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Cruise Charter & Travel Operations Manager
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CRUISE CHARTER & TRAVEL OPERATIONS MANAGER
International Luxury Travel & Charter Project
Location: Remote / International
Languages: English & French required
Travel: International travel required
Contract: Freelance / Consultancy initially, with potential for long-term collaboration
Start date: ASAP
About the Project
Work with Stephanie E. Benjamin, an international entrepreneur, media personality, speaker, and luxury travel professional with experience across cruise, business, yachting, and international networking.
As part of Stephanie’s global network, we are developing a new international luxury charter travel concept, bringing together a curated community of entrepreneurs, investors, professionals, luxury travelers, and international personalities for exclusive cruise and yacht experiences.
The first objective is to develop and deliver a 50-person inaugural charter voyage, with the ambition to grow the concept into a recurring international portfolio of luxury voyages and private travel experiences.
We are looking for an experienced, highly organized, and entrepreneurial Cruise Charter & Travel Operations Manager to take responsibility for the operational development and execution of the project.
This is an opportunity to join a project at an early stage and play a key role in building the operational foundations of a new luxury travel brand.
The Role
As Cruise Charter & Travel Operations Manager, you will be responsible for turning the vision into a commercially viable and operationally flawless travel experience.
You will work directly with the Founder and will be the main point of contact for cruise lines, yacht charter companies, travel suppliers, destinations, and operational partners.
Key Responsibilities
Charter & Cruise Operations
- Research and identify suitable cruise ships, river vessels, yachts, and charter operators.
- Establish relationships with cruise lines, yacht brokers, charter companies, and travel operators.
- Request and compare charter proposals and group rates.
- Negotiate vessel availability, pricing, inclusions, payment schedules, and contractual terms.
- Coordinate itinerary development, ports, excursions, and onboard services.
- Manage the booking and contracting process with suppliers.
- Ensure all operational requirements are clearly documented and delivered.
Travel & Logistics
- Coordinate accommodation, transfers, excursions, and destination services where required.
- Develop detailed passenger and operational timelines.
- Coordinate passenger manifests and required travel information.
- Work with local destination management companies and suppliers.
- Coordinate VIP and special guest requirements.
- Ensure a seamless guest journey from arrival to departure.
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Guest Operations
- Establish operational procedures for the 50-person group.
- Coordinate pre-departure communication and documentation.
- Manage guest information and operational queries.
- Coordinate check-in, embarkation, transfers, and disembarkation.
- Identify potential operational issues before they become problems.
- Be the operational point of contact during the voyage.
Supplier & Partner Management
- Source and manage hotels, transportation companies, excursion providers, event suppliers, and other travel partners.
- Obtain competitive quotes and negotiate commercial terms.
- Maintain supplier relationships and performance standards.
- Coordinate contracts, deposits, deadlines, and deliverables.
Budget & Commercial Control
- Build and maintain the operational budget for each voyage.
- Track supplier costs, deposits, and payment deadlines.
- Identify opportunities to improve margins without compromising guest experience.
- Work closely with the Founder on pricing and profitability.
Pre-Launch Support
- Contribute to the development of the voyage concept and itinerary.
- Provide operational input into pricing and package design.
- Support the creation of sales materials by providing accurate operational information.
- Help establish partnerships with hotels, tourism boards, cruise companies, and other strategic partners.
What We Are Looking For
We are looking for someone who is highly entrepreneurial, resourceful, and solution-oriented.
You should be comfortable working independently and taking ownership of projects from initial research through to execution.
Essential
- Professional fluency in English and French.
- Previous experience in cruise, travel, tourism, hospitality, events, yacht charter, or luxury travel.
- Strong understanding of travel logistics and supplier management.
- Excellent organizational and project-management skills.
- Strong negotiation and communication abilities.
- Experience working with international suppliers and clients.
- Ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Comfortable working remotely and internationally.
- Ability to remain calm and solution-oriented under pressure.
- Willingness to travel internationally.
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Desirable
- Previous experience arranging group travel or charter voyages.
- Existing relationships with cruise lines, yacht charter companies, DMCs, or luxury travel suppliers.
- Experience with luxury or high-net-worth clientele.
- Knowledge of European, Caribbean, and international travel markets.
- Experience with group bookings and travel contracting.
- Experience managing events or conferences onboard vessels.
- Additional languages are an advantage.
Personality
This role is particularly suited to someone who is:
- Entrepreneurial — you don’t wait to be told what to do.
- Commercial — you understand that an amazing experience also needs to make financial sense.
- Resourceful — when one supplier says no, you find another solution.
- Organized — you can manage hundreds of operational details without losing sight of the big picture.
- International — you are comfortable communicating with people from different cultures and countries.
- Guest-focused — you understand what makes a luxury experience feel effortless.
- Calm under pressure — unexpected situations are part of travel, and you know how to solve them.
Initial Project Objective
The successful candidate’s first major objective will be to help develop and launch our first 50-person luxury charter voyage.
This includes:
- Identifying suitable vessels and destinations.
- Obtaining and evaluating charter proposals.
- Negotiating commercial terms.
- Supporting the selection and contracting of the vessel.
- Building the operational plan.
- Coordinating travel suppliers and partners.
- Preparing the guest journey.
- Supporting the successful delivery of the inaugural voyage.
Following the first successful voyage, there is potential to develop the position into a long-term leadership role overseeing a portfolio of international charter experiences.
What We Offer
- Opportunity to join an international luxury travel venture at an early stage.
- High level of responsibility and autonomy.
- Direct collaboration with the Founder.
- International network development.
- Opportunity to travel internationally.
- Potential to grow into a senior operational leadership position.
- Flexible remote working environment.
- Compensation structure to be discussed according to experience and scope of responsibility.
Apply today if interested.
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