The Founder of Virgin Group, Sir Richard Branson, and Virgin Voyages President and CEO Tom McAlpin announced the appointment of Captain Wendy Williams as Master of Scarlet Lady, the cruise line’s first ship.
Williams will take the helm in Spring 2020, becoming the first Canadian woman to be captain of a ship for a major cruise brand.
Tom McAlpin, president and chief executive officer for Virgin Voyages commented
Captain Wendy’s extensive maritime background makes her an excellent choice to lead the Scarlet Lady, but it is her spirit and drive to approach life at sea differently that make her the perfect fit to join the Virgin Voyages family.
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The Captain-to-be has more than 28 years of experience working on ships at sea. Her background includes more than a decade in commercial fishing off the western coast of Canada as well as working as a ferryboat captain. In addition, she has spent more than 15 years working on the bridge of mega cruise ships, her role with Virgin Voyages will be her first promotion to Master of a cruise ship.
Williams commented
It’s a dream come true to be working with Virgin Voyages, a company that is focused on creating an incredible experience not only for our sailors but for our crew as well; while also taking action to minimize our footprint on our oceans.
In 2018, Virgin Voyages launched its Scarlet Squad program, dedicated to bridging the gender gap in leadership roles across the maritime industry, where women represent less than three percent of the workforce.
Concluding, following the US government’s new restrictions on travel to Cuba from the United States, Virgin Voyages has also developed new itineraries including five-night Riviera Maya sailings to Cozumel/Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.
