Silversea and Les Roches have signed an agreement to launch a first-of-its-kind education programme to teach the inner workings of the cruise industry to students

The Postgraduate Diploma in Cruise Line Management course will be taught at Les Roches campus in Marbella, Spain and will provide students with knowledge and skills to manage and oversee various onboard areas of cruise vessels, as well as aspects of marketing, revenue management, and other commercial functions pertaining to the cruise industry.

Students who complete the course will benefit from a scholarship agreement between Silversea and Les Roches, which is one of the top four hospitality management schools worldwide, as well as an opportunity to gain full-time employment on board a Silversea ship.

Barbara Muckermann, president of Silversea, said: “Silversea places great importance on sourcing the industry’s most talented crew members.

“Education and training are key in this service-oriented industry, which is growing fast. Since becoming part of Royal Caribbean Group, Silversea has welcomed six ships to its fleet in just three years, making attracting talented professionals more important than ever.

“We are delighted to partner with Les Roches, a leading academic institution, to ensure our service remains the best in the industry.”

“Luxury cruise sector yet to be fully explored academically”

Les Roches Marbella campus was chosen as the ideal host for the course due to its proximity to Malaga, which is a recognized hub for luxury cruise lines. Spain attracts the second-highest number of cruise passengers in Europe, behind Italy. In 2023, a new record was set in the country, with a 46% increase compared to 2022, reaching over 12 million passengers, according to the latest data published by Ports of the State.

Carlos Díez de la Lastra, CEO of Les Roches, added: “Partnering with the world’s leading ultra-luxury cruise brand is a source of pride for Les Roches.

“The luxury cruise sector is an area yet to be fully explored academically, and promoting this diploma positions us at the forefront, once again, of a specialisation that continues to grow year after year.”

With the cruise industry expected to break more records in 2024 as it continues its resurgence from the pandemic, the need to attract new talent is obvious, with CLIA stating that the sector creates roughly 1.2 million jobs worldwide.