Carnival Corporation & plc has extended its maritime cadet apprenticeship programme through a renewed agreement with Princess Cruises and the Maritime & Port University of Mexico, enlarging the scope of onboard training available to Mexican maritime students and reinforcing established ties with the country’s port and educational institutions.
The addendum, concluded during the Seatrade Cruise Global gathering, forms part of a broader pattern of engagement between the cruise operator and Mexican maritime authorities. Discussions held alongside the signing involved representatives of ASIPONA, whose delegation from multiple port states addressed operational coordination, regulatory compliance, and long-term port development.
The agreement extends a framework first established in 2024, under which final-year students from the Mexican maritime university system undertake a 180-day apprenticeship at sea. This period of service is designed to supplement formal instruction with practical exposure to shipboard operations, thereby aligning academic preparation with the demands of active service.
Company representatives indicated that the inclusion of Princess Cruises marked a continuation of long-standing cooperation with Mexico and reflected an intention to broaden access to training while strengthening the maritime workforce. It was further conveyed that the programme had already demonstrated measurable results, with a substantial number of participants progressing into full cadet roles following completion of their initial placements.
From the perspective of Princess Cruises, the expansion was described as providing cadets with experience in a working fleet environment while contributing to the sustained development of skilled personnel for the industry. The university’s leadership, in turn, noted that the revised agreement reinforced the connection between classroom instruction and operational practice, enabling a greater number of students to enter the profession with direct experience at sea.
Since its inception, the initiative has served as a conduit between Mexico’s maritime education system and commercial shipping operations, with its continuation intended to maintain a steady flow of trained personnel. Under the expanded arrangement, the first intake of cadets assigned to Princess Cruises vessels is expected to embark in the autumn season.