CLIA ACC study guide
CLIA ACC · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The CLIA ACC (Accredited Cruise Counsellor) is a professional credential for travel professionals who sell cruises. This page is an independent study guide, not an official CLIA publication, and no affiliation with Cruise Lines International Association is claimed. The CLIA ACC study guide has 10 sections and about 4,303 words.
01About the Cruise Industry: Structure, Scale and Business Model
The About the Cruise Industry domain tests whether you can describe how the sector is organised and financed, who the actors are, and which figures are safe to quote. Questions typically probe the difference between an association and a regulator, the shape of the market, and the vocabulary of cruise economics.
443 words, about 2 min02Regulation and CLIA Member Maritime Policies: Who Sets the Rules
This domain tests the regulatory chain that governs a cruise ship and where CLIA's member policies sit within it. Expect questions that describe a scenario and ask which body has authority, or that ask whether a CLIA commitment is legally binding.
404 words, about 2 min03Environmental Sustainability: Targets, Instruments and Fuels
The Environmental Sustainability domain tests your grasp of the climate and pollution framework applying to cruise ships, the difference between global and regional rules, and what CLIA member lines have committed to. Expect scenario questions set in a named sea area or a given year.
416 words, about 2 min04Destination Stewardship: Managing Visitor Flows With Port Communities
Destination Stewardship tests whether you can reason about the relationship between ships, ports and host communities - carrying capacity, visitor management tools, and how the industry responds to overtourism pressure. Questions are often scenario-based: a port proposes a measure, and you must judge whether it is a stewardship tool or a blunt restriction.
396 words, about 2 min05Economic and Social Impact: Reading the Multiplier Correctly
This domain tests how cruise tourism converts into economic activity - direct, indirect and induced effects - and how to describe social benefits without overstating them. Questions often ask you to classify a spending item or to spot a double-count.
350 words, about 2 min06Health and Safety: SOLAS, the VSP and Onboard Medical Care
The Health and Safety domain tests whether you can separate safety regulation from public-health oversight and identify which authority does what. Questions typically describe an incident - a gastrointestinal outbreak, a fire, a medical emergency - and ask who is responsible for the response.
400 words, about 2 min07Workforce Development and Advocacy: Crew, MLC and Industry Voice
This domain tests how cruise crews are recruited, protected and trained, and how the industry advocates on workforce issues. Questions often present a crew-welfare scenario and ask which standard applies, or ask what CLIA can and cannot do for its members politically.
362 words, about 2 min08Cruise Markets: Regional Deployment, Seasonality and Local Rules
Cruise Markets tests whether you know each region's role - source market or deployment region - its season, its gateway ports and the regulation that shapes it. Questions often ask you to pick the odd one out or to match a constraint to a region.
418 words, about 2 min09News: Reading Industry Announcements Without Overclaiming
The News domain tests media literacy in a cruise-industry context: distinguishing an order from a delivery, a forecast from a result, and a press release from a verified finding. Questions typically give a short news-style paragraph and ask what can and cannot be concluded.
355 words, about 2 min10Research and Sharable Resources: Using CLIA Data Correctly
This domain tests whether you can select the right CLIA data source, apply its definitions, and share material responsibly. Questions often present a statistic and ask whether it answers the question asked, or ask which publication to consult.
759 words, about 4 min