Carnival Cruise Line Welcomes Its First Female Staff Captain
Carnival Cruise Line celebrated an important first in its history, as the line appointed its first-ever female Staff Captain.
A special ceremony was held onboard Carnival Adventure on August 5, as Captain Francesco Bencivenga officially welcomed Daniela Gargiulo to be his second-in-command. The occasion was marked while the vessel was returning to Sydney, Australia from a cruise in the South Pacific.
Gargiulo joined Carnival Adventure last year, and started with Carnival Cruise Line as a Deck Cadet in 2013. Since then, she has steadily progressed through the ranks, showcasing 13 years of dedicated service, professionalism, and leadership. Her passion for the sea began early in life — at just 14 years old she enrolled in a nautical school in Italy, and from then a lifelong love of the ocean was truly born.
“This promotion is an incredible honor and I’m extremely proud to be the first woman in Carnival Cruise Line history to be a Staff Captain. Carnival’s career pathways allow men and women wonderful opportunities for a life at sea,” said Gargiulo. “I love working with people from all over the world, from different cultures, and I’m especially excited to be starting this new chapter in my career onboard Carnival Adventure in Australia.”
Captain Francesco Bencivenga said that he is delighted to work alongside Gargiulo. “As Staff Captain, Daniela is my second in charge, overseeing marine operations, safety and crew leadership among many other roles. I am incredibly proud to witness this vital step forward for gender diversification in the maritime industry, opening doors for future generations of female leaders.”
Though Carnival Cruise Line has not (yet!) appointed a female as captain of any of its ships, other cruise lines have. The first woman to become captain of a cruise ship was Karin Stahre-Janson from Sweden, who became commander of Royal Caribbean’s Monarch of the Seas in 2007. The first American woman to become captain of a cruise ship was Kate McCue, who took command of Celebrity Summit in 2015.
