International Women's Day 2023: Celebrating Women in Cruise

Today is International Women’s Day, a day dedicated to the celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women all around the world. This International Women's Day, we bring you four women who have made waves in the cruising world.

Karin Stahre-Janson

Let’s begin with the first woman in the world to become the captain of a “mega” cruise ship. In 2007, after working in the industry from the age of 19, Karin Stahre-Janson took command of Royal Caribbean’s Monarch of the Seas. The 2,000-plus-passenger ship was later sold for scrap, but Stahre-Janson resumed her title on Serenade of the Seas. 

Kate McCue 

A well-known personality with over half a million followers on Instagram, Kate McCue is another highly influential female presence in the cruise industry. McCue became America’s first female cruise ship captain when she joined Celebrity Cruises in 2015, taking the helm on Celebrity Summit before becoming the commanding officer of Celebrity Equinox. Then, in 2018, she launched Celebrity Edge, the first in a four-fleet class of ships overseen by the first female CEO of a cruise company, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo.

Lisa Lutoff-Perlo 

Lutoff-Perlo has played a key role in championing diversity in the maritime industry. In 2017, she joined forces with the Regional Maritime University in Ghana to encourage more African women to join. This partnership led to RMU cadet Nicholine Tifuh Azirh becoming the first African woman to work on the bridge of a cruise ship.

Belinda Bennett

Belinda Bennett made history as the first black female cruise ship captain when she took command of Windstar Cruises’ flagship in 2018. In a recent interview, Bennett said: “I’ve encountered both racism and sexism over the years, but I’ve never let it be an issue - it’s not my problem, it’s theirs.” We, alongside so many others, admire her approach!