Lady Captains On Small Ship Cruises

Lady Captains on Small Ship Cruises

By Anne Kalosh.

More women are joining the ranks of cruise ship captains, and several are commanding small vessels. Meet a batch of remarkable mariners — go lady captains!

Sea Cloud Cruises’ Kathryn Whittaker

Germany’s Sea Cloud Cruises has just promoted Kathryn Whittaker to captain of SEA CLOUD II. The Canadian is the first female captain in the fleet, which fields two sailing ships, the 64-passenger SEA CLOUD and 94-passenger SEA CLOUD II.

Unlike many captains, Whittaker doesn’t hail from a seafaring family, and her voyage didn’t start at an early age in a maritime academy. While at university in Toronto she took time off to work on touring boats in Toronto Harbor for three years, then made her way to SEA CLOUD as a deck hand in 1996.

This first position on a sailing ship sealed her fate and began her journey toward securing her captain’s license.

Capt. Kathryn Whittaker is the master of Sea Cloud II. * Photo: Sea Cloud Cruises

Whittaker did most of her training privately and achieved her certifications by passing the required exams through various Canadian maritime schools. Her hands-on experience was achieved on sail-training ships, including five years as captain of Bytown Brigantine’s STV FAIR JEANNE and small passenger sailing vessels in the British Virgin Islands, where she worked as chef, first mate and training captain. She then served as chief officer for two years with Canadian Sailing Expeditions.

Before being promoted to captain at Sea Cloud Cruises in March, Whittaker sailed as chief officer for six years.

“Growing up as the only girl with four older brothers prepared me well to work in this field. I had to prove myself on this ship and have over the years gained the respect of the crew,” Whittaker said.

“When the opportunity arose for our crewing manager to promote Whittaker—who conveys dedication and love for her job—to captain, the decision was easy,” according to Daniel Schäfer, managing director of Sea Cloud Cruises. He added: “In a very male-dominated industry, we are thrilled to have a very qualified woman for the highest position on a ship.”

Whittaker grew up in St. Thomas, Ontario. When not at sea, she calls Ottawa home.

Croisières M/S Jacques-Cartier’s Maryse Camirand

Another Canadian woman, Maryse Camirand of Québec’s Croisières M/S Jacques-Cartier, a new adventure cruise line, is a licensed captain who also teaches at the Maritime Institute of Québec (Institut Maritime du Québec). However, her husband serves as the master of the 66-passenger JACQUES-CARTIER because “There can be only one captain,” Camirand said.

The family-run Croisières M/S Jacques-Cartier is led by President Michel Harvey, Camirand’s husband. They have been rebuilding and upgrading JACQUES-CARTIER to offer adventure cruises on the St. Lawrence River starting in June. Harvey, a fourth-generation shipowner, is also a licensed marine mechanical engineering officer.

Camirand and Harvey’s teenage daughters Rachel and Amélie are involved in the new venture, too, and Rachel holds a permit to pilot Zodiacs. The family will live aboard the ship for part of the year.

Maryse Camirand is a licensed captain but her husband commands Jacques-Cartier. Their daughters work on board, too. * Photo: Croisières M/S Jacques-Cartier

“We have our place,” Camirand said of women in maritime roles. “We have to be good, maybe better than a man.”

Twenty-five years ago few women pursued such careers in Canada. That has changed. Camirand said the Maritime Institute of Québec’s last graduating class included many women, and they are finding maritime jobs.

According to Camirand, it wasn’t difficult for her to take up a maritime career, at least not in Canada. Originally she studied business.

“I’m an entrepreneur. I see more opportunity than difficulties or obstacles,” she said.

Silversea Cruises’ Margrith Ettlin

One of the longest serving women captains in the small-ship arena is Margrith Ettlin, promoted to the position in 2013 by Silversea Cruises.

Ettlin is a Swiss national with extensive maritime experience in remote regions, including the Arctic and Antarctica. Her first Silversea command was for the 132-passenger expedition ship SILVER EXPLORER.

Silversea’s Capt. Margrith Ettlin. * Photo: SIlversea Cruises

At the time of her appointment, Silversea’s Christian Sauleau, executive vice president of fleet operations, said: “We’re very pleased and proud to extend this promotion to Captain Ettlin. Although we’re not the first cruise company to have a female captain, we hope Captain Ettlin’s achievement will inspire other women to pursue careers at sea.”

Prior to joining Silversea as a staff captain in March 2010, Ettlin worked for Germany’s F. Laeisz shipping group. Her maritime career includes nearly nine years as a staff captain with the German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd.

Celebrity Cruises’ Nathaly Albán

When Ecuadorian Nathaly Albán took command of the catamaran CELEBRITY XPLORATION in 2017, she became the first woman captain in the Galápagos, according to Celebrity Cruises.

With a dozen years of experience sailing throughout the archipelago, Albán had worked on several ships there, joining Celebrity in 2006 as third officer aboard the 100-passenger CELEBRITY XPEDITION.

Lady captain Nathaly Albán at the helm of Celebrity-Xploration

Capt. Nathaly Albán at the helm of Celebrity-Xploration. * Photo: Celebrity Cruises

Albán is the second woman captain at Celebrity, following Kate McCue, who commands big ship CELEBRITY SUMMIT.

“Empowering strong women and elevating them to deserved leadership roles is a cause that is close to my heart, and one that Celebrity Cruises truly values,” President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo said. “When the opportunity presented itself to promote Nathaly—who radiates passion and love for her job and for Celebrity—to captain, the decision was easy.”

Albán was one of six women in her class at La Escuela de la Marina Mercante Nacional in Ecuador. Before graduating, she held various maritime jobs, most notably serving in the FLOPEC tanker fleet of the Ecuadorian Navy.

Celebrity’s Patrik Dahlgren, senior vice president of global marine operations, said Albán was “the ideal candidate for the job, and we believe in celebrating and advancing our brightest talent.”

He added: “Our goal is to attract, develop and retain the best people from many different regions of the world and backgrounds. Our industry has typically been very male-dominated, yet we believe in inclusiveness and opening up opportunities for all.

Albán called her appointment last year a “great honor and privilege,” adding: “I told my family many times that I would be wearing white one day and be the first woman to serve as a captain of a ship in the Galápagos. Now it’s happening and I’m committed to delivering the very best experience for all guests on board.”

Windstar Cruises’ Belinda Bennett

In 2016, Windstar Cruises named Belinda Bennett captain of WIND STAR, making her possibly the first black cruise ship captain.

Bennett was 39 when she took command of the 148-passenger WIND STAR, a ship she continues to helm, after working 11 years for the line. She previously served as chief officer.

Earning the title, Bennett said, was a “long and exciting professional journey.”

Capt. Belinda Bennett on Wind Star’s bridge. * Photo: Windstar Cruises

Hans Birkholz, who was Windstar’s CEO at the time of Bennett’s appointment, noted then that her leadership qualities and hard work made her an asset to the team and invaluable to her colleagues and crew. “She has earned her spot at the helm,” he said.

Bennett is a British citizen who resides in Southampton. She hails from St. Helena, a British Overseas Territory encompassing Ascension and Tristan de Cunha, where she became a deck cadet at age 17 aboard her home island ship, RMS ST. HELENA. Four years later, she climbed the ranks as third officer then stayed an additional five years, ultimately serving as second officer.

Following a brief stretch as chief officer aboard SS DELPHINE, a private charter yacht, and Isle of Man Steam Packet ferries, Bennett signed on with Windstar as second officer in 2005.

At the small ship line, which has an open bridge policy, Bennett is known for engaging with guests. She enjoys leading them on a “safe and one-of-a-kind adventure around the world.”