Dear Paul Ludlow and the P&O Cruises management team,

We are musicians working for P&O Cruises, including Pulse and 7/10 bands, duos, buskers and Cocktail Keys.

We are seeking a clear, practical and reasonable resolution that respects the contractual position of existing musicians while allowing the company to consider future operational requirements transparently.

We respectfully ask P&O Cruises to implement the following three measures as a matter of priority.

1. Provide a written response to our outstanding questions by 12 November 2026
We request that P&O Cruises provide a substantive written response to the outstanding questions and requests for clarification set out in our accompanying Entertainment Musicians Position Statement.

These questions concern the contractual, employment, operational and maritime basis for the reported changes, including the allocation of additional duties to entertainment musicians.

We believe musicians are entitled to understand the contractual basis for their employment and any proposed changes to their responsibilities.

We therefore request that a full written response is provided no later than Thursday 13 November 2026.

Where the company is unable to provide a definitive answer to any particular question by this date, we ask that it identifies the outstanding issue, explains why clarification is required and provides a reasonable date by which a full response will be supplied.

2. Immediately restore entertainment musicians to supernumerary status
We ask P&O Cruises to immediately restore entertainment musicians to their previous supernumerary status and remove the additional routine operational duties reportedly introduced under the new arrangements.

This means returning entertainment musicians to their established position of providing specialist entertainment services, without being routinely allocated additional operational responsibilities such as:

• In-Port Manning (IPM).
• Gangway operations and passenger movements.
• M-card scanning and associated security procedures.
• Tender-port duties.
• Guest embarkation and turnaround operations.

This request does not seek exemption from legitimate maritime safety responsibilities, emergency duties, mandatory training, drills or other obligations properly applicable to seafarers. We fully recognise and accept those responsibilities.

Our request concerns the additional, recurring operational duties that go beyond those established safety and emergency obligations and the specialist entertainment role for which musicians were engaged.

We believe the existing arrangements should remain in place while the company reviews the contractual position, responds to our outstanding questions and considers any proposed changes through an appropriate process.

3. Introduce any future changes only through a new, clearly defined contract from 1 January 2027
We recognise that P&O Cruises may wish to introduce different working arrangements for entertainment musicians in the future.

We are not seeking to prevent the company from considering changes to its operational requirements. However, we believe any significant changes to the role and responsibilities of entertainment musicians should be clearly established before an individual agrees to enter into a new employment contract.

Accordingly, if P&O Cruises intends to introduce additional routine operational duties, we request that these apply only to musicians entering into new contractual arrangements on or after 1 January 2027, under a separately amended and clearly defined entertainment musician contract.

Under this proposed arrangement:

• Musicians who have already signed contracts before 1 January 2027 should remain on their existing contractual terms and working arrangements.
• Musicians signing new contracts on or after 1 January 2027 may be offered revised contractual terms that clearly identify any additional responsibilities.
• Those revised terms should specify the nature and scope of the duties, training and competency requirements, working hours, rest arrangements, remuneration and applicable contractual provisions.
• Musicians should receive the proposed contract and sufficient information in advance to consider the changes, seek independent advice where appropriate and make an informed decision before agreeing to the new arrangements.
• No existing musician should have new recurring operational duties retrospectively imposed upon them simply because they are joining a different ship, returning from leave or commencing a previously agreed contract.
• This would give the company time to establish and communicate any proposed new arrangements, while allowing existing and prospective musicians to make informed decisions about their employment.
• We believe this is a fairer and more transparent approach than introducing significant changes during an existing contractual engagement or after a musician has already committed to a contract on different terms.

It would also allow P&O Cruises to recruit musicians under clearly defined expectations, avoiding uncertainty or disagreement about the nature of the role once employment has commenced.

We ask that the company considers this proposal in light of the applicable contractual provisions, employment legislation, maritime regulations and relevant international conventions.

4. Meaningful consultation and contractual transparency
In addition to the three priority requests above, we ask P&O Cruises to engage meaningfully with affected musicians and their representatives.

We request written clarification of:

• The contractual provisions relied upon to introduce the reported responsibilities.
• The relevant clauses of the applicable Seafarer's Employment Agreement.
• Any policies, job descriptions or operational instructions supporting the changes.
• Whether the arrangements constitute a variation to existing contractual duties.
• Whether the changes are temporary, permanent or part of a wider fleet policy.
• Whether musicians are being moved into a different employment or operational classification.
• We believe musicians should be able to understand their contractual position before being expected to accept any significant change to their working arrangements.

5. Confirm appropriate training, safety and workload arrangements
Where additional duties are considered contractually appropriate for future engagements, we request confirmation of:

• Relevant training and competency requirements.
• Risk assessments and supervision arrangements.
• The scheduling of duties alongside existing performance commitments.
• Compliance with applicable working-time and rest requirements.
• Any additional remuneration or recognition considered appropriate.

6. Protect musicians from victimisation
We ask P&O Cruises to confirm that no musician will be disadvantaged, threatened, disciplined or refused future employment simply because they have:

• Raised legitimate questions about their contractual responsibilities.
• Requested clarification of their employment arrangements.
• Sought independent legal or trade union advice.
• Participated in reasonable collective discussions.
• Supported or signed this open letter.
• Expressed concerns through this independent campaign, including on social media.
• Musicians should be able to raise genuine workplace concerns without fear of retaliation.

7. Establish a fair process for resolving disagreements
Where individual musicians have concerns about the introduction of additional responsibilities, we ask that they are given access to an appropriate, transparent grievance and dispute-resolution process.

Pending clarification, we encourage musicians to continue fulfilling their existing contractual obligations and legitimate safety responsibilities, while raising concerns through appropriate channels and expressly reserving their contractual rights where necessary.

This campaign does not encourage blanket refusal of duties, disregard for safety instructions or disruption to ship operations.

This open letter must be considered alongside our position statement, available here: https://linktr.ee/pandomusiciansopenletter

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This letter has been updated on 5 November 2026, following the consideration of new information. For full disclosure, the original letter that was written is below. We believe that the current letter has simply been updated to better reflect the campaign and it's intentions but are sharing it for transparency.

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Dear Paul Ludlow and the P&O Cruises management team,

We are musicians working for P&O Cruises, including Pulse and 7/10 bands, duos, buskers and Cocktail Keys.

 We are raising concerns about reported changes to the duties expected of shipboard musicians and asking the company to engage with those affected.

This open letter has been signed by P&O Cruises' musicians as well as guests who care about live music on P&O Cruises.

What's happening?
We have received reports that musicians serving aboard Arcadia have been told that changes to their existing arrangements will introduce additional operational duties, including:

• In-Port Manning (IPM)
• Gangway duties
• Tender-port duties
• Guest embarkation duties

We understand these changes may subsequently extend across the fleet. However, despite enquiries to P&O Cruises, Carnival and our agency, Sonic Artists, we understand that clear confirmation and an explanation of the reported changes have yet to be provided.

This uncertainty is concerning for musicians currently working for P&O, as well as those considering future contracts. We have also received reports that some musicians are considering leaving or declining future contracts because of these concerns. We cannot independently verify all reported conversations or their precise context.

Why are we concerned?

🎸 Our primary role is entertainment.

Shipboard musicians are skilled professionals who contribute significantly to the guest experience. Our work extends far beyond performing: it includes learning and maintaining extensive repertoires, practising, rehearsing, soundchecking, preparing requests and maintaining instruments.

Adding routine operational duties could reduce the time and energy available for this work, potentially affecting the quality and consistency of the entertainment guests expect.

🛟 Safety and training matter.

We fully recognise that everyone aboard has responsibilities for safety and the smooth running of the ship. We support legitimate emergency duties, safety procedures, mandatory training and drills.

However, duties involving gangways, tender operations and passenger embarkation may involve different risks and responsibilities. Musicians must be given clear instructions, appropriate training and supervision, and the necessary support to perform any assigned duties safely.

⏰ Workload and rest must be protected.

Additional duties raise important questions about scheduling, rest, preparation time and performance commitments. We want reassurance that musicians will still have sufficient time to deliver the standard of entertainment expected by guests.

⚖️ Changes should be clear and fair.

We are concerned that a change of this significance appears to have been introduced without clear communication or meaningful consultation. We ask the company to explain the contractual basis for the reported arrangements and whether they are intended to be temporary or permanent.

What are we asking P&O Cruises to do?
Our preferred outcome is for musicians to remain focused on their primary entertainment responsibilities and to be exempt from routine IPM, gangway, tender-port and guest-embarkation duties unrelated to those roles, while continuing to fulfil appropriate safety and contractual responsibilities.

We respectfully ask P&O Cruises to:

1. Stopping the process and a review into the reported decision to allocate these duties to musicians.
2. Consultation with affected musicians to reach an amicable agreement where possible.

If the decision is made to continue with the new duties...

1. Confirmation of the scope of duties, training, risk assessments, supervision and safety requirements and appropriate recognition and remuneration.
2. Written clarification of the contractual basis and how it relates to our roles so musicians can make an informed decision before signing or continuing a contract.
3. A dignified and recognised resignation process for musicians who want to be musicians, with full pay of their contract, whether they are onboard or were due to join.
4. No disciplinary action, including refusal of future work, for those involved in supporting or running this campaign, whether in person or on social media.

A constructive way forward
We value the opportunities P&O Cruises provides and recognise the operational demands of running a cruise ship. This campaign is not about avoiding legitimate safety responsibilities or undermining ship operations.

It is about ensuring that musicians' roles are clearly defined, changes are properly explained, and additional responsibilities are managed fairly. We believe experienced, motivated musicians and high-quality live entertainment benefit the company, its employees and its guests.

We therefore ask P&O Cruises to engage constructively with the musicians affected, review the reported arrangements and provide a written response to these concerns.

We hope an open discussion can lead to an outcome that recognises both the company's operational needs and the specialist contribution made by its musicians.

Signed,

Musicians and supporters of fair, clear and appropriate working arrangements aboard P&O Cruises ships.

This letter has been sent for awareness to the following :

• The Musician’s Union (a UK trade union representing over 36,000 employed and self-employed musicians working across live performance, recording, theatre, and music education).
• Bermuda Entertainment Union (a labour and professional organisation that represents and advocates for entertainment workers. Sent due to P&O Cruises ships primarily being registered in Hamilton, Bermuda)
• Nautilus International (an independent, trans-boundary trade union and professional organisation representing more than 20,000 maritime professionals working at sea and ashore).
• Bermuda Shipping and Maritime Authority (works with the Bermuda Public Services Union (BPSU) for collective bargaining and staff representation)

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LET MUSICIANS PLAY 🎶

For more information, please email pandomusiciansopenletter@outlook.com or visit our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pandomusiciansopenletter/

An independent campaign. Not affiliated with or an official account of P&O Cruises.

This letter is published in good faith for the purposes of raising concerns, seeking clarification and encouraging constructive dialogue regarding the working arrangements of musicians employed by P&O Cruises.

References to proposed changes, conversations or events are based on information reported to the campaign by individuals. They are presented as concerns requiring clarification, not as established facts or allegations of unlawful conduct.

The purpose of this letter is not to defame or damage the reputation of P&O Cruises, Carnival Corporation or any individual. It is to seek transparency, fair working arrangements and appropriate recognition for shipboard musicians. We welcome clarification or correction of any information found to be inaccurate and are willing to engage constructively with the company.

The views expressed represent the campaign's concerns and do not necessarily reflect the views of every musician employed by P&O Cruises. This is an independent campaign and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or an official account of P&O Cruises.