Cruise Planning Assistant Review

I work in Cruise and my job title is Cruise Planning Assistant, I have 2 different roles where 3 days of the week I work on Shore Excursions, and the other 2 days of the week I work on Product & Planning. Working on shore excursions, I recently had to check and update all shore excursions (including their prices) for Summer 14 so that we can launch on time, making them available to the public to buy. Working on product and planning I work on helping getting the brochure ready. Both are pretty big responsabilities as the brochure can't be changed once it's out there and shore excursions must be correctly priced and have the right information or customers complain and refunds are due etc. Of course, this is my roles in a complete nutshell, there is a lot more in between and to it!

Working on shorex (shore excursions) you get to know Excel pretty well, learnt how to use two different versions of Microsoft Access (both roles use a different version of it), I've also learnt how to use internal systems. Emails are very important, and I've never had to rely on them so much, so my Microsoft Outlook skills have improved swiftly. There's a variety of courses on offer here, I've attended one which gives a history on Tour Operations which was interesting, I've signed up for a couple of other ones in April and May as well. Getting work done on time (or even before deadlines) is a skill which is coming out more due to not being in one role for 5 days of the week.

The team in Cruise are the best team! (Although that could be slightly biased as I haven't worked in another department yet) However I think this because they're quite a small team, and everyone seems to have such stretched work loads, but they all handle it so well! They all know what they're doing and what they need to do to get things done, they're always super busy, but at the same time they are all so much fun to work with and be around! (Not to mentopn I've probably had more cake working in Cruise in the last 6 months than I did probably during the whole of last year...) I enjoy the actual work I do because I find it interesting, but I also like to challenge myself to get things done to a certain standard and on time, it's also good because of the 2 different roles that I get to experience. I'm really enjoying the programme so far, and I always feel so lucky still to have this opportunity.

I do feel like a valued member at TUI, especially as my managers give me responsabilities and trust me with it. In fact, just the other day I had an email from TUI's "Reward Me" site to say that I've been nominated to recieve a £20 voucher to one of a selected retailer to say thank you for my hard work with getting launch ready - So hard work doesn't go unnoticed here.

The induction/hand over was good as this was the beginning of my training really and we have a "buddy" system which is good. However, in terms of how well the programme is actually structured, I don't really feel there is much of one... But it's ok, because you're not left on your own or anything, I think it's more about getting you in to the actual job and stuck in, which is fine by me.

My manager's are both so supportive of me in terms of my development and within my actual job. Having the buddy system is also good because it gives you someone who will listen to any problems or queries you have etc, which is sometimes quite nice to have.

This is my first real salary, so having nothing to compare to... I would have to say it suits me fine at the moment! I'm still living at home as I've only just left college so I don't have to pay for many living costs.

There's quite a few work social events through out the year which is always good! There has been a volunteer opportunity recently at Christmas time which wasn't run by TUI, but it was sent as an internal announcment, so I personally took part in that. We have a newly opened gym and suana which is right around the corner from our work place and TUI emplyee's get a special rate to use it. There's also of course the holiday discounts and staff deals (i've recently bought a staff deal holiday which is to go to the Caribbean at the end of April!).

Yes

TUI UK is such a great opportunity and company to work for, they really encourage personal development and it's just a fun company to work for really! I think this is ideal for you if you're really interested in the Travel & Tourism industry, it's a great starting point and gate way to learning so much about the operations of it all and you would be contributing to the success of a massive company.

Have some knowledge on TUI, do your homework for it. It's quite a tough company to get in to, but it's worth the effort. For your interviews, I would say show you're keen, be enthusiatic about the company and working here, be keen on the industry and showing that you have things you can offer them, but that there's also so much you can learn from them. When you get in, try not to waste the opportunity, because this year is going so quickly, it;s crazy how fast it goes!