited Cruise Counsellor (ACC) designation (awarded April 30, 2019) and the CLIA Luxury Cruise Certificate (awarded April 2, 2019). All three certificates are issued by the Cruise Lines International Association and can be viewed on this page.
- What is a CLIA Accredited Cruise Counsellor?
- Accredited Cruise Counsellor (ACC) is a professional certification issued by the Cruise Lines International Association. Earning it requires completed coursework in cruise product knowledge and booking practice, documented ship inspections, and personal sailing experience. It is the recognised baseline credential for a professional cruise advisor.
- What is the CLIA RiverView Certificate?
- The RiverView Certificate Program is CLIA's river-cruise-specific training. It covers Europe's navigable rivers, river ship classes and cabin design, lock and water-level realities, and how river itineraries differ from ocean cruising. Penny completed it in October 2024.
- How can I verify these credentials?
- Each certificate on this page is published as the original PDF issued by CLIA, showing the credential name, the recipient name and the award date. Penny is also a member of ACTA (Association of Canadian Travel Agencies) and works under The Travel Agent Next Door, a licensed Canadian host agency.
- Do these certifications cost me anything as a client?
- No. Penny's guidance is free to you. Her commission is paid by the cruise line or tour operator and is already built into the fare whether you book through an advisor or directly.
A personal note
When you're ready, I'm here
No pressure, no commission-driven pitch. Just an unhurried conversation about the river, the season, and the ship that fits the woman you are now.
— Penny