When Inger Klein Olsen assumed command of Cunard Line's Queen Victoria on December 1, she made history by becoming the shipping line's first female captain.
Captain Olsen’s first task at the helm of
Queen Victoria was to take the ship, without passengers, to drydock in Hamburg for its planned refit. Next Wednesday, December 15, she will be on the bridge as the ship sets sail with a full complement of guests.
Captain Olsen, 43, was born and raised in the Faroe Islands, which accounts for her maritime abilities. She joined Cunard in 1997 as First Officer on board Caronia. In 2001 she transferred to the
Seabourn fleet, which at that time was part of Cunard. She was promoted to the rank of
Staff Captain on Seabourn Pride in 2003.
Following some years with other companies within the Carnival Corporation group, Captain Olsen returned to Cunard in August this year as Deputy Captain of
Queen Victoria.
Olsen will helm
Queen Victoria during the ship's debut Americas season, commencing from New York to Los Angeles on January 13. During the first 17-day voyage, the ship will call on Ft. Lauderdale and Bonaire, transit the Panama Canal, and visit three ports in Mexico — Huatulco, Acapulco and Manzanillo — before arriving into Los Angeles at the end of the month.
Queen Victoria's Americas season continues until March 18 and features several transits through the Panama Canal, four calls to Los Angeles, two roundtrip voyages from Los Angeles to Hawaii, and one Getaway voyage to Mexico.
Source: Travel Agent Central
