Luxury cruise line Explora Journeys has appointed Captain Serena Melani as Master of EXPLORA I, a significant move boosting the inclusion of women in senior positions in the cruising industry.
In 2020, Melani became the world’s first female captain to bring a cruise ship out of a shipyard. She became a Bridge Officer in 2010 and was promoted to Master in 2016.
Commenting on her appointment, Captain Melani said: “Growing up on the Tuscan coast in Italy, I am thrilled to be part of a European luxury lifestyle brand and to take the helm of EXPLORA I, sailing to amazing destinations, some of which have never been reached by cruise ships before.”
EXPLORA I, which is due to set sail on July 17, will visit 132 ports in 40 different countries, including Kastellorizo, Greece, and Saint Pierre, Martinique, in its first year. Its itineraries include the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Greenland, Canada, the United States East Coast, the Caribbean, South America, and Hawaii. Sailings start from six-night journeys and will culminate in a 44-night Northern Europe Grand Journey.
