Royal Caribbean partners with university

Royal Caribbean International has partnered with the University of Chester to offer a six-week internship.

Four second year tourism management and business management students and one from the university’s partner college on the Isle of Man have been selected to take part in the placement.

The successful students joined the Royal Caribbean UK sales team in May for a six-week period, during which they have assisted the team and been given the opportunity to:

• Learn about the brand through a series of deep-dive sessions with divisions across the business, including the marketing and Club Royal loyalty membership teams
• Attend and participate in ship visits and leading cruise industry events such as the Clia Conference
• Meet with travel agents alongside Royal Caribbean’s regional sales team
• Participate in the launch of Harmony of the Seas in both Southampton and Barcelona
• Receive mentoring sessions from Royal Caribbean’s senior leadership team

Students who perform well will be given the opportunity to extend their internship for a further period over the summer months.

Ben Bouldin, ‎sales director, Royal Caribbean International, UK & Ireland said: “The University of Chester has an excellent reputation for offering its students a world-class introduction to tourism management so it was an ideal opportunity to introduce them to the extraordinary world of Royal Caribbean to extend that education with valuable and unique on-the-job experience.

“From playing crucial roles in the launch of our newest ship, Harmony of the Seas, to acting as an extension of our sales team over the past few weeks, we have welcomed this group of exceptional students and given them the chance to learn first-hand about the cruise industry. We look forward to strengthening our ties with the University and hope to be able to offer the experience to more students over the years to come.”

Dr. Maeve Marmion, programme leader for international tourism management, University of Chester, said:“Our internship programme with Royal Caribbean offers an incredible insight into the travel industry working with a leading travel brand. We are thrilled to be able to offer our students such a dynamic experience and the opportunity to bolster their credentials and enhance their overall employability.

“Chester Business School has a reputation for producing excellent, work ready graduates through its approach to teaching and to placement opportunities. This internship programme allows students the perfect opportunity to put into practice what they have been studying while at the University of Chester. We are confident that those who take part in this and future internships with Royal Caribbean will emerge with the ability and know-how to make a valuable contribution to their chosen industry in the future.”