MIAMI, Aug. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first
time in cruise industry history a female seafarer will navigate the
rich archipelago of the Galapagos as captain. A native of
Ecuador, Nathaly Albán will
command the ultra-exclusive Celebrity Xploration; as captain
of the recently revitalized catamaran.
With a total of 12 years experience sailing throughout the
Galapagos, Captain Albán has worked on several ships in the region,
first joining the Celebrity family in 2006 as third officer onboard
the 100-guest Celebrity Xpedition.
Continuing the brand's dedication to advancing the role of women
in leadership, Albán's appointment follows that of Celebrity
Summit's own Captain Kate
McCue.
"Empowering strong women and elevating them to deserved
leadership roles is a cause that is close to my heart, and one that
Celebrity Cruises truly values," said Lisa
Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises. "When
the opportunity presented itself to promote Nathaly, who radiates
passion and love for her job and for Celebrity, to captain, the
decision was easy."
Albán was only one of six women in her graduating class at La
Escuela de la Marina Mercante
Nacional in Ecuador. Prior
to graduating, she held a variety of roles in the maritime
industry, most notably serving in the FLOPEC Tanker Fleet of the
Ecuadorian Navy. Following her graduation, Albán worked on several
ships in the region, including Celebrity Xpedition.
"Simply put, Captain Nathaly
Albán was the ideal candidate for the job and we believe in
celebrating and advancing our brightest talent," said Patrik Dahlgren, SVP of Global Marine
Operations, Celebrity Cruises. "Our goal is to attract, develop and
retain the best people from many different regions of the world and
backgrounds. Our industry has typically been very male dominated -
yet we believe in inclusiveness and opening up opportunities for
all."
When asked how it feels to be named captain of Celebrity
Xploration, Albán responded: "It is a great honor and privilege
– I'm overwhelmed with positive emotion. I told my family many
times that I would be wearing white one day and be the first woman
to serve as a captain on a ship in the Galapagos, now it's
happening and I'm committed to delivering the very best experience
for all guests onboard."
Albán will begin her new role on Celebrity Xploration in
August of 2017.
Discerning travelers now have even more options in the region,
with the recent addition of two distinct new ships, Celebrity
Xploration and Celebrity Xperience, which began sailing
in March 2017, following a
multi-million dollar refresh per vessel for signature modern luxury
enhancements. Guests can continue to sail onboard Celebrity's
state-of-the-art Celebrity Xpedition as well. Together, the
three ships offer six unique itineraries to 15 islands with more
than 30 ports of call, and multiple packages to choose from.
To book your next getaway to the Galapagos Islands, or to learn
more about the wildlife-rich region, visit the new Galapagos
website www.celebritycruises.com/galapagos.
About Celebrity Cruises:
Celebrity Cruises' iconic "X" is the mark of modern luxury, with
its cool, contemporary design and warm spaces; dining experiences
where the design of the venues is as important as the cuisine; and
the amazing service that only Celebrity can provide, all created to
provide an unmatchable experience for vacationers' precious time.
Celebrity Cruises' 12 ships offer modern luxury vacations visiting
all seven continents. Celebrity also presents incredible cruise
tour experiences in Alaska and
Canada. Celebrity is one of five
cruise brands operated by global cruise vacation company Royal
Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL). For more information, dial
1-800-437-3111, visit www.celebritycruises.com, or call your travel
agent.
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SOURCE Celebrity Cruises