Guest Port Experience Manager

Carnival; Southampton; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Carnival is looking for a Guest Port Experience Manager to oversee logistics and guest check-in operations at cruise terminals in Southampton. This full-time, permanent role requires a minimum of five years' experience in hospitality or logistics. The successful candidate will manage various operations, ensure high guest satisfaction, and lead a team to deliver stellar service. A competitive benefits package includes discounted cruising, annual bonuses, and healthcare.

Benefits

Employee Discounted Cruising

Annual bonus

Wellbeing programmes

Private medical and dental insurance

Life Assurance

Flexible leave arrangements

Qualifications

• Minimum five years’ experience in cruise, logistics, guest service, or hotel operations.
• Fluent in all Microsoft Office applications and able to communicate clearly across teams.
• Experience with financial reporting or budget planning.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day logistics and check-in operations for ships in various UK ports.
• Work closely with shipboard teams and local authorities to meet turnaround standards.
• Train shoreside and ground handling staff on guest logistics operations.

Skills

Communication

Team Leadership

Problem Solving

Technical Skills

Customer Service

Education

Degree in Business, Hotel Management, or related fields

Tools

Microsoft Office

O365 Applications

Job description

Princess Cruises is in search of a Guest Port Experience Manager, who is crucial in supporting our ship operations in Europe and ensuring all our guests sailing in this region have the best vacation experience possible.

Role Overview

The Manager, Guest Port Experience will be responsible for the oversight and day-to-day operations of the guest logistics and check-in operation (known as turnaround day operations) for our ships in various ports around the U.K., Europe, Africa and Middle East regions. The Manager will work closely with shipboard teams, ground operators, transportation operators, local immigration authorities, and port management to ensure that Princess Cruises turnaround standards are met and that guest ratings exceed the set minimum requirement while creating a positive first and last impression on our guests.

Key accountabilities include:

• Manage the day-to-day turnaround Guest operations for Princess Cruises fleet of ships in worldwide ports as assigned.
• Manage ground handling supervisors, leads, and staff who execute the logistics, transportation, disembarkation, and check-in functions on turnaround day.
• Ensure guest service standards and ratings are met and/or exceeded. Ensure that cruise check-in staff are friendly, fast, efficient, and proactively follow-up on guest service issues based on survey ratings.
• Manage training for all shoreside and ground handling staff to ensure effective understanding of our tools, products, and processes used in turnaround operations.
• Plan and prepare ship and port specific Guest Logistics manuals for turnaround operations in advance of the start of a season, the first-time a given ship will call a certain port, or for other key dates as directed

Positioned within our internal structure from CUK15 (entry level) to CUK1 (Brand President), this role is classified as a CUK07, offered as a full-time position, on a permanent basis, with primary working locations of cruise terminals/facilities in Southampton.

Requirements: Your Expertise and Leadership

To thrive as a Guest Port Experience Manager, we're looking for:

• Minimum five (5) years’ experience in cruise, logistics, guest service, hotel operations, or event management industry is required
• Minimum three (3) years’ experience with financial reporting or budget planning responsibilities is required
• Must be able to communicate clearly and effectively across interdisciplinary teams
• Must possess basic technical understanding of check-in systems
• Must be proficient in all Microsoft Office and O365 applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project and other web-based applications for content creation

About You: A Catalyst for Change

We believe that diversity enriches our team. We're interested in candidates who:

• Majors in Business, Hotel Management, Leisure/Travel Management, or Hospitality and Tourism Management are preferred

Why Join Us?

Working with us is about more than a job. It's about creating unforgettable holiday happiness for our guests and a fulfilling career for you. Our benefits package reflects our commitment to your wellbeing:

• Employee Discounted Cruising plus Friends and Family offers
• Annual bonus
• A friendly welcome with help settling in
• Regular office events including live entertainment, lifestyle events and charity partner fundraisers
• Extensive learning and development opportunities
• Minimum 25 days leave, bank holiday allowance and holiday trading scheme
• Employee-led networks
• Employee Assistance and Wellbeing programmes
• Recognition scheme with prizes and awards
• Contributory Defined Contribution Pension scheme
• Company paid private medical and dental insurance and health assessment
• In-house Occupational Health help and access to digital GP
• Life Assurance
• Parental and adoption leave
• Employee Shares Plan
• Electric Car and Cycle to Work schemes
• Onsite restaurant offering range of healthy cooked and grab and go meals
• Discounted retail and leisure via discounts portal

Ready to Lead?

If guiding a Guest Experience team to new heights excites you, we're eager to hear from you. Apply now to start your journey with us, where your performance-led leadership will make a difference in our shared success.

Recruitment Journey

For more information on your recruitment journey, please visit https://bit.ly/CUKCandidateJourney.

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