Golf Cruise Program Manager – Luxury Cruising & Golf

Premier Golf is a leader in luxury golf travel, having delivered world-class golf experiences to over 30,000 clients since 1989. With our new strategic partnership with Azamara Cruises, we are entering an exciting new chapter — launching a dedicated golf cruise program across 20–30 of Azamara's global itineraries.

The Golf Cruise Program Manager is a newly created, high-impact role responsible for building this program from the ground up. Over the first 12 months, you will develop, launch, and operate 3–5 inaugural golf cruises, with a mandate to scale to full program delivery in year two.

This is not a role for the big-picture thinker alone. The successful candidate will be equally comfortable rolling up their sleeves — personally building the SOPs, working through every operational detail, and doing whatever it takes to establish the program on a solid foundation. We need someone who is highly organised, relentlessly thorough, and wired to follow through. If you bring the ideas but leave the details to others, this role is not for you.

This is a rare opportunity for an entrepreneurial, hands-on professional with a passion for golf and luxury travel to create something truly distinctive in the cruise space.

Key Responsibilities:

Program Development & Launch

• Lead all aspects of designing and launching Premier Golf's cruise program in partnership with Azamara.

• Define the end-to-end guest experience across 3–5 pilot cruises in Year 1, scaling to the full 20–30 itinerary suite in Year 2.

• Develop a scalable program framework, pricing strategy, and packaging model in collaboration with the Product and Sales teams.

• Manage the program roadmap, timelines, and delivery milestones, reporting progress to PG’s ELT.

Golf Curation & Itinerary Design

• Curate premium golf experiences within each cruise itinerary, including port-side rounds at marquee courses.

• Design and manage pre- and post-cruise golf extensions, including accommodation, transfers, course bookings, and ancillary experiences.

• Ensure all golf elements reflect Premier Golf's luxury positioning and deliver exceptional guest satisfaction.

• Source, negotiate, and manage relationships with golf courses, pro shops, and local operators across all cruise destinations.

Market & Supplier Development

• Work closely with the Product team to identify and establish supplier relationships in new golf markets served by Azamara's itineraries where Premier Golf does not yet operate.

• Conduct destination research and, where required, familiarization trips to assess course quality, logistics, and guest suitability.

• Build a preferred supplier network across key cruise ports — including Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia, and the Caribbean.

Operations & SOPs

• Develop and implement comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all aspects of the cruise golf program — from pre-departure communication to on-board coordination and post-trip follow-up.

• Create operational playbooks covering passenger logistics, tee time management, equipment handling, ground transfers, and contingency planning.

• Establish quality control and guest feedback processes to drive continuous improvement.

Team Building & Trip Staffing

• Recruit, hire, and manage a team of Golf Hosts / Cruise Escorts to accompany trips and deliver an exceptional on-the-ground experience.

• Define staffing requirements per sailing and build a flexible roster of qualified trip staff.

• Train and develop trip staff to represent Premier Golf's brand standards and deliver consistent service excellence.

Azamara Partnership Management

• Serve as the primary day-to-day liaison with Azamara's partnership and operations teams.

• Coordinate with Azamara on port scheduling, shore excursion logistics, guest communications, and on-board programming.

• Identify opportunities to deepen the partnership and expand the program over time.

Non-Golfer Experience Curation

• Design and manage a curated program of premium activities specifically for non-golfing guests traveling alongside golfers.

• Ensure that partners, spouses, and companions have a rich menu of choices — including cultural tours, culinary experiences, wellness activities, and local adventures — that match the luxury standard of the overall program.

• Work alongside Azamara to coordinate non-golfer programming with golf schedules so both groups can enjoy their days and reunite seamlessly.

• When needed source and vet local operators, guides, and experience providers across all cruise ports to deliver consistent, high-quality non-golf options.

• Incorporate non-golfer feedback into ongoing program refinement, ensuring the experience is compelling for the full travel party.

Guest Experience & Passenger Management

• Oversee pre-cruise communication for the full travel party — including golf briefings, non-golfer activity previews, itinerary details, and expectations-setting.

• Manage passenger rosters, pairing coordination, activity bookings, and any special requirements for all guests.

• Resolve escalations and ensure that every guest interaction reflects Premier Golf's commitment to world-class service.

Background Experience:

Essential

• Deep passion for golf and first-hand knowledge of international golf destinations, combined with meaningful experience in the luxury cruise industry.

• 10+ years of experience in golf travel, luxury cruise operations, or a senior role spanning both — with a demonstrated track record of building or scaling premium travel programs.

• Strong project management skills with the ability to build programs, processes, and teams from scratch.

• Experience managing supplier and partner relationships, ideally across multiple international markets.

• A genuine appreciation for the full travel party — including the ability to curate exceptional experiences for non-golfing guests traveling alongside golfers.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills — comfortable presenting to senior stakeholders and representing the brand externally.

• Self-starter with an entrepreneurial mindset; thrives in ambiguous, fast-moving environments.

• Willingness and ability to travel up to 30% of the time, including accompanying cruise sailings.

Desirable

• Existing relationships with luxury cruise lines (Azamara, Silversea, Seabourn, Regent, or similar) and an understanding of their operations and guest experience standards.

• Existing network of golf supplier contacts across Europe, the Caribbean, Asia, or other Azamara destinations.

• Previous experience hiring and managing a remote or travel-based team.

• Familiarity with golf operations including equipment logistics and on-course event management.

Benefits

We’re offering a unique opportunity to become part of a fast-growing online brand in the golf travel industry, with the potential to grow alongside the company. This role comes with a competitive salary, commensurate with experience, and a wide range of benefits, including:

• Annual EBITDA-based bonus- 15-20%

• Exclusive travel discounts

• Comprehensive health benefits

• Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Paid holidays

• Retirement fund

• Personalised professional development plans

If you’re passionate about travel, golf, and innovation- and want to be part of a dynamic, forward-thinking team - we’d love to hear from you.

YGT Inc is an equal opportunities employer which means we treat people fairly. We welcome applications from all suitably skilled persons regardless of their gender, age, race, disability, ethnic background, religion/belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or marital/family status.