Diana – Assistant Food and Beverage Manager

Diana joined the P&O Cruises team aged 26. With a passion for hospitality and an urge to travel, Diana’s home away from home is her ship.

What is the role of Assistant Dining and Beverage Manager?

Working to inspire my teams to deliver great guest experiences in a cluster of bars and restaurant venues across the ship.

Each venue is different, we have the speciality restaurants like Sindhu and The Beach House which offer unique experiences and menus, then we have the beautiful Metropolis bar which has stunning 180-degree views for guests to enjoy with drinks whilst a pianist entertains them. Then there are other venues like Club Havana for dancing and live performers from all over the world including comedians, singers, musicians. Of course, not forgetting Tamarind Club where we have a silent disco!

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I enjoy the responsibility of ensuring that holiday happiness is created for all guests. I love being a role model for my teams by being visible, approachable, and collaborative. Our passion for delivering our SHINE service values ensures our guests can enjoy meaningful holiday happiness.

What do you enjoy about working at P&O Cruises?

P&O Cruises are focused on the product and enhancing the guest’s experience which I love. I also have the support and opportunity to develop my career. No two days are ever the same, but it is the genuine interactions with the people on board and the relationships established with guests that leave me with a satisfaction of a job well done.

No two days are ever the same, but it is the genuine interactions with the people on board and the relationships established with guests that leave me with a satisfaction of a job well done.

Tell us more about your career journey

My passion for hospitality started young when I first entered a restaurant kitchen; my father instilled a strong work ethic in me and helped me get a job as a kitchen assistant in a friend’s restaurant.

By the age of 20 I had worked my way up and started my own business,  a beautiful bar in the middle of old city Logrono, Spain which gave me an amazing experience of understanding business.

At 26 I decided I want to move around, travel and see the world, and it hit me that cruise ships were a great way to combine the two. I worked on board for five years then had a short break and went back to a land based role but I missed sea life and being surrounded by like-minded people so came back to sea with P&O Cruises in 2022 and I feel really at home here.

I missed sea life and being surrounded by like-minded people so came back to sea with P&O Cruises in 2022 and I feel really at home here.

What are the next career steps for you?

I am looking forward to life onboard and gaining the knowledge and skills for the next step which would be Dining and Beverage Manager.

Working with such a great, diverse team, where all individuals have different skills and talents, will make the process smoother, it’s incredible how much passion and interest everyone has in their role. 

I am particularly drawn to the opportunity to contribute to P&O Cruises renowned reputation for excellence in the cruise industry. The company’s commitment to providing unparalleled guest satisfaction, coupled with dedication to continuous improvement, resonates strongly with my own professional values. 

What’s your favourite port?

I couldn’t put my finger on one port as every single one of them has something special to offer – some have food, some views and great weather. That’s one of the main reasons why I chose to work at sea, I do enjoy seeing them all.