A man sits on the floor with a group of smiling children, all raising their arms excitedly. Colourful cartoon images are displayed on screens behind them, and the group appears to be having fun together in a lively, indoor setting. A bearded man in an orange shirt sits on the floor with children, smiling and raising his arms in excitement. A young girl in a pink floral dress sits beside him, holding a glue stick and looking up at him, while cartoons play on a screen behind them.

Youth team

The youth team make a big difference to the holidays of our tots and teen guests. On board all our family-friendly ships we have dedicated children’s clubs featuring fantastic social spaces designed for ages 6 months to 17 years.

Packed full of the latest gadgets, games, and creative play equipment, as part of our youth team you’ll help organise and run a daily schedule of fun activities and events, in both the children’s clubs and out and about around the ship.

From treasure hunts to team games, discos to drawing, each day brings a new adventure and an opportunity to use your childcare and/or educational qualifications to keep everyone active, happy and safe while making amazing holiday memories.

Our children’s facilities are open from morning until late night, so in the evening the fun continues with organised pyjama parties and movie nights, plus a Night Nursery for under-fours. Teens can also use our hang out zones to chill with new friends.

Create memorable moments

Make a real impact by delivering exciting experiences for children and teens, helping families enjoy holidays they’ll never forget.

Adventures ashore and on board

Travel to incredible destinations, enjoy time ashore and relax in crew-only spaces on board

Learning & development

Benefit from structured training, internal promotions and opportunities to work across our sister brand Cunard, building skills that last a lifetime.

A close-knit team

Share unique experiences with colleagues, enjoy social events and crew-only facilities.

Inclusion and belonging

Work in an environment that values care, energy and teamwork.

Youth roles
A woman in an orange polo shirt and navy shorts kneels and smiles in an indoor children's play area with climbing equipment and a blue and red slide in the background.
A woman with blonde hair in a ponytail, wearing an orange polo shirt with a name badge, stands and smiles on the deck of a ship with the sea and a blue sky in the background.
A smiling man in an orange P&O Cruises shirt helps a young woman operate a DJ mixer indoors, guiding her as she adjusts the controls.
Two women in orange shirts, one wearing a Santa hat and the other a decorated green holiday hat, help a child put on festive headbands with star decorations. Everyone appears to be smiling and enjoying the activity.

Youth Manager

Lead the youth team to provide engaging entertainment and childcare for ages 6 months to 17 years. Manage schedules, uphold safeguarding standards and ensure every family enjoys a fun, professional and memorable holiday experience.

A woman in an orange polo shirt and navy shorts kneels and smiles in an indoor children's play area with climbing equipment and a blue and red slide in the background.

Assistant Youth Manager

Support the youth manager to deliver a vibrant children’s club experience. Lead fun, safe activities for children and teens, supervise the team and create an environment where young guests can play, learn, socialise and make lasting memories.

A woman with blonde hair in a ponytail, wearing an orange polo shirt with a name badge, stands and smiles on the deck of a ship with the sea and a blue sky in the background.

Youth Staff

Bring to life the organised activity schedule for all children on board, from ages 6 months to 17 years. Add energy and enthusiasm to every moment, working alongside youth team colleagues to make sure everyone enjoys makes amazing memories on board.

A smiling man in an orange P&O Cruises shirt helps a young woman operate a DJ mixer indoors, guiding her as she adjusts the controls.

Seasonal Youth Staff

A vital part of the youth team, seasonal youth staff have the same role responsibilities as youth staff, but only join our ships for two to six weeks during peak holiday seasons. It’s a brilliant way to travel and enjoy new experiences in addition to a regular shore-based job.

Two women in orange shirts, one wearing a Santa hat and the other a decorated green holiday hat, help a child put on festive headbands with star decorations. Everyone appears to be smiling and enjoying the activity.
How to apply
Meet the team; Hannah, Youth Manager
The Reef – our kid’s club facilities

All family-friendly ships have four kid’s club rooms, each one dedicated to a specific age group: Splashers (2-4yrs), Surfers (5-8 years), Scubas (9-12 years) and H2O (13-17 years).

Children under two are welcome to use the facilities of Splashers if their parents or guardians stay with them while they visit.

The Night Nursery is a quiet space where children age 6 months to 4 years can settle in for the night.

Three kids sit in two round, cosy lounge pods built into a brick wall, playing video games. One boy is in the left pod, while two girls share the right pod, all holding controllers and focused on their screens.
NSPCC partnership

Through our ongoing partnership with the NSPCC consultancy team, we continually review and strengthen our safeguarding practices across recruitment, onboarding and assignments.

With NSPCC expertise guiding us, we’re able to create a safer environment for children on board, embedding strong safeguarding principles into our daily operations.

White letters spelling “NSPCC” on a solid green background.

Hear from our team

A woman stands on a balcony overlooking a calm lake with green hills and scattered houses in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

“When I am not working on board, I work as a HLTA in a primary school and run an after-school club.”

Kayley, Seasonal Youth Staff,

A woman with long hair and glasses, wearing an orange shirt and black shorts, sits indoors by a large window overlooking the sea.

“What’s special is opportunities to have a positive impact on our younger guests and build an excellent rapport with families.”

Helen, Youth Staff,

A woman in a white crop top and blue-patterned skirt walks on a stone path in a white-walled alley with vibrant pink flowers and a blue door, likely in a Mediterranean setting.

“I’m head of IT and computer science in a secondary school and work on board during the school holidays.”

Lucy, Seasonal Youth Staff ,

A person in a black shirt and white trousers stands smiling in front of a scenic view with greenery, a body of water, cruise ships, and mountains in the background under a cloudy sky.

“I really enjoy being able to travel to different countries for free and experiencing new places along the way.”

Louie, Youth Staff,

Woman in a white dress and sunglasses stands in front of ancient stone ruins on a sunny day. She is smiling slightly, with her hair down, and there is greenery and blue sky in the background.

“I am so grateful for this opportunity of a lifetime to travel the world, make friends for life and do a job which is so much FUN! ✨”

Caroline, Seasonal Youth Staff,

FAQs

Curious about the application process, training, life onboard, or what it takes to thrive in this unique role? Read our FAQ flyer to help you feel confident and informed every step of the way.

Read FAQs
A collage of cruise ships, scenic destinations, and youth staff interacting with children, with the text Youth Team FAQ in bold blue and gold letters in the centre.

If you have a Level 3 Childcare qualification or Educational Degree, join our team

A teacher in an orange shirt shows children a board with underwear and a skull and crossbones. A woman sits on the floor with a group of young children, holding up a colourful board and pointing at it, engaging them in an educational activity.

Got the skills and the spark?

How to apply