Karin Stahre-Janson will be industry's first female captain

Joanandjoe · May 17, 2007

Royal Caribbean Appoints First Female Captain

Royal Caribbean has named a new captain for its Monarch of the Seas -- the first female in the industry to command a major cruise ship!

Cruise captainship has long been a male-dominated profession, but Swedish mariner Karin Stahre-Janson has been working her way up to it. She has been with Royal Caribbean in a variety of officer-level roles since 1997; her current position as the commander of Monarch is a promotion from Staff Captain, a title she held onboard Serenade and Majesty. Prior to that, she worked for nine years in cargo shipping, primarily on petroleum and chemical tankers -- another male-dominated industry.

Stahre-Janson discovered her love for sailing at the age of 7 when her parents gave her a small boat, and cultivated her passion at sailing camp. While growing up, she also took -- and taught -- sailing lessons and competitively raced tall ships. She graduated from the Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden with a bachelor's degree in Nautical Science and obtained an Unlimited Masters License enabling her to command any ship of any size (maybe Genesis is next...).

Stahre-Janson already completed a tour of duty onboard Monarch, sailing three- and four-night Baja cruises; she'll resume command in August.

elfed · May 17, 2007

Don't know what to think about this appointment really. Being in my 60's I tend to stick with the "old school". I'm sure this lady is extremely good at what she does. However I'd prefer a male Commander of my ship.I like ladies to look and act feminine, but these days the tendancy is towards equality with ladies taking on any job that was previously a man's domain.Maybe that's a chauvinistic way of thinking but running a ship from the bridge belongs to the guys. Sorry ladies,we simply LOOK better at the helm!!!!

Regards,

James.

Dan · May 17, 2007

Have you seen the helm of a cruise ship lately? Walk into any office with a woman sitting at a computer and she could be in command of a cruise ship. Commanding cruise ships is pretty exclusive company and it takes a long time to move up the ranks, but I say it's about time a woman made it.

hazelson · May 18, 2007

Karin - you go girl!!!! At least being a female she will ask for directions of the ship gets lost lol.

jacketwatch · May 18, 2007

Whoa James. :smile:

I wonder if she would be any better that the captain of the Exxon Valdez. :biggrin:

And she would probably look better too. :biggrin:

I suppose if the airlines can have female pilots its about time for a female cruise captain. Cheers, Larry :smile:

zebra · May 19, 2007

Well said Larry - we have flown many many miles with female pilots - and have had great smooth flights with perfect take offs and landings - what's the difference. Actually we were on a RCI cruise with a female Chief Engineer (maybe it was her)!

jacketwatch · May 19, 2007

Well Zebra my dentist, orthodontist and opthamologist are all or the fair sex. No complaints. :biggrin:

I think they know what they are doing. IMHO regelating duties based on gender is in the long ago so to speak. Personally I am a male in a female dominated profession (RN) but have found it is not gender that matters but he quality of the people you are with that makes the difference. Take care, Larry :smile: