Sister cruise brands P&O Cruises and Cunard have entered into a partnership with Sea Sense, the coastal safety and ocean education initiative developed by the Tide School, to support maritime awareness and environmental education among schoolchildren in Southampton UK. The programme was announced on World Oceans Day and will see the two cruise operators sponsor 8 schools across the city over a 2-year period.
The initiative will support schools within the Southampton Test and Southampton Itchen constituencies and is designed to help young people gain a practical understanding of the marine environment. Through Sea Sense, pupils learn about five key elements that influence coastal conditions—tides, streams, winds, waves and rip currents—while developing awareness of safety risks associated with the shoreline.
In addition to classroom learning, the programme includes monthly Sea Guardian activities focused on ocean conservation, responsible behaviour along the coast and environmental stewardship. These activities include organised beach clean events aimed at encouraging direct engagement with local marine environments.
Employees from both cruise lines will work alongside Sea Sense and participating schools to support community beach-cleaning initiatives. The activities will complement existing volunteering programmes already undertaken by the companies, which contribute collected litter data to the annual marine debris survey conducted by the Marine Conservation Society.
Carnival UK and P&O Cruises President Paul Ludlow said the partnership reflected the companies’ longstanding connection with Southampton and their commitment to supporting coastal communities. He noted that the programme would help young people develop confidence around the sea while encouraging respect for the marine environment and fostering future advocates for ocean conservation.
Tide School Head William Thomson stated that the support from P&O Cruises and Cunard would enable Sea Sense to expand its work in helping children understand the sea, improve coastal safety awareness and develop a stronger sense of responsibility for protecting marine environments.
Local Members of Parliament Darren Paffey and Satvir Kaur welcomed the initiative, noting its contribution to coastal safety education, environmental awareness and community engagement among primary school pupils in Southampton. Both highlighted the positive role played by the cruise sector in supporting local educational and environmental projects.