At Carnival UK, Cunard, and P&O Cruises, inclusion and belonging are key to who we are and how we work together. We believe that when people feel truly included and that they belong, they’re able to be themselves, do their best work, and contribute fully to our shared success.
Belonging means feeling seen, heard and valued for who you are. It means knowing that your differences are welcomed and respected, and that your voice matters. Inclusion is how we make that belonging real – through our everyday behaviours, decisions and interactions with one another.
Inclusive behaviour shows up in simple but powerful ways, such as:
Inclusive behaviour shows up in simple but powerful ways, such as:- Listening with curiosity and respect, and ensuring everyone has a chance to contribute.
- Being mindful of different perspectives, backgrounds and experiences when making decisions.
- Challenging bias or inappropriate behaviour in a constructive and supportive way.
- Using inclusive language and being open to learning when we get things wrong.
- Supporting flexible ways of working and recognising individual needs.
- Welcoming new colleagues and helping them feel part of the team from day one.
Creating an inclusive environment isn’t the responsibility of a single team or role – it’s up to all of us.
Every conversation we have, every meeting we lead, and every decision we make is an opportunity to champion inclusion and belonging. When we take shared responsibility for this, we strengthen trust, collaboration and wellbeing across the business. Diverse perspectives help us make better decisions, innovate more effectively and better reflect the millions of guests we serve around the world. Most importantly, it ensures that everyone – regardless of background, identity or role – feels they truly belong.
How you can get involved
One of the things that makes us a great team is that we work with people from all over the world. However, it’s not always easy to navigate our cultural values, similarities and differences. To help with this, we have a great range of learning tools and activities to help build your knowledge and play your part in creating an inclusive environment – click here to find out more. Plus, here’s information about some of the key dates that colleagues may be recognising this month:
- February is LGBT+ History Month: A month-long celebration and opportunity to reflect on the history of the LGBT+ community. This year’s theme celebrates ‘Science and Innovation’, highlighting how data, evidence and research can help us push for progress, drive transformative change and help reform practices.
- 17 February – Ramadan begins: Observed by Muslims worldwide, Ramadan is a month of fasting during the hours of daylight, prayer, reflection and community. It’s the holiest month for Muslims and is believed that the rewards of good deeds are multiplied many times.
- 17 February – Lunar New Year: Also known as Chinese New Year, Lunar New Year is an opportunity to focus on new beginnings, good fortune and prosperity, welcome spring and honour family, ancestors and traditions.
- 17 February – Shrove Tuesday: Also known as Pancake Day, this Christian celebration falls the seventh week before Easter and the day before Ash Wednesday, starting the fasting season of Lent. It marks the final opportunity to use up rich foods like eggs, sugar and fat (hence the pancakes!) and clear the cupboards of temptation.
Together we can create an inclusive environment for everyone – click here to find out more.