Often referred to as
Australia’s “First Lady” of cruising,
Sarina Bratton was awarded an
Order of Australia in the Australia
Day Honours on the weekend
in recognition of her significant
service to tourism and business.
She said it was an “enormous
honour to be recognised with
such a prestigious appointment”.
The recently appointed
chairman Australasia for
Compagnie du Ponant, Bratton
started in the cruise industry with
Cunard Line, ultimately as vice
president and general manager
Asia-Pacific, and then became the
first female founder of a shipping
line when she set up Norwegian
Capricorn Line in Australia in 1997.
Four years later, she pioneered
luxury expedition cruising in the
local region when she founded
Orion Expedition Cruises, serving
as managing director until 2013
when she sold her remaining
shares in the company.
“I have long been an enthusiastic
believer in, and supporter of, the
potential of the international
cruise industry from an Australian
perspective,” Bratton said.
“To have been able to play a
role for more than three decades
in the development of this
industry has been a huge and
satisfying pleasure”.
Bratton’s future plans involve
working to position a Compagnie
Du Ponant vessel in and around
Australia, operating from 2015.
