ABOUT US
Welcome to Academy Onboard, the premier gateway to a world of opportunity on the high seas. As the flagship platform for Cruise Retail Academy Ltd, we represent more than just a recruitment service—we are a dedicated ecosystem of training, support, and professional growth designed specifically for the cruise industry.
Formed in 2024 by industry veterans Adrian Pittaway and Robi Gaine, Academy Onboard was born from a vision to create a more supportive, ethical, and transparent pathway for talent. By 2026, we expanded our horizons to offer jobs across more cruise sectors, leveraging our deep expertise to help individuals navigate their careers with confidence.
We pride ourselves on being a trusted partner for our global community of over 10,000 seafarers. Our commitment to your success is backed by the highest industry standards; we are fully certified by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency and strictly MLC compliant, ensuring that your journey is handled with the utmost integrity.
At Academy Onboard, we believe in removing barriers to entry. That is why we never charge recruitment fees and provide the majority of our training for free. When you join us, you aren’t just applying for a job; you are joining a thriving network dedicated to excellence across the oceans.
ADRIAN PITTAWAY
Founder & Visionary Leader
With decades of high-level experience at the helm of maritime retail and operations, Adrian Pittaway is a recognized authority in the cruise industry. Throughout his career, Adrian has been driven by a singular passion: elevating the standards of the seafaring profession. His vision for Academy Onboard was born from a desire to bridge the gap between global talent and world-class cruise lines, ensuring that every candidate has access to the tools they need to succeed.
Adrian’s leadership is defined by a commitment to ethics and innovation. By founding the Cruise Retail Academy and expanding into Academy Onboard, he has created a space where transparency is the priority. For Adrian, the goal isn't just to fill roles—it’s to build a sustainable, global community of 10,000+ members who feel supported, valued, and prepared for the unique life of a mariner
ROBI GAINE
Recruitment Director & People Champion
Robi Gaine brings an unparalleled depth of expertise in recruitment, training, and talent development within the cruise sector. Having spent years understanding the intricacies of what makes a successful crew member, Robi is the driving force behind Academy Onboard’s industry-leading support systems. He believes that the heart of the cruise industry is its people, and his work focuses on ensuring that every individual who joins the Academy feels mentored rather than just processed.
Robi’s dedication to a "candidate-first" philosophy is the reason Academy Onboard remains fee-free for all seafarers. By championing MLC compliance and MCA-certified standards, he ensures that the pathway to the ocean is safe, professional, and accessible. Robi’s mission is to empower the next generation of maritime professionals, providing them with the expert-led training and confidence required to turn a job at sea into a lifelong career.
OUR VALUES
ILLUMINATING YOUR RETAIL WORLD
Our tagline and our logo is also one of our values. We are a bright light. Our business is built around positive success, therefore we will do our utmost to provide our members a continually illuminating place to be. We will ensure that content, input and our tone are optimistic and forward looking.
CREW CHAMPION
Cruise retail success comes from the people on the shop floor. Too often forgotten, so we want to be a strong support network for the thousands of amazing onboard professionals working in this industry. As we passionately believe in people development, we put this as our core value and built the business from it. We believe in an approach which is built from passion, enthusiasm and dedication to our sector. Our goal is to do our best to provide you with the value that we know you need, in the right time frame, and with the right content!
TRUST IS EVERYTHING
We want you to trust us to deliver the best for you. We understand completely that cruise retail is a competitive field. We will provide you with a honest, bespoke and professional solution that is not at any dis-advantage to others in the sector. We commit to providing a trustworthy, dedicated resource and one which is as good as we can build for your needs.
LONG-TERM TALENT PARTNERS
We would love to work with a long-term talent partnership mentality. And therefore we will do our best to provide to you an ongoing working relationship built from mutual understanding, dedicated commitment and honest dialogue.
