About p&o cruises
Company Description
P&O Cruises, a renowned cruise line based in the United Kingdom, has been providing memorable cruise experiences for over 180 years. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc and operates a fleet of modern ships that offer a diverse range of itineraries, catering to various traveler preferences. P&O Cruises is committed to delivering exceptional service, innovative entertainment, and unique culinary experiences, all while ensuring the safety and comfort of its guests.
The work culture at P&O Cruises is centered around teamwork, passion, and a commitment to excellence. Employees are encouraged to embrace creativity and innovation, contributing to a vibrant and dynamic workplace. The company fosters an inclusive environment where diversity is celebrated, and every team member is valued. The job environment is characterized by a strong emphasis on employee development, with ongoing training and career advancement opportunities, ensuring that staff can grow and thrive within the organization.
Job Role: Onboard Hospitality Manager Interview Questions
Q1: What experience do you have in the hospitality industry?
I have over five years of experience working in various hospitality roles, including hotel management and event coordination, where I honed my skills in customer service and team leadership.
Q2: How would you handle a guest complaint on board?
I would listen attentively to the guest's concerns, empathize with their situation, and take immediate action to resolve the issue, ensuring they feel valued and heard.
Q3: Can you describe a time when you successfully led a team in a challenging situation?
In my previous role, our team faced staffing shortages during peak season. I organized shift schedules to ensure adequate coverage and motivated my team to maintain high service standards, resulting in positive guest feedback.
Q4: What strategies do you use to ensure high levels of guest satisfaction?
I believe in proactive communication, training staff to anticipate guest needs, and regularly seeking feedback to continuously improve our service offerings.
Q5: How do you manage a diverse team effectively?
I promote an inclusive culture by valuing each team member's unique contributions, fostering open communication, and encouraging collaboration across different backgrounds and perspectives.
Job Role: Cruise Director Interview Questions
Q1: What do you think is the most important role of a Cruise Director?
The most important role of a Cruise Director is to create an engaging and memorable experience for guests by coordinating entertainment, activities, and excursions while ensuring guest safety and satisfaction.
Q2: How do you handle scheduling and organizing events on board?
I prioritize planning well in advance, coordinating with various departments, and maintaining flexibility to adapt to any changes or unexpected challenges that may arise.
Q3: Describe a successful event you have organized in the past.
I organized a themed gala night that included live performances, interactive games, and culinary experiences. It was well-received, with positive feedback from guests and an increase in participation in subsequent events.
Q4: How do you engage with guests to enhance their cruise experience?
I make an effort to interact with guests regularly, hosting Q&A sessions, attending meals, and being present at events to build rapport and gather feedback.
Q5: Can you share your experience with managing a budget for onboard activities?
In my previous position, I was responsible for managing an event budget, where I tracked expenses, negotiated with vendors, and ensured we stayed within budget while delivering quality experiences.
Job Role: Deck Officer Interview Questions
Q1: What qualifications do you have that make you suitable for a Deck Officer position?
I hold a valid STCW certification and have completed my Bachelor’s degree in Nautical Science, along with practical experience on various vessels.
Q2: How do you ensure the safety of passengers and crew on board?
I adhere to all safety protocols, conduct regular drills, maintain equipment, and remain vigilant to identify any potential hazards.
Q3: Can you describe your experience with navigation and ship operations?
I have experience operating various navigational equipment, including radar and GPS. I have successfully planned and executed safe voyages while ensuring compliance with maritime regulations.
Q4: How do you handle emergency situations on board?
In an emergency, I follow established protocols, communicate clearly with the crew, and ensure that all passengers are informed and guided to safety.
Q5: What is your approach to teamwork on board?
I believe in open communication, mutual respect, and collaboration among all crew members to ensure we work together efficiently for the safety and enjoyment of our guests.
Job Role: Chef de Partie Interview Questions
Q1: What experience do you have in culinary arts?
I have over three years of experience in various kitchen roles, including working in fine dining restaurants and catering services, where I developed my skills in food preparation and presentation.
Q2: How do you handle dietary restrictions and preferences from guests?
I ensure that I communicate with guests about their dietary needs, collaborate with my team to create suitable options, and maintain a high standard of food quality and safety.
Q3: Can you describe your experience with menu planning?
I have contributed to menu planning by researching seasonal ingredients, creating balanced dishes, and ensuring that menus are diverse and appealing to a wide range of guests.
Q4: How do you maintain cleanliness and safety standards in the kitchen?
I adhere to all food safety regulations, ensure that my team follows proper hygiene procedures, and conduct regular checks to maintain cleanliness in the kitchen.
Q5: What is your approach to working under pressure in a busy kitchen environment?
I stay focused and organized, prioritize tasks, and encourage teamwork to ensure that we deliver high-quality dishes efficiently, even during peak service times.
p&o cruises Interview Questions and Answers
Updated 21 Feb 2026Customer Service Representative Interview Experience
Candidate: Olivia M.
Experience Level: Entry Level
Applied Via: Job Fair
Difficulty: Medium
Final Result: Rejected
Interview Process
2
Questions Asked
- How do you deal with upset customers?
- Give an example of when you went above and beyond for a client.
- Are you comfortable working in a fast-paced environment?
Advice
Practice situational questions and demonstrate strong communication skills.
Full Experience
I met recruiters at a job fair and was invited to a phone interview followed by an in-person interview. Although I was not selected, the experience helped me improve my interview skills.
Entertainment Coordinator Interview Experience
Candidate: Liam K.
Experience Level: Entry Level
Applied Via: Referral
Difficulty: Easy
Final Result:
Interview Process
1
Questions Asked
- What entertainment experience do you have?
- How would you handle a last-minute schedule change?
Advice
Show passion for entertainment and flexibility to adapt to changing schedules.
Full Experience
Referred by a current employee, I had a single interview that was conversational. They wanted to see enthusiasm and creativity. I got the job quickly after the interview.
Hospitality Manager Interview Experience
Candidate: Sophia L.
Experience Level: Senior Level
Applied Via: Company Website
Difficulty: Medium
Final Result:
Interview Process
2
Questions Asked
- How do you manage a diverse team?
- What strategies do you use to improve guest satisfaction?
- Describe your budgeting experience.
Advice
Highlight leadership skills and experience in hospitality management, especially in cruise or hotel environments.
Full Experience
I submitted my CV through the company website and was invited to a video interview followed by an in-person panel interview. The process was professional and focused on leadership and operational skills.
Marine Engineer Interview Experience
Candidate: James T.
Experience Level: Mid Level
Applied Via: Recruitment Agency
Difficulty: Hard
Final Result: Rejected
Interview Process
3
Questions Asked
- Explain your experience with marine engine maintenance.
- How do you ensure safety compliance onboard?
- Describe a challenging technical problem you solved.
Advice
Prepare detailed examples of your technical expertise and knowledge of maritime regulations.
Full Experience
After applying through a recruitment agency, I had a technical phone interview, a face-to-face with engineering managers, and a final HR round. Despite good feedback, I was not selected due to stronger candidates.
Cruise Ship Staff Interview Experience
Candidate: Emily R.
Experience Level: Entry Level
Applied Via: Online Application
Difficulty: Medium
Final Result:
Interview Process
2
Questions Asked
- Why do you want to work on a cruise ship?
- How do you handle difficult customers?
- Describe a time you worked in a team.
Advice
Be enthusiastic about travel and customer service, and show flexibility for working long hours.
Full Experience
I applied online and was invited to a phone interview followed by an in-person group interview. The interviewers focused on customer service scenarios and teamwork. I was offered the position within a week.
Frequently Asked Questions in p&o cruises
Have a question about the hiring process, company policies, or work environment? Ask the community or browse existing questions here.
Common Interview Questions in p&o cruises
Q: Suppose a newly-born pair of rabbits, one male, one female, are put in a field. Rabbits are able to mate at the age of one month so that at the end of its second month a female can produce another pair of rabbits. Suppose that our rabbits never die and that the female always produces one new pair (one male, one female) every month from the second month on.
Q: A rich man died. In his will, he has divided his gold coins among his 5 sons, 5 daughters and a manager. According to his will: First give one coin to manager. 1/5th of the remaining to the elder son.Now give one coin to the manager and 1/5th of the remaining to second son and so on..... After giving coins to 5th son, divided the remaining coins among five daughters equally.All should get full coins. Find the minimum number of coins he has?
Q: There are two balls touching each other circumferencically. The radius of the big ball is 4 times the diameter of the small all. The outer small ball rotates in anticlockwise direction circumferencically over the bigger one at the rate of 16 rev/sec. The bigger wheel also rotates anticlockwise at N rev/sec. What is 'N' for the horizontal line from the centre of small wheel always is horizontal.
Q: 3 policemen and 3 thieves had to cross a river using a small boat. Only two can use the boat for a trip. All the 3 policemen and only 1 thief knew to ride the boat. If 2 thieves and 1 policeman were left behind they would kill him. But none of them escaped from the policemen. How would they be able to cross the river?
Q: 36 people {a1, a2, ..., a36} meet and shake hands in a circular fashion. In other words, there are totally 36 handshakes involving the pairs, {a1, a2}, {a2, a3}, ..., {a35, a36}, {a36, a1}. Then size of the smallest set of people such that the res...
Q: There are 3 sticks placed at right angles to each other and a sphere is placed between the sticks . Now another sphere is placed in the gap between the sticks and Larger sphere . Find the radius of smaller sphere in terms of radius of larger sphere.
Q: ABCDE are sisters. Each of them gives 4 gifts and each receives 4 gifts No two sisters give the same combination ( e.g. if A gives 4 gifts to B then no other sisters can give four to other one.)Â (i) B gives four to A.(ii) C gives 3 to E. How much did A,B,C,E give to D?
Q: There is a room with a door (closed) and three light bulbs. Outside the room there are three switches, connected to the bulbs. You may manipulate the switches as you wish, but once you open the door you can't change them. Identify each switch with its bulb.
Q: The egg vendor calls on his first customer and sells half his eggs and half an egg. To the second customer, he sells half of what he had left and half an egg and to the third customer he sells half of what he had then left and half an egg. By the way he did not break any eggs. In the end three eggs were remaining . How many total eggs he was having ?
Q: A long, long time ago, two Egyptian camel drivers were fighting for the hand of the daughter of the sheik of Abbudzjabbu. The sheik, who liked neither of these men to become the future husband of his daughter, came up with a clever plan: a race would dete
Q: Tom has three boxes with fruits in his barn: one box with apples, one box with pears, and one box with both apples and pears. The boxes have labels that describe the contents, but none of these labels is on the right box. How can Tom, by taking only one p
Q: A vessel is full of liquid. From the vessel, 1/3rd of the liquid evaporates on the first day. On the second day 3/4th of the remaining liquid evaporates. What fraction of the volume is present at the end of the second day
Q: There are 7 letters A,B,C,D,E,F,GAll are assigned some numbers from 1,2 to 7.B is in the middle if arranged as per the numbers.A is greater than G same as F is less than C.G comes earlier than E.Which is the fourth letter
Q: Give two dice - one is a standard dice, the other is blank (nothing painted on any of the faces). The problem is to paint the blank dice in such a manner so that when you roll both of them together, the sum of both the faces should lie between 1 and 12. Numbers from 1-12 (both inclusive) equally likely.
Q: Given a collection of points P in the plane , a 1-set is a point in P that can be separated from the rest by a line, .i.e the point lies on one side of the line while the others lie on the other side. The number of 1-sets of P is denoted by n1(P)....
Q: Consider a series in which 8 teams are participating. each team plays twice with all other teams. 4 of them will go to the semi final. How many matches should a team win, so that it will ensure that it will go to semi finals.?
Q: Jack and his wife went to a party where four other married couples were present. Every person shook hands with everyone he or she was not acquainted with. When the handshaking was over, Jack asked everyone, including his own wife, how many hands they shook?
Q: An escalator is descending at constant speed. A walks down and takes 50 steps to reach the bottom. B runs down and takes 90 steps in the same time as A takes 10 steps. How many steps are visible when the escalator is not operating.Â
Q: A Man is sitting in the last coach of train could not find a seat, so he starts walking to the front coach ,he walks for 5 min and reaches front coach. Not finding a seat he walks back to last coach and when he reaches there,train had completed 5 miles. what is the speed of the train ?
Q: A person meets a train at a railway station coming daily at a particular time. One day he is late by 25 minutes, and he meets the train 5 k.m. before the station. If his speed is 12 kmph, what is the speed of the train.