Studying at sea is no breeze, but Henley made it work

Managing a team of 550 people while navigating the high seas is demanding enough; adding a postgraduate qualification to a schedule that involves 12-hour shifts seven days a week sounds near impossible. But for André Louis Pretorius, Food and Beverage Director for a global cruise liner, this pressure-cooker environment was exactly the right place to start his academic journey.

“I see my future differently now and want to pursue bigger things,” says André, who is currently completing his Advanced Diploma in Management Practice (ADMP) at Henley Business School. “My next step onboard will be the position of General Manager. Although I am eager and able to move on, Henley has already opened my eyes to the fact that there is so much more to learn, and other possibilities and opportunities await.”

Leading with military precision

The context of André’s studies is unique. He works for Apollo, a company responsible for food, beverage, and staffing for Oceania cruise ships (part of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings). It is a role defined by strict standards and protocols that have an ‘almost military feel’ to them.

“You work between 10 and 12 hours daily, every single day,” André explains. “There are no weekends or days off. Depending on your rank, you can spend between three to eight months onboard.”

Despite these constraints, the ADMP has allowed him to build on his practical management experience. Due to his senior position, he has slightly more flexibility to slip away for online lectures, though he admits the logistics are tough. He is entirely dependent on the ship’s erratic Internet connectivity to join classes, and his biggest challenge is allocating five consecutive days for face-to-face meetings.

From bar waiter to director

André is open about having taken the “long route” to success. He started his career as a bar waiter, working his way up the ranks over the years to hold his current directorship, a position he has occupied for the past six years.

“When I think of my younger years, I can see that I didn’t have a vision of what I wanted to do with my life. That only came later.”

Being appointed to a management position was the turning point that changed how he viewed his career. “Someone saw potential in me, and I was promoted to a role that is very demanding with lots of responsibility. It has forced me to grow in many ways.”

This growth mindset is what led him to Henley. He is especially grateful that the business school accepted him onto the course based on the “Recognition of Prior Learning” stipulation, as he never finished his undergraduate degree. In his ADMP application, he had to reflect on this professional path, an experience he describes as deeply rewarding.

The bigger picture

While the job is gruelling, the rewards are significant. “Occasionally you get feedback and hear of the impact you’ve had on people’s lives. The travel, of course, is fantastic too,” he says. His work has taken him from the Baltics and the Mediterranean to the Caribbean, South America, the Panama Canal, French Polynesia, Alaska, Southeast Asia, and Australasia.

However, the glamour of travel comes with the sacrifice of being away from his wife and twin boys. “I never planned on having children and now my twin boys are the best thing that ever happened to me. This job allows me to give them a life I probably wouldn’t be able to if I were working on land.”

Hardly surprisingly, his heart remains in South Africa: “I always tell people that my favourite place remains Cape Town. It’s also home.”

Now, armed with new insights from his studies, André is ready for the next chapter. “I love my current role and almost can’t believe that I have reached it,” he says, but with the foundation he is building at Henley, he knows he is ready to travel to even further horizons.

Enquire about Henley's Advanced Diploma in Management Practice here.