Posted by Susan O’Driscoll
Inger Olsen, who is Cunard's first female captain, wasn't dreaming of a life at sea when she signed on to a cargo ship at age 16.
"I was looking for a job after school and on weekends," Olsen recalled from her home in Svendborg, Denmark. "I didn't have any idea what I wanted to do."
She applied to become a cadet and joined the Cunard Line in 1997.
"I thought I'd do it for a few years and then go ashore and have a family," said Olsen, 43. "But one year led to another."
In December 2010, Captain Inger Olsen took the helm of the 90,000-ton luxury liner Queen Victoria to become one of only a few women cruise ship captains in the world.
"I think if you look at cruise lines there's only two or three," she said.
Her ship, which carries 2,000 passengers, is the youngest of Cunard's three Queens, joining the fleet alongside the Queen Elizabeth 2 and Queen Mary 2 in 2007.
The 1,000 crew under Olsen's command keep the crystal chandeliers glittering, the mahogany polished and the ballroom dance floor shipshape.
"Each ship has its own feel," Olsen said. "Once you get used to a particular ship, get the training in it, that ship seems like the best one for you."
Olsen said fulfilling the hopes of her passengers is her greatest reward.
"When people say this is fantastic, the greatest time of life, then you know that we have delivered what we promised."
Olsen said her voyage through the ranks has been mostly smooth sailing in fair weather.
"People have welcomed me all the way through," she said. "It's only been extremely positive."
On leave until she sails from Southampton, England in May, Olsen is enjoying the pleasures of dry land.
"When I'm home I have my house, my garden, my family," she said. "I go to concerts, spend time with friends. Just enjoy, really. "
She thinks a seafaring life may not suit every woman.
"You're away for three or four months," she explained. "Most women who have kids don't want to be away for that long."
But for Olsen there's bounty in the sea lane less traveled.
"At least I can say that I've done it. I did it all the way," Olsen said. "But it wasn't really a dream, I think. It was more just circumstances, really."
This is such a great article its great to here from the Captain
Posted by: p and o cruise deals | 04/18/2011 at 05:17 PM
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Posted by: Tour America & Cruise Holidays | 04/18/2011 at 05:19 PM
The lady Caption thinks that seafaring life may not suit every woman, i don't know why she said so because she her self belong to this profession/field.
Posted by: dicount codes | 04/21/2011 at 03:10 PM
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Posted by: Tour America & Cruise Holidays | 04/21/2011 at 03:11 PM
Women are just as great as men, Go girl!
Posted by: Cunard | 05/17/2011 at 10:58 AM
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Posted by: Tour America & Cruise Holidays | 05/17/2011 at 10:58 AM
Congrats first female Captain talks about life at sea. Go ahead Cunard. This story is inspiring. Great info, but i wrote otherwise about this topic at my blog.
Posted by: Cruise Deals | 10/25/2011 at 09:13 AM