Mike Pack joined Princess Cruises as its new National Training & Engagement Manager last month. He previously worked as Fleet Cruise Director for Carnival Cruise Line. Travel Gossip found out a little bit more about him with a quick Q&A.
I never travel without… my running shoes. I’ve always loved getting a real feel for an area, and I enjoy having an event to train for. I’ve just completed my first 10-mile night trail run and I loved everything about it. I feel 2026 will be the year of longer trail runs.
The famous person (dead or alive) I’d most like to sit next to on a plane is… the civil and mechanical engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. I don’t think anyone redesigned travel (or cruising) more than he did, so sitting next to him on a plane and hearing his thoughts about flying at 35,000 feet would be fascinating.
My weakness is… my sweet tooth. I can’t resist anything sweet – especially cake – even when training for a marathon.
The worst thing I ate or drank abroad was… Rakia [a distilled fruit brandy]. When meeting colleagues from around the world between contracts, this drink always seemed to appear. It has a very fiery kick.
My bucket-list destination is… New Zealand – ideally while watching the British and Irish Lions play rugby.
Born and brought up in… Reading.
Live in… Thatcham, near Newbury. After being at sea for so long and experiencing the amazing hecticness of life onboard, I love the nature that surrounds me at home. We have so many walks to choose from close to where we live, including routes by the canal and love family walks with our five-year-old Labradoodle, Barkley.
The best piece of advice I’ve been given is… “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
If I could eat one thing for the rest of my life it would be… A home-cooked roast dinner with all the trimmings. I don’t think that can ever be beaten – especially with my dad’s homemade gravy and my mum’s famous cake.
The emoji I use most often is… the classic heart 
.
The thing I miss most while travelling is… my wife, Emma – also a former Cruise Director, who’s now the proud owner of the Hartbeeps musical group in our area, making music magic for babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers and their grown ups; my daughters – one aged four, the other two months old – and Barkley.
When I left school, I wanted to be… a fireman. At 18, I passed all the Fire Service application tests but also had the chance to do a season abroad at Camp America. During the first week there, I knew I’d made the right choice.
The thing I’m most proud of is… being a dad and getting a ‘yes’ when I asked my wife to marry me. I believe I’m the only person to lose my status as an inaugural flagship Cruise Director to my wife… After I brought out the Carnival Horizon, she launched the Carnival Panorama.
What attracted me to the job was… I’ve spent the last 15 years at sea and love the cruise industry. I’ve always focussed on giving guests their best holiday and helping teams deliver unforgettable experiences. When I saw that Princess was looking for someone to bring that same passion to travel agents, it felt like the natural next step. I’m excited to work with agents across the across the UK, Ireland, and Europe to help them get their customers on the perfect Princess cruise.
What I hope to accomplish in my role… I want to showcase the unique and remarkable aspects of the Princess Cruises experience and empower travel agents with the knowledge and confidence to represent our product effectively. My goal is to help them fully understand the value Princess offers so they can share their knowledge confidently with their clients.
See also: Princess Cruises creates new trade training role
