More young people will be introduced to the world of cruise as the Cruise Career Springboard prepares to enter its fourth year

The programme, which is run by Edwina and Matthew Lonsdale, owners of luxury cruise agency Mundy Cruising, aims to open young peoples’ minds to the vast range of roles, disciplines and opportunities in the industry.

Now in its fourth year, 12 students from each of St John Bosco College in Battersea, Itchen College in Southampton and NESCOT in Ewell East will begin their eight-week course on 17 April aboard Majestic Princess in Southampton.

The introductory day will be mediated by CLIA staff and will introduce students to their programme mentors, including Graham Sadler, former managing director of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Jo Rzymowska, former VP and managing director EMEA of Celebrity Cruises, and Peter Shanks, former managing director of Silversea Cruises.

During the course, the students will be taken out of college one day a week and visit a variety of ships and cruise line offices, learning more about family and mainstream cruising, the luxury, river and expedition cruise sectors and office-based cruise operations.

The programme will end with a review day on board Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas where the students will give their final presentations on the topic, ‘why would I recommend a friend to apply for a job in the cruise industry?’

Edwina Lonsdale said she has spent the last year working with cruise lines to develop pathways into work for students who have previously completed the course through work experience, apprenticeships and entry level jobs, adding she plans to grow the programme by adding more colleges and regions in 2027.