Senior Planning & Destination Experiences Manager (12-month Fixed Term)

TUI Cruises GmbH; Luton; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus schemes

Travel benefits

Health & wellbeing

Flexible working

Learning hub access

Diversity & inclusion

Job summary

TUI River Cruises is seeking a commercially focused leader to shape its destination strategy and shore experiences for a 10-ship fleet. You will define itineraries, partner with third-party suppliers, and drive multi-centre product development to maximise commercial returns and guest satisfaction.

In this fast-paced role, you will own the Shore Experiences portfolio, negotiate terms, and work with internal and external stakeholders to deliver a compelling guest proposition across market-leading

Responsibilities

• Define seasonal deployment plan across 10-ship fleet and craft itineraries for commercial performance and customer outcomes.
• Plan detailed itineraries with third-party nautical suppliers, focusing on destination mix and duration while monitoring competitor propositions and sentiment.
• Lead destination development by researching multi-centre opportunities with tours and hotels and bring new products to market.
• Own the £2m Shore Experiences portfolio and expand excursion programme to grow revenue aligned with three-year plan.
• Negotiate seasonal commercial terms with suppliers and ensure service levels for transfers, excursions and ship services.

Job description

We're looking for a commercially focused leader to shape the future of our TUI River Cruises destination strategy. You'll play a key role in defining where our fleet sails and how we deliver unforgettable shore experiences for our guests.

The role will be published until 10 August 2026.

About our offer

• Personal benefits:Attractive remuneration, discretionary bonus schemes, generous travel benefits, extensive health & well-being support, and more.
• Flexible working:Work is something you do, not somewhere you go. We encourage a healthy work-life balance with a dynamic working environment.
• A career to shape:Access the TUI Learning Hub to level-up and reach your ambitions.
• Broaden your network:We champion intercultural collaboration and provide opportunities to work on global projects and teams.
• Community:Get involved with incredible local charity and sustainability initiatives like the TUI Care Foundation.

About the job

• You'll define our seasonal deployment plan across our 10-ship fleet, crafting itineraries that optimise commercial performance whilst delivering improved customer outcomes.
• Working with third-party nautical suppliers, you'll plan detailed itineraries for each river, taking a commercial view on destination mix and duration whilst keeping competitor propositions and customer sentiment front of mind.
• We're looking for someone to lead broader destination development by researching multi-centre opportunities through complementary tours and hotel stays, bringing exciting new product to market.
• You'll own our £2m Shore Experiences portfolio, developing our excursion programme to stretch uptake and grow revenue aligned to our three-year plan.
• Managing key supplier relationships is crucial – you'll negotiate seasonal commercial terms and ensure service levels meet our high standards for transfers, excursions and ship services.
• Taking a central role in our TUI Musement integration project, you'll work across workstreams to deliver improvements to our customer proposition and Shore Experience offering.

About you

• You bring proven experience in cruise product planning or delivery, with a strong commercial mindset and the ability to make quick decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• A relevant business qualification or equivalent experience is preferred, demonstrating your commercial acumen and analytical thinking.
• Your relationship-building skills are strong, allowing you to influence and partner effectively with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• You have demonstrable success working with third-party suppliers and securing commercial benefits through negotiation.
• As a collaborative team player, you'll lead and inspire a team of direct reports whilst championing process efficiencies and talent development.

From a workplace to a place to belong. At TUI we embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion, encouraging everyone to come as you are, because together, our potential is limitless.

We are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities and impairments so if you require any support, please do let us know.