P&O’s first female captain is
the latest example of a
growing trend in cruising.
WOMEN ARE MAKING WAVES AROUND THE WORLD,
with Australia leading the way.
In an industry long dominated by men,
females are starting to make a real impact,
following in the leads of local pioneers such
as Carnival Australia’s Ann Sherry and
Orion’s Sarina Bratton.
Last week P&O made Australian history
with its first female captain sailing into
Sydney Harbour at the helm of Pacific Pearl.
Captain Sarah Breton was joined by four
other women on the ship’s management
team – cruise director Zoltina-J Medwick
Daley, hotel director Jane Herron,
administration/revenue director Martina
Damonte and executive housekeeper Mari
Schoon – making up the biggest group of
female senior officers on any cruise ship in
the region.
Arguably the most influential person in
Australian cruising, Ann Sherry, CEO of
Carnival Australia, which operates P&O
Cruises, congratulated Breton on her
achievement.
”We are thrilled to finally have a female
Captain in charge of one of our great
Australian ships and believe that captain
Breton is a fantastic role model for girls who
dream of a career on the high seas,” Sherry
said.
Breton, 45, is one of only three female
captains on major ships anywhere in the world.
Other top-ranking women in Australian
cruising include Sarina Bratton, the first
female founder of a cruise line – Norwegian
Capricorn Line back in 1997 – and now
founder and managing director of Orion
Expedition Cruises.
This year, Karen Christensen was
appointed Silversea’s general manager,
Have a Carnival in Mexico
CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES HAS RELEASED A BRAND
new seven-night Mexican Riviera itinerary
onboard the 113,300-ton Carnival Splendor.
Departing from LA, the voyage takes in Cabo
San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta.
See your travel agent or
www.traveltheworld.com.au for details.
Australia and New Zealand, after serving as
the chairman of the International Cruise
Council Australasia; and Jennifer
Vandekreeke was sent down under to
establish the world’s biggest cruise line,
Carnival Cruise Line, in Australia.
With many years in their Sydney-based
positions are Jackie Charlton, joint
managing director, Captain Cook Cruises;
Lynne Clarke, Australia’s general manager
at MSC Cruises; Teresia Fors, Australia’s
managing director at Viking River Cruises;
Lisa Bolton, chief executive, Aurora
Expedition Cruises; and Jenny Lourey,
Carnival Australia’s senior vice president.
While female managers on land have
been a growing trend, Breton said there are
few female captains because the long
periods at sea led to a high rate of attrition
when women decided to spend more time
with family onshore.
”It takes time to build up the necessary
experiences so rising to this position takes
many years – there are no shortcuts,” she
said.
Breton, who previously worked on more
than 10 other ships, returns to Sydney
aboard Pacific Pearl on 10 August, docking
at Wharf 5, Barangaroo, at 7am.
