Carnival Cruise Line marked a milestone in Sydney on August 5 with the appointment of Daniela Gargiulo as the global fleet’s first female Staff Captain.

A special ceremony was held onboard the Carnival Adventure as Captain Francesco Bencivenga officially welcomed Gargiulo to be his second-in-command, while the ship was returning to Sydney from the South Pacific.

Captain Bencivenga said he was delighted to work alongside Gargiulo.

“As Staff Captain, Daniela is my second in charge, overseeing marine operations, safety and crew leadership among many other roles. I am incredibly proud to witness this vital step forward for gender diversification in the maritime industry, opening doors for future generations of female leaders,” he said.

After enrolling in a nautical school in Italy when she was 14, Gargiulo started at Carnival Cruise Line as a Deck Cadet in 2013.

Having steadily progressed through the ranks, she joined the Carnival Adventure last year.

“This promotion is an incredible honor and I’m extremely proud to be the first woman in Carnival Cruise Line history to be a Staff Captain. Carnival’s career pathways allow men and women wonderful opportunities for a life at sea,” said Gargiulo.

“I love working with people from all over the world, from different cultures, and I’m especially excited to be starting this new chapter in my career onboard Carnival Adventure in Australia.”