Celebrity Cruises has announced that it will man — or woman — an upcoming cruise with an entirely female leadership crew for the first time ever.
The company revealed on Instagram on Thursday that this upcoming International Women’s Day, the Celebrity Edge will set sail from Florida with a team of officers entirely comprised of women.
The headline-making move is part of the company’s Bridge the Gap initiative, which aims to better represent women in the industry.
First: Celebrity Cruises has announced that this upcoming International Women’s Day, the Celebrity Edge will set sail from Florida with a team of officers entirely comprised of women
Future is female: The headline-making move is part of the company’s Bridge the Gap initiative, which aims to better represent women in the industry
The boss: Captain Kate McCue, the first American female cruise ship captain, is in charge
The seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruise leaves Fort Lauderdale on March 8, 2020 and returns to the same city.
It will make stops at San Juan, Puerto Rico; Tortola, BVI; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten with several days at sea.
The same itinerary is offered at other times, but this historic trip will be female-run.
Captain Kate McCue, the first American female cruise ship captain, is in charge, while the bridge and hotel officer team will also be entirely made up of women.
‘Excitement does not even begin to describe how I’m feeling about working alongside these incredible, barrier-breaking women on Celebrity Edge for this truly historic sailing,’ McCue said in a press release.
‘I am inspired every day by the amazing women we have working throughout this organization — both on land and at sea. They’re proof that there’s power in diversity.’
Ladies! The bridge and hotel officer team will also be entirely made up of women
Big deal: Second Officer Nicholine Tifuh Azirh of Cameroon was the first West African woman to work on the bridge of a cruise ship in 2017
Sounds fun! The seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruise leaves Fort Lauderdale on March 8, 2020 and returns to the same city
Vacation: It will make stops at San Juan, Puerto Rico; Tortola, BVI; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten with several days at sea
According to Yahoo, the team also includes Second Officer Nicholine Tifuh Azirh of Cameroon, who was the first West African woman to work on the bridge of a cruise ship in 2017, as well two dozen other women in positions like guest relations, cruise director, and third engineer.
The trip will also have programming celebrating female empowerment, including a film series with female directors and strong female leads, panels with artist Autumn de Forest and fashion designer Mary Frances, and themed trivia games.
McCue and her ‘Fearless Female Officers’ will also participate in a game of pool volleyball against guests, as well as a Q&A panel.
The Bridge the Gap initiative is responsible for hiring McCue, and also raised the percentage of women on navigational bridges from 3 to 22 per cent since 2015.
Experience: Some of the crew members are newer hires, while others have been working for decades
Changes: The Bridge the Gap initiative is responsible for hiring McCue raised the percentage of women on navigational bridges from 3 to 22 per cent since 2015
‘We are all passionate about closing the gender gap,’ Celebrity’s female president and CEO, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, said
Activities: The trip will also have programming celebrating female empowerment, including a film series with female directors and strong female leads, panels with artist Autumn de Forest and fashion designer Mary Frances, and themed trivia games
‘We are all passionate about closing the gender gap,’ Celebrity’s female president and CEO, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, said.
‘Over the last few years, we have worked hard to diversify the crew on board and bring more women than ever into our industry
‘We are fortunate to have many incredible, experienced and beyond-qualified women who have worked tirelessly to achieve these positions. And we also celebrate the many men who continue to support them and help champion having more women crew onboard.’
The cruise is open to men and women with prices starting at $929 for interior rooms