Youth Activities Manager

Straight Talk. Real Experience. No Bull-ship. 🚢✨

At Cruise Academy, we don’t just teach it - we’ve lived it. Founded in 2017 by seafarers for seafarers, we specialize in maritime training and shipboard recruitment for the global cruise industry.

We tell it like it is - the good, the bad, and the downright exhausting. No sugarcoating, no sales pitch - just real, honest insights from those who’ve been there. Because you deserve to know exactly what to expect before stepping onboard.

We are MLC Certified and proudly audited and approved by the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency, ensuring the highest standards in training, recruitment, and compliance.

If you're serious about a career at sea, we’ll get you there - the right way.

Position Summary

The Youth Activities Manager leads the onboard Youth & Family Program, overseeing the planning, delivery, and continuous improvement of age-appropriate activities for children and teens. This role ensures a safe, inclusive, and engaging environment for young guests while maintaining the highest standards of child safeguarding, safety, and guest satisfaction.

The position is responsible for team leadership, program quality, operational coordination, and collaboration with shipboard departments to enhance the overall family guest experience. The Youth Activities Manager plays a key role in delivering memorable experiences while ensuring compliance with safeguarding policies and operational standards in a shipboard environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Youth & Family Program by planning, organising, and overseeing a diverse range of age-appropriate activities for children and teens

• Ensure a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all participants, maintaining strict adherence to child safeguarding, safety, and operational protocols

• Coach, mentor, and develop Youth Staff, fostering a culture of accountability, service excellence, and continuous improvement through training, feedback, and performance management

• Collaborate with entertainment and shipboard leadership to align youth programming with the broader onboard entertainment strategy and operational objectives

• Monitor program performance and guest satisfaction, using feedback and data to inform improvements and enhance the overall experience for families

• Manage program logistics, including activity scheduling, inventory control, and budget tracking, ensuring efficient use of resources and alignment with financial targets

• Support cross-functional initiatives that enhance the family guest experience, collaborating with departments such as Food & Beverage, Shore Operations, and Guest Services

• Promote a positive, inclusive, and professional team culture that encourages creativity, innovation, and high standards of conduct

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

Non-Negotiable Requirements

• Minimum of 3–5 years’ experience in youth programming, education, or recreational leadership, including at least 1–2 years in a supervisory or managerial role

• Previous shipboard experience in an equivalent youth leadership role

• Minimum of one year of experience in hosting, facilitation, or entertainment-related roles

• Proven experience designing and delivering engaging, age-appropriate activities for children and teens

• CPR and First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain prior to embarkation)

• Strong leadership, coaching, and team development skills

• High level of professionalism, integrity, and discretion when working with minors and families

• Ability to work long hours, weekends, and holidays in a shipboard environment

• Fluent in English, both written and spoken

Strongly Preferred

• Degree or diploma in Education, Recreation, Child Development, Hospitality, or a related field

• Formal child safeguarding training or certification

• Experience managing budgets, inventories, and operational logistics

• Strong organisational and time-management skills in fast-paced environments

• Clear, confident communication style with strong interpersonal skills

• Additional language skills

Contract Details

• 6:2 rotation (6 consecutive months onboard, followed by 2 months of vacation)

• Single cabin accommodation