Prior to launching Cruise Academy in 2017, Founder & Managing Director, Nikky Ingley, spent more than two decades working for some of the world's leading cruise lines.

Nikky was surprised by the lack of accurate information and relevant training available to those considering careers outside of deck and engine operations onboard cruise ships. She recognised that this created a lot of unnecessary and costly problems, for ship operators as well as candidates, and she took action to bridge the gap.

Her vision, was to create a specialist academy, combined with recruitment & placement services, to provide aspiring, unlicensed seafarers, with the same level of industry information and ship specific knowledge & preparation that is given to nautical and technical cadets during their time at maritime college.

Cruise Academy's primary objectives are to:

• develop and deliver appropriate certification that can be studied independently, or in conjunction with further or higher education programmes, anywhere in the world. 
• bring regulatory training into the 21st century; ensuring it is relevant and engaging, rather than a box ticking exercise.
• provide global candidates with access to competent, ethical recruitment and placement services and impartial career advice, at no cost.
• ensure that seafarers are recruited and trained by professionals who have first-hand experience of the unique complexities of the shipboard environment.
• drive excellence across the maritime industry while saving ship operators a significant amount of time, money and frustration