The country’s recent maiden arrival of the world’s second-largest cruise ship in the Bahamas marked a significant milestone.
Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas featured Ivanna Seymour, 32, the cruise line’s first female Bahamian navigational bridge officer.
A First for the Bahamas
As the first officer of such a major new ship, her achievement has been celebrated at home with a personal message from the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Philip Brave Davis.
“We are incredibly proud of you, Ivanna. Keep inspiring us all.” Nassau Cruise Port Ltd also congratulated her.
Fresh out of college, she began a maritime career aboard the MV Legend mail boat, which regularly traveled between West Palm Beach, Green Turtle Cay, Marsh Harbor, and inter-island charters.
| Then, it was on to Bahamas-based Campbell Shipping as the lone female of a cargo ship crew of 24 sailing worldwide. “We went all over; one day we’d be doing China to Vancouver, and the next we’d be doing South America to Europe,” Seymour said in an interview with local broadcaster ZNS back in 2021. She studied Nautical Science in the UK during shore leave and gained maritime licenses. |
In 2019, she joined Royal Caribbean and spent a year as second officer on Navigator of the Seas before the Covid pandemic stopped the cruise industry.
She said about moving from cargo to cruise, “I love it. Coming from cargo ships to passenger ships, it was like starting life over, from isolation to being with people who are having fun and thoroughly enjoy their jobs.”
Utopia of the Seas sails short cruises out of Port Canaveral, Florida, including three-night weekend trips. Its calls include Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay.
New Local Hire for Upcoming Royal Beach Club
Royal Caribbean appointed Bahamian Stacy Lubin as director of environment and sustainability for Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, the cruise line’s upcoming beachfront destination in the Bahamas. Lubin will be responsible for all environmental initiatives at the beach club, slated to open in 2025.
