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Alexander Percival hosting on stage with a microphone, wearing a blue jacket under colourful stage lights
Alexander Percival · Hosting in action

Life at sea

The stage is
just the start.

A public-facing role with people and teamwork at its heart.

Career on LinkedIn
Professional focus

Cruise Director

Celebrity Cruises · October 2023–present

01

On stage

Hosting and presenting, connecting with guests and bringing a personal presence to onboard entertainment.

02

Behind the scenes

Leading the entertainment team, developing people and working with colleagues across the ship.

03

Shared experiences

Helping deliver the guest experience through collaboration, problem-solving and attention to people.

  1. Oct 2023–present

    Cruise Director

    Celebrity Cruises

    Leads onboard entertainment while maintaining a visible presence as a host and presenter. The work brings together live shows, guest events and the coordination that keeps entertainment moving smoothly between venues.

    Behind the scenes, Alexander develops the entertainment team, works with shipboard colleagues and responds to the challenges of a changing guest programme. His approach combines personal engagement with the teamwork, timing and preparation needed to carry an evening from the theatre to the next event.

    Role reference

    Celebrity’s official description brings together hosting, entertainment planning, staff and manager development, budget execution and adapting experiences to guest demographics.

    Read role description ↗
  2. May 2022–Aug 2023

    Entertainment Manager

    Carnival UK (P&O Cruises & Cunard)

    Returned to Carnival UK to lead onboard entertainment, events and conferences, with responsibility for programme planning, hosting and departmental performance. The role included adapting the entertainment offer to each itinerary and guest demographic, including cruises lasting up to 115 days.

    Managed budgets, developed line managers and used guest feedback to inform improvements. Worked with hotel, food and beverage and retail colleagues on promotional events, and coordinated with teams ashore on visiting events and conferences. Guest communications included onboard publications, event advertising, promotional broadcasts and television interviews.

    Role reference

    P&O Cruises describes entertainment management as overseeing shows, activities and events, leading a team and working across departments on the onboard programme.

    Read role description ↗
  3. Apr 2019–May 2022

    Program Director

    Viking Cruises

    Coordinated the guest programme on board and ashore, bringing together entertainment, destination enrichment and shore excursions. Presented port talks, activities and public announcements, including bridge commentary, while maintaining an active guest-facing presence.

    Worked with local suppliers, guides and transport providers to organise excursions, brief teams and monitor delivery. Responsibilities also covered guest transfers, optional programme bookings, daily programmes and cruise reporting, alongside liaison with Guest Services, staff training and the resolution of guest concerns.

    Role reference

    Viking’s careers information describes entertainment and enrichment roles as planning and delivering onboard guest programming. A published river Program Director description also covers excursions, transfers, suppliers, announcements and reporting, consistent with Alexander’s personal description.

    Read role description ↗
  4. Oct 2017–Feb 2019

    Entertainment Manager (Cruise Director)

    Carnival UK (P&O Cruises & Cunard)

    Moved into the Entertainment Manager role following earlier positions in hosting and assistant management. Led the planning and delivery of the onboard entertainment programme, hosted across venues and oversaw events and conferences.

    Combined the public-facing role with budget management, team welfare, training and line-manager appraisals. Coordinated guest communications and event promotion, worked across hotel departments and liaised with onboard and shoreside stakeholders on external events, including themed and charter cruises.

    Role reference

    The employer’s entertainment-management overview combines team leadership, event delivery and cross-department collaboration. Alexander’s own description supplies the historical responsibilities summarised here.

    Read role description ↗
  5. Oct 2015–Oct 2017

    Assistant Entertainment Manager

    Carnival UK (P&O Cruises & Cunard)

    Progressed from Senior Entertainment Host into assistant management, adding an operational leadership role to his background in guest entertainment.

    P&O Cruises describes assistant entertainment management as supporting programme planning, leading the entertainment team and coordinating activities and performances. The wider role includes deputising for the Entertainment Manager, developing colleagues and helping visiting entertainers settle into the onboard schedule.

    Source note

    Employer description of the role. The original historical duties are not listed individually on Alexander’s profile.

    Employer role overview ↗
  6. Nov 2012–Oct 2015

    Senior Entertainment Host

    Carnival UK (P&O Cruises & Cunard)

    Worked in guest entertainment aboard Carnival UK cruise ships, before progressing into assistant entertainment management in 2015.

    Carnival UK’s description of senior hosting centres on daytime and evening entertainment, social gatherings and an approachable presence around the ship. Hosts bring guests together at activities and events, answer questions and help groups and solo travellers feel part of life on board.

    Source note

    Role overview drawn from Carnival UK’s 2017 Senior Entertainment Host advert; individual activities can vary by ship and assignment.

    Read role description ↗
  7. Sep 2011–Nov 2012

    Youth Staff

    Carnival UK (P&O Cruises & Cunard)

    Began his listed cruise career working with children and teenagers aged 9–17. The appointment preceded his move into entertainment hosting for the wider guest audience.

    P&O Cruises describes youth work as delivering a daily programme of organised activities and events alongside youth-team colleagues, with a focus on helping younger guests enjoy their time on board.

    Source note

    Role overview from P&O Cruises. Alexander’s own profile confirms that he worked with ages 9–17.

    Employer role overview ↗
  8. Apr 2011–Aug 2014

    Communications and Engagement Coordinator

    Solutions4Health

    Worked in communications and engagement at Solutions4Health alongside the early years of his cruise career.

    The organisation’s contemporary public material describes community-based health services, public information and service launches aimed at improving access to support. It provides the public-health setting for this early communications role.

    Source note

    Company context from 2014 public material. The original job description has not been located, so specific campaigns and responsibilities are not attributed to Alexander.

    Read contemporary company material ↗

Roles and dates from Alexander’s LinkedIn profile. Employer references provide additional context; some appointments overlap.