Primary School Students Visit Tarragona Cruise Port Terminal to Discover Crew Professions

The activity marked the conclusion of the All Aboard! project, promoted by CLIA, aimed at showcasing the diverse professional profiles on board a cruise ship and promoting the values of respect, tolerance, and teamwork associated with cruise crews.

First-grade students from Mare Nostrum School in Tarragona took part in a discovery game at the terminal, met crew members from the MSC Splendida, and watched a demonstration by the Civil Guard’s canine unit.

With the goal of familiarizing children with the different professional roles on a cruise ship, Tarragona Cruise Port hosted this educational activity on Friday morning. The students participated in a session where they met some of the professionals working aboard the MSC Splendida and learned about their jobs. They also toured the terminal and attended a demonstration by the Civil Guard’s canine unit, which is responsible for border control. This initiative is part of the All Aboard! educational program, promoted by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). In Tarragona, the program has been organized in collaboration with MSC Cruises.

The All Aboard! educational program aims to introduce primary school students to the wide variety of professions on board cruise ships through dynamic and interactive sessions. Mare Nostrum School in Tarragona is one of the participating institutions. Over recent months, first-grade students have worked in class with activity sheets and educational materials created by CLIA, allowing them to explore the different roles on board and learn interesting facts about cruise ships.

Next, crew members from the MSC Splendida came ashore to explain their roles and share insights into daily life on the ship. The ship’s Human Resources Manager welcomed the students and gave a brief introduction. The captain, Francesco Iacono, greeted the children, and the First Officer explained the functions of the ship’s bridge. The Chief Steward gave a demonstration of towel folding and asked the children to identify which animal each towel represented. Following this, the Youth Staff Manager presented an origami activity and a game. The session concluded with the distribution of participation certificates and gifts courtesy of MSC Cruises, and a group photo.

Sparking Curiosity

The activity has a dual purpose. On one hand, it aims to spark children’s curiosity about the many and diverse career opportunities offered by the cruise industry. On the other, it introduces students to some of the values and principles upheld on board, such as tolerance, diversity, respect for other cultures, teamwork, and environmental protection.

It is worth noting that a cruise ship may have a crew of up to 2,000 people and more than 400 different jobs. According to CLIA, 94% of women working in the maritime industry are employed in the cruise sector. All Aboard! seeks to open a window to this universe for participants, helping them become familiar with careers they may consider pursuing in the future.

About Cruise Lines International Association – CLIA

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is the leading cruise industry trade association, providing a unified voice for the industry and its members as the authority representing the global cruise community. CLIA represents 95% of the world’s cruise passenger capacity, including the most prestigious ocean, river, and specialty cruise lines, as well as a business community of ports, destinations, shipyards, maritime suppliers, and the largest network of travel professionals specializing in cruise travel.

Together with its members and partners, CLIA supports policies and practices that promote safe, healthy, and sustainable cruise operations; tourism strategies that maximize the socioeconomic benefits of cruise travel; and technologies and innovations designed to help the industry achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. CLIA’s global headquarters are located in Washington, D.C., with regional offices in North and South America, Europe, and Australasia.