Senior Cruise Operations Consultant

Red Ember Recruitment (PTY) Ltd; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 450,000 - 750,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid (Discovery) 50% company贡献

Pension fund 50% company contribution

International cruise environment

Job summary

Red Ember Recruitment (PTY) Ltd is seeking a Senior Cruise Operations Consultant to join the Cruise Division in Paarden Eiland, Cape Town and oversee on-the-ground logistics for international cruise ships visiting Southern Africa.

This hands-on role focuses on operational delivery, supplier coordination, and service execution during the cruise season, coordinating shore excursions, overland programmes, and related arrangements with rigorous attention to detail.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years' experience within an inbound tour operating or travel operations environment at senior consultant level.
• Strong understanding of travel operations, logistics, and supplier management.
• Excellent knowledge of Southern African travel products and destinations.
• Experience with costing, quoting, and managing operational budgets.

Responsibilities

• Manage the operational delivery of shore excursions, overland programmes, hotel stays, turnaround services, and pre/post cruise arrangements.
• Re-quote services and ensure operational feasibility of all programmes.
• Source, negotiate, and manage supplier rates and relationships.
• Ensure all bookings, reservations, and services are confirmed and operationally ready.
• Prepare movement schedules, welcome letters, guide packs, and operational documentation.
• Coordinate and support port operations during vessel calls.
• Manage waitlists, confirmations, amendments, and service changes.
• Process supplier invoices and assist with final client invoicing.
• Maintain service excellence, accuracy, and strict turnaround times.
• Assist with operational problem-solving and emergency support when required.

Skills

Operations coordination

Logistics management

Supplier management

Attention to detail

English communication

Tools

Excel

Job description

Senior Cruise Operations Consultant

Paarden Island, South Africa

• Work Experience Minimum of 5 years' experience within an inbound tour operating or travel operations environment at senior consultant level.
• Job Type Full time
• Industry Travel and Tourism
• Province Western Cape
• Country South Africa
• Postal Code 7405

Job Description

Our client is seeking an experienced Senior CruiseOperations Consultant to join their Cruise Division in Paarden Eiland, CapeTown. This is a hands-on operations role focused on coordinating and managing the on-the-ground logistics for international cruise ships visiting SouthAfrica, Mozambique and Angola.

Please note: This is not a cruise reservations or cruisesales role. The successful candidate will be responsible for operationaldelivery, supplier coordination, logistics management and service executionduring the cruise season.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage the operational delivery of shore excursions,overland programmes, hotel stays, turnaround services, and pre/post cruisearrangements.
• Re-quote services and ensure operational feasibility of allprogrammes.
• Source, negotiate, and manage supplier rates andrelationships.
• Ensure all bookings, reservations, and services areconfirmed and operationally ready.
• Prepare movement schedules, welcome letters, guide packs,and operational documentation.
• Liaise with cruise agents, onboard teams, guides, portmanagers, suppliers, and operational partners.
• Coordinate and support port operations during vessel calls.
• Manage waitlists, confirmations, amendments, and servicechanges.
• Process supplier invoices and assist with final clientinvoicing.
• Maintain service excellence, accuracy, and strict turnaroundtimes.
• Assist with operational problem-solving and emergencysupport when required.

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years' experience within an inbound tour operatingor travel operations environment at senior consultant level.
• Strong understanding of travel operations, logistics, andsupplier management.
• Excellent knowledge of Southern African travel products anddestinations.
• Experience with costing, quoting, and managing operationalbudgets.
• Advanced Excel skills.
• Strong administration and coordination abilities.
• Excellent verbal and written English communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectivelywithin a team.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and performunder pressure.
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Strong organisational and planning skills
• Relationship-building skills
• Problem-solving ability
• Time management and deadline-driven approach
• Stress tolerance and adaptability
• Strong commercial awareness and operational knowledge

Ideal Candidate:

• We are looking for a hands-on operations professional whothrives in a busy environment, enjoys managing complex logistics, and has apassion for delivering exceptional travel experiences.
• Candidates with cruise operations, inbound tourism,destination management, tour operating, or hospitality coordination experiencewill be highly regarded.
• Discovery Medical Aid (50% company contribution for mainmember plus one dependant)
• Pension Fund (50% company contribution)
• Opportunity to work within an international cruise andtravel environment
• Exposure to large-scale cruise operations across SouthernAfrica