P&O Cruises Welcomes its First Female Captain
P&O Cruises has made Australian history, with the cruise line’s first female captain sailing into Sydney Harbour at the helm of Pacific Pearl.
Captain Sarah Breton joins four other female senior officers on P&O Cruises’ latest superliner – the biggest group of female senior officers on any cruise ship in the region. The other officers include Hotel Director Jane Herron, Cruise Director Zoltina-J Medwick Daley and Administration, Revenue Director Martina Damonte and Executive Housekeeper Mari Schoon – signaling changing times for women in shipping.
Ann Sherry, CEO of Carnival Australia, which operates P&O Cruises, said the cruise line was proud to welcome Captain Breton to Australia at the helm of Pacific Pearl.
“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,” Ms Sherry said. “P&O Cruises is really proud to be leading the way by bring the first female captain to the region at the head of a team which boasts four other female senior officers.
“She is an outstanding officer and one of only three female captains on major ships anywhere in the world,” Ms Sherry added.
Sarah, now 45, has served on board the former Royal Princess, Sky Princess, Canberra, Pacific Princess, Grand Princess and Star Princess as third officer, second officer, navigator, first officer and safety officer. She was first promoted to staff captain in 2001 on the original Pacific Princess and then went on to serve onboard Coral Princess, Tahitian Princess, the new Pacific Princess, Artemis and most recently Ocean Village. John Pond PHOTO: Captain Sarah Breton with Ann Sherry CEO Carnival Australia
