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Matthew Spencer
Matthew Spencer

Matthew Spencer

Asheville, NC Cruise Specialist
Years of Experience: 12
31 Reviews | 100% Recommended

Cruise Expert - Ocean, River & World Cruises

I take great pride in helping my clients turn their travel dreams into unforgettable cruise experiences. Whether you're planning a world cruise, a river journey through Europe, or a classic ocean voyage, I’m here to guide you every step of the way. With access to exclusive amenities and strong relationships across the top cruise lines, I make sure you get the best value, service, and itinerary tailored to your interests. I believe every cruise should be as unique as the traveler taking it—and that’s why I take the time to understand your preferences and goals before matching you with the perfect voyage. When you book with me at Cruise Specialists, you benefit from our 35+ years of cruise expertise, our dedicated support, and a commitment to making your journey seamless from start to finish. I look forward to helping you plan your next great adventure.

My Travel Specialties

Ocean, River and World Cruise Specialist

Regent Explorer in Icy Strait Point
With a personal passion for travel and a vast amount of experience in the cruise industry, I am dedicated to helping my clients achieve their ultimate travel goals and dreams. Having spent over ten years working in the industry, including working on a… Read more from my Ocean, River and World Cruise Specialist bio.

Solo Cruising

Sailing solo in Alaska
The seas have never been more welcoming to solo cruisers!  Hi, I'm Matt Spencer, a cruise consultant with Cruise Specialists. One of the biggest travel myths I hear is that cruising is only for couples and families. For years, solo travelers were often… Read more from my Solo Cruising bio.

Virgin Voyages is a Breath of Fresh Sea Air

Virgin pool deck
Hey there, it's Matt Spencer from Cruise Specialists. In this business, you see a lot of things come and go, but every once in a while, something shows up that really changes the game. And believe me, Virgin Voyages is doing… Read more from my Virgin Voyages is a Breath of Fresh Sea Air bio.

Christmas Markets River Cruises

Christmas Market at night
For those who truly love the magic of the holiday season, the planning for the most enchanting trip imaginable is happening right now. Every year, one of the most popular and personally rewarding trips I book is a Christmas Markets river… Read more from my Christmas Markets River Cruises bio.

My Areas of Expertise

Destinations

  • Caribbean
  • Europe
  • World Cruise
  • Alaska
  • Danube
  • Bahamas
  • Germany
  • Rhine River
  • Virgin Islands
  • Austria
  • Hungary

Interests

  • Cruises
  • River Cruises
  • Expedition Cruises
  • Luxury Cruises
  • World Cruises
  • Hosted Cruises
  • Small Ship Cruises

Suppliers

  • AmaWaterways
  • Oceania Cruises
  • Virgin Voyages
  • Avalon Waterways
  • Holland America Line
  • Princess Cruises®
  • HX
  • Viking
  • Norwegian Cruise Line
  • Cunard®

Certificates & Awards

Certified ASTA Travel Agent
Celebrity Learning Certification
Oceania Certified Specialist
Regent Seven Seas Luxury Cruise Expert
Royal Caribbean University - Bachelor of Adventure
Seabourn Academy Graduate

My Travel Stories

Silversea Silver Nova Ship Tour

Comfort on the Nieuw Amsterdam

Holland America's Nieuw Amsterdam isn't the newest, the largest or the most exciting vessel on the seas--and that's just fine. With each arrival on the ship after a busy day exploring ports of call, you truly feel like you are 'coming home'.  The plush chairs and sofas in the relatively-hidden Crows Nest make for a... Read more from my Comfort on the Nieuw Amsterdam story.

My Reviews

Rating: 5 31 Reviews | 100% Recommended
  • Matt is the best!!!

    Reviewed By Harvey - Boca Raton | Traveled to Mediterranean | At Sea | At Sea
    Matt Spencer of Cruises Specialists is an eleven on a one to ten scale. Great service, quality advice, good pricing and lots of extras. Most important, is the quality of his advice.
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    73 of 135 people found this review helpful
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  • Animals - Animals - Animals

    Reviewed By NM Wanderers - New Mexico | Traveled to Galapagos Islands | Ecuador | South America
    We reached out to Matthew a bit late in the bag but he was there to answer every question we had. Looking forward for the next trip.
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    56 of 105 people found this review helpful
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  • Wonderful!

    Reviewed By Susan - Los Angeles, CA | Traveled to South America
    Working with Matt is the best experience I've ever had with a travel agent. This was a 40 day cruise and I was late in booking and not sure what to do. He managed to get me a great cabin and a number of perks that I wasn't expecting such as OBC and gratuities. He found me the best insurance policy for my needs at a great price and it covered absolutely everything. He also was willing to book airfare and hotels for me but I did that myself. Gave me recommendations for shuttle services and even shore excursions! He sent me copies of everything, kept me up to date, it was the best cruise because I didn't have to worry about anything.
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    73 of 142 people found this review helpful
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  • Nice cruise

    Reviewed By Jim - Seattle, WA | Traveled to Key West | Florida | USA
    Tuscan Restaurant was great. Staff language abilities were not great. Took 3 days for room service to understand we were 2 people, not 1. Ship provided transportation was more expensive than booking our own. Ship charged for water and other amenities Tried to prevent passengers from filling own water bottles. Food to our rooms tasted like it came from the Orlando food bank. Old and hard. Food in the Aqua Dining was generally ok, not great. Some Casino staff did not understand how to exchange money, or the rules of some of the table games they participated in. Most customers were nice enough to work around these problems.
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    Matthew Spencer responded:
    Thanks for your five-star review of my service and for your feedback on the Celebrity voyage, Jim! I appreciate working with you and your family and hope that Alexandra enjoyed her birthday. Thanks again for your business!
    59 of 115 people found this review helpful
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  • Great Trip on Virgin

    Reviewed By Robert - Chicago | Traveled to Caribbean
    Great trip. Room selection was right on. Everything went as planned with no problems. Thanks Matt!
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    34 of 66 people found this review helpful
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  • Grand world cruise

    Reviewed By Angie - Ft Myers, FLA | Traveled to World Cruise | Other
    Matt was great, called or text him many times on questions about the trip and he was always helpful and friendly to help me.
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    33 of 64 people found this review helpful
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  • Silversea Asia cruise

    Reviewed By Frederick - Grosse Pointe, MI | Traveled to Japan | East and Southeast Asia
    Very informative and responsive. Good follow up on queries that came up as we assessed the options available.
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    73 of 144 people found this review helpful
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  • Our Regent cruise

    Reviewed By Renee - Mississauga | Traveled to Australia & New Zealand
    It was great working with Matt Spencer. He was always prompt and attentive, and took care of our needs fully. A very pleasant and knowledgeable professional.
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    74 of 147 people found this review helpful
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  • Visit Alaska, there is so much to see every time!

    Reviewed By Pesky Connie - Dallas, Ga | Traveled to Nome | Alaska | USA
    From our initial conversation til the return from our cruise, Matthew was a constant support, encouragement, fact finder, and professional consultant! I cannot give him enough stars to explain how he did his job with care, attitude and truly giving me more time than I probably deserved. He is a great communicator to anyone who, like us, needs a helping hand dealing with sights, airlines and excursions. He kept us updated of flight changes and talked me off a ledge a couple of times! Cruise Specialist, you would be very wise to keep this man on your team. We look forward to contacting him soon regarding another cruise!
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    Matthew Spencer responded:
    Connie, it has been a pleasure working with you and Charlie! I'm ready to get you to Hawaii when you are ready to go! Thanks for your business and your very kind kudos!
    5 of 10 people found this review helpful
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  • Matt is Wonderful!!!

    Reviewed By Doris - Annapolis, MD | Traveled to Scandinavia | Europe
    We have been working with Cruise Specialists for many years. The person we used to have was fine, but when they left we happened to get Matt. I am SO GLAD! He is detail oriented, he knows his stuff and he follows through. He gets answers if he doesn't know right away and I appreciate that instead of being told something wrong. I would highly recommend Matt, he won't steer you wrong and he is honest if you ask him his opinion! Thanks Matt for all your help!
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    67 of 134 people found this review helpful
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  • Viking river cruise

    Reviewed By Doug - Tempe, AZ | Traveled to Europe
    Matt is a real cruise professional, he knows his business and is very customer focused. I have recommended Matt to others and they are pleased with his service as well; I am sure Matt has many repeat customers.
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    67 of 134 people found this review helpful
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  • Fun Caribbean Voyage on Holland America

    Reviewed By T. Malaythong - West Sacramento, CA | Traveled to Caribbean
    Efficient, thorough and accessible! You can tell Matt loves what he does and his enthusiasm for travel is contagious!
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    Matthew Spencer responded:
    Thank you! It was a pleasure working with you.
    80 of 160 people found this review helpful
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  • Excellent! Knowledgeable and prompt!

    Reviewed By Joanne - Providence, RI | Traveled to South Pacific
    Matt was excellent, knowledgeable and prompt! He responded to my questions very quickly and guided us through the travel planning really well. I highly recommend Matt, and in fact have told my friends about him!
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    69 of 139 people found this review helpful
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  • Holland America Iceland Greenland

    Reviewed By Shari - Mission Texas | Traveled to Iceland | Europe
    I wanted to move to Cruise Specialists because of what other people have recommended. I was assigned Matt and couldn't be happier. He was professional, prompt in answering my questions. If he didn't know the answer he would find out and get back to me.
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    Matthew Spencer responded:
    Thank You so much, Sharon! It is a pleasure working with you!
    33 of 68 people found this review helpful
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  • Our first cruise!

    Reviewed By Kathy - Round Rock, TX | Traveled to Caribbean
    Matt was referred to us by a long-time client of his, and he was very helpful. It was our first cruise, so we had lots of questions. He was very quick to respond to our many emails and answered every single question we had. He was very knowledgeable about the trip we were taking (since he'd taken the same trip many times) and he was able to make many very helpful suggestions. We will be sure to use Matt's services the next time we travel.
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    66 of 135 people found this review helpful
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  • Seabourn Med Cruise

    Reviewed By Andrew - Henderson, NV | Traveled to Mediterranean | At Sea | At Sea
    Matt was very helpful with every element of this special trip: Cruise: Ship and Cabin Selection Shore Excursions - tips at each of the ports Excellent hotel selections - Barcelona, Venice and Marseille Flight - good schedule and seats locations And made sure we had the appropriate insurance for protection We recommend Matt and look forward to working with him in the future.
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    81 of 165 people found this review helpful
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  • Attention to details

    Reviewed By Bobbie - Palm Springs, CA | Traveled to Italy | Europe
    Matt was very responsive to my questions and emails. I would definitely use him again and so would our friends who traveled with us!
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    67 of 138 people found this review helpful
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  • The best travel advisor

    Reviewed By Greg - Vashon, WA | Traveled to Panama Canal | Panama | Central America
    Working with Matt was the best.
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    65 of 135 people found this review helpful
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  • Another great cruise

    Reviewed By Diane - Ocean Grove, NJ | Traveled to Caribbean
    Matt was a pleasure to deal with! I would, and have, recommended him to others. He works to get you as many shipboard credits as he possibly can. If he is asked a question and does not have the answer, he gets back to you with the answer in a timely manner.
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    62 of 129 people found this review helpful
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  • Great Service!

    Reviewed By Gary - Vero Beach | Traveled to Rhine River | On the River | At Sea
    Matt was very helpful in helping us find the right cruise for what we were looking for. He made recommendations on different cruises and was very patient helping us find what was right for us. He also helped with individual tours. We would definitely work with Matt again.
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    79 of 163 people found this review helpful
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  • Yukon and Alaska Cruise on Holland America

    Reviewed By Angela - Garden City, ID | Traveled to Alaska | USA
    It was a pleasure working with Matt. This was our first cruise so we welcomed his advice. We knew we wanted a land/sea tour of Alaska but were unfamiliar with the options. Matt recommended the HAL 18-day Yukon/Alaska tour. Since he had been on this tour, he was able to provide a lot of detail. He recommended the better time frames to travel and suggested excursions and dining options. He has also been on the cruise ships so was familiar with the layouts and chose a wonderful veranda room for us. We would gladly work with Matt on future trips.
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    64 of 134 people found this review helpful
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  • Great cruise to Croatia, Sicily, Malta and Corfu

    Reviewed By Gil - Mesa, AZ | Traveled to Croatia | Europe
    Working with Matt is wonderful. He is very knowledgeable, and professional and follows up on all the details.
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    59 of 125 people found this review helpful
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  • Thank you Matt!

    Reviewed By Pam - Jupiter, FL | Traveled to Europe
    Matt is a wonderful travel agent. Although we’ve never met, Matt was so helpful in helping us sign up for our Royal Caribbean cruise. We also wanted to thank him for giving us a much appreciated monetary credit to use on board the ship.
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    53 of 115 people found this review helpful
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  • Best Cruise Travel Agent

    Reviewed By James - Bend, OR | Traveled to Europe
    Matt was very personable and informative. He followed up on his commitments. He gave us great pre cruise hotel recommendations and reservations in Prague and Amsterdam and also a side trip to Cesky krumlov in the Czech republic.
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    72 of 153 people found this review helpful
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  • Always beyond expectations!

    Reviewed By Kay - New York | Traveled to World Cruise | Other
    This is not our first booking with Matt. Be it a short cruise like this last one or a world cruise with all of its questions and complications, Matt juggles it all seamlessly. Kudos!
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    65 of 142 people found this review helpful
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  • Cruise Planning Assistance

    Reviewed By Barbara - Asheville, CA | Traveled to Alaska | USA
    Matt was extremely helpful. He was well familiar with all the Holland America ships and thus helped determine which dates and routes we wanted to take. He does research to ensure we take advantage of any special discounts. He responds timely to any questions or concerns.
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    61 of 134 people found this review helpful
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  • Tulip Time Cruise

    Reviewed By Lewis - Midway, KY | Traveled to Amsterdam | Netherlands | Europe
    Matt was fantastic in helping us plan and prepare for the cruise. He often took the initiative to help keep us on track! We will certainly call on him again for our next trip and highly recommend him to anyone needing assistance with a cruise!
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    49 of 111 people found this review helpful
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  • awesome

    Reviewed By Mary - San Clemente, CA | Traveled to Greenland
    Easygoing, factful information, as well as highpoints as a must-see excursion. always reassuring in the planning and execution of the cruise. An absolute delight to work with!
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    60 of 135 people found this review helpful
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  • Tulip Time Cruise

    Reviewed By Lewis - Midway, KY | Traveled to Amsterdam | Netherlands | Europe
    Matt was fantastic in helping us plan and prepare for the cruise. He often took the initiative to help keep us on track! We will certainly call on him again for our next trip and highly recommend him to anyone needing assistance with a cruise!
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    45 of 106 people found this review helpful
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  • Caribbean cruise

    Reviewed By Don - Radcliff, KY | Traveled to Caribbean
    Matt was great. He walked us thru the process. I would recommend him highly. The ship was great. Our whole family had a wonderful time.
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    56 of 128 people found this review helpful
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  • Our awesome travel agent!

    Reviewed By John - Newton, MA | Traveled to World Cruise | Other
    Matt is very efficient and has wonderful travel knowledge. He is helpful in all areas of travel. It is such a relief to know that he will handle everything and that there will not be any surprises along the way.
    I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
    60 of 147 people found this review helpful
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My Travel Experience

Places I’ve personally traveled to or destinations I’ve booked for my clients.

Customer Testimonials

Cruise Rescheduling Success

We just wanted you to know how much we appreciate you working so hard to reschedule our cruise--it was amazing and we are so glad it all worked out. We know without your hard work, it wouldn't have. Thanks for not giving up! Many thanks from your Texas friends!

Provided by Paula M., Weatherford, TX

A Whole Lot of Appreciation

The phrase is simple and the words are few but behind them is a whole lot of appreciation. Thank you, Matt for making our voyage amazing!

Provided by Cynthia M. Flat Rock, NC

A Life Saver!

Matt, Thanks SO MUCH for coming to rescue and organizing my emergency flights to and from Heathrow after the cruise in September. You took a load off my shoulders! Wishing You The Very Best, Sue

Provided by Sue T., Asheville, NC

Fun Times!

Matt- Thanks for all you do for us. You make our fun times on Viking that much better. Sharon and Jerry

Provided by Sharon M, Hendersonville, NC

On The Road with Matt

Matt, I just wanted you to know how grateful I am for your hard work on all of our expeditions! You are so gracious and do a wonderful job in educating us on new places and helping make our vacations special. And you are SO patient! We look forward to working with you for many years to come. Best, Cheryl

Provided by Cheryl J., Hendersonville, NC

Matt is Top Notch!

Dear Susan- Just wanted to thank you for putting me in touch with Matt Spencer for our cruise! We could not have worked with a better travel agent. He was always in touch with information and with answers to our questions. Matt is top notch! Many Thanks, Melanie

Provided by Melanie C., Hendersonville, NC

Celebrity Cruise Awesomeness

Celebrity wanted me to book onboard and I said no way--I know who will look after me. :) Everything about this cruise has been amazing!! Omg…from the room placement (perfect) to the amenities on board and especially connecting with an amazing group of travelers. It was truly an amazing experience and I can’t express to you how thankful I am to you. Looking forward to working on the next one with Matt!

Provided by Jordan G., Ottawa, Ontario
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