Vice President of River Cruise

JR United Kingdom; London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading travel company is seeking a Vice President of River Cruise to lead the development and operational delivery of a new river cruise offering. The role entails overseeing ship procurement, enhancing guest experience, and driving commercial strategies to optimize performance. Ideal candidates will have extensive leadership experience, a strong operational focus, and a passion for delivering high-quality guest experiences in the travel sector.

Qualifications

• 7-10 years of leadership experience in cruise operations; river cruising preferred.
• Demonstrated success in ship procurement and operational delivery.
• Strong financial and commercial understanding in pricing and yield.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and operational execution for the river cruise business unit.
• Develop and manage budgets and financial reporting.
• Oversee ship sourcing and charter negotiations.

Skills

Leadership

Operational Delivery

Commercial Acumen

Vendor Management

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Job description

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Vice President of River Cruise - Trafalgar - Join Our Team!

ABOUT US

Our philosophy at The Travel Corporation (TTC) is simple, we create enriching experiences for travelers by combining an unbeatable mix of exceptional service and quality at great value. As a global business with over 100 years of experience in the travel industry, our ethos of being ‘Driven by Service’ ensures we keep our values of passion, people and purpose at the heart of everything we do - designing and running immersive, innovative and responsible travel experiences for our guests across 70 countries. Join us in creating life-changing moments for every guest across our award-winning brands and experience the TTC difference.

ABOUT TTC TOUR BRANDS

The ease of touring has never been more important nor relevant, and no one does tours better than TTC Tour Brands. The portfolio includes the award-winning brands of Luxury Gold, Insight Vacations, Trafalgar, Costsaver and Contiki. TTC Tour Brands are the global leaders in tours for any and everyone. From budget to luxury and everything in between, the portfolio brings agents access to over 500 tours, across 70+ countries via one single sales, reservations and marketing team, with the added ease of a single sign on booking platform. TTC Tour Brands is part of the The Travel Corporation (TTC), driven by service for over one hundred years.

ABOUT TRAFALGAR

Trafalgar, part of The Travel Corporation portfolio of brands, is one of the world’s most-loved and trusted travel companies. Known for guided vacations across six continents and more than 70 countries, Trafalgar creates memorable journeys filled with authentic local experiences and expert guidance. Now, with river cruising, travelers can explore Europe’s iconic rivers, experiencing the same commitment to genuine connections, hidden gems, and responsible travel practices that Trafalgar tour guests have enjoyed since 1947. Whether by land or river, Trafalgar makes it easy for travelers to discover the heart of every destination, backed by nearly 80 years of trusted experience and millions of happy guests.

OUR VALUES

• Driven by service
• An inherent passion for travel
• Commitment to our customers and to our people
• Commitment to corporate social responsibility and our 5-year sustainability strategy

POSITION SUMMARY

The Vice President of River Cruise for Trafalgar, is responsible for leading the successful development, launch, and operational delivery of our new river cruise offering. This role will oversee ship procurement, charter management, operational standards, guest experience design, and cross-functional project execution.

The Vice President of River Cruise will play a critical leadership role; influencing the commercial strategy, including pricing, yield, revenue, and margin optimization, they will collaborate closely with the broader commercial and executive leadership teams. This role will own operational readiness, aligning with financial and brand objectives and overall delivery of guest experience.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic and Operational Leadership

• Lead the planning and operational execution for the launch and ongoing performance of the river cruise business unit.
• Provide input and commercial insight into pricing, inventory planning, revenue management, and margin strategies.
• Partner with Sales, Marketing, and Finance leadership to align product development, operational delivery, and guest experience initiatives with growth objectives.
• Support the Deputy CEO with business case development, financial planning inputs, and operational performance reviews.

Financial and Performance Reporting

• Develop and manage annual budgets, forecasts, and financial reporting.
• Track and report on KPIs, including occupancy, revenue per passenger, operational cost efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
• Proactively identify risks and opportunities to improve financial and operational performance.

Fleet Procurement and Operations

• Lead ship sourcing, procurement, and charter negotiations, working closely with legal, finance, and technical stakeholders.
• Oversee operational management including shipboard operations, compliance, maintenance oversight, and service delivery excellence.
• Develop and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) for cruise operations to ensure safety, efficiency, and superior guest experience.

Product and Guest Experience Leadership

• Design the onboard and destination experience strategy in collaboration with the CCO Trafalgar, Product, and Guest Experience teams.
• Drive innovation in service delivery and product enhancements to differentiate the river cruise offering in the marketplace.

Team and Vendor Leadership

• Recruit, manage, and develop a small team supporting operations, vendor management, and product execution.
• Negotiate and manage key vendor partnerships, including ship operators, catering companies, excursion providers, and technical service suppliers.
• Ensure vendor performance is aligned with operational requirements, guest satisfaction goals, and financial targets.

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Influence

• Act as a central leader coordinating across Brand, Product, Operations, Sales, Marketing, and Finance for all river cruise-related initiatives. Lead operational readiness for new ship launches, seasonal operations, and product upgrades in partnership with cross-functional teams.
• Serve as the internal champion for the river cruise business unit, ensuring alignment with broader company strategy and standards.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• 7–10 years of leadership experience in cruise operations; river cruising strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success in operational delivery, ship procurement, or launch activities.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience influencing pricing, yield, or financial performance decisions.
• Deep understanding of maritime operations, compliance, safety protocols, and service excellence standards.
• Proven ability to build and manage vendor relationships critical to cruise success.
• Experience working cross-functionally with marketing, sales, and finance teams.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:

• Thrives in an evolving environment and embraces continuous improvement.
• Adaptable and resourceful in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Entrepreneurial, proactive, and highly collaborative.
• Makes data driven decisions, through trend analysis and identifying areas of optimization.
• Financially and commercially aware, with a strong operational orientation.
• Guest-centric with a passion for delivering differentiated, high-quality guest experiences.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally.
• Culturally attuned and globally aware.

The Travel Corporation is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We not only encourage and support diversity in the workplace, we celebrate it! If you feel you have the skills and experience to thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment, we want to hear from you!