For the first time in the cruise line’s history, a woman has officially taken command of a Disney vessel. Captain Maria Gotor was recently promoted to full captain and has taken the helm of the 4,000-passenger (max capacity) Disney Wish.
Disney has been expanding its fleet lately and now has eight vessels in operation. The 208,108 gross ton Disney Adventure just began sailing out of Singapore this year and Disney Believe (another Wish-class vessel) is expected to be delivered in late 2027.
But this major update isn’t about a brand-new ship, it is about the person in charge of it.
From Law to Cruising
Captain Maria didn’t start out to be a captain of a cruise ship. She spent six years working as a practicing lawyer in her home country of Spain.
So, how does a lawyer end up commanding a 144,256 gross ton cruise ship with Disney? It all started with a simple ferry ride.
According to recent Q&A shared by Disney Cruise Line, while taking a ferry across the Strait of Gibraltar to meet up with some friends, she had an encounter with the ship’s captain and got a peek inside the wheelhouse.
That one look at the bridge changed everything. She went right back to school, earned a master’s degree in nautical engineering and maritime navigation, and actually ended up piloting that very same ferry to get her start.
A Major Milestone
Captain Maria isn’t new to the cruise world. She made the jump to passenger cruise ships back in 2009, spending nearly 15 years rising through the ranks at Celebrity Cruises.
Avid cruisers might even recognize her from her time as Staff Captain on ships like Celebrity Edge or Celebrity Ascent. She was even part of Celebrity’s historic, all-female bridge team back in 2020.
She brought all that experience over to Disney Cruise Line in September 2024 as a Staff Captain.
Fast forward less than two years, and she is now the captain of Disney Wish.
Captain Minnie’s Inspiration
If you have ever walked up to the Disney Wish, you might havee noticed the unique artwork on the bow of the ship. The character featured right on the front is Captain Minnie Mouse.
Disney actually introduced Captain Minnie a few years back as a way to inspire young girls to take an interest in careers like working on cruise ships.
Other Female Captains
While female captains are still rare in the cruise industry (and the maritime industry in general), the tide is definitely turning across cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Virgin Voyages.
Royal Caribbean made history by naming Captain Karin Stahre-Janson as the first female captain of a major cruise ship back in 2007, putting her in charge of Monarch of the Seas.
They followed that up in 2011 by naming Captain Lis Lauritzen to lead Vision of the Seas. Other cruise lines have followed suit.
Captain Kate McCue famously captains Celebrity Beyond, while Captain Wendy Williams made waves as the first Canadian woman to captain a major cruise ship when she took the helm of Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady.
In Her Own Words
In a published interview on the company’s website, Gotor said: “Serving as Captain of the Disney Wish is both deeply personal and professionally meaningful. Representing my home country of Spain on a ship like this makes it even more special.”
“Guiding a cruise ship requires constant focus, judgment and precision. I love the challenge of monitoring changing conditions at sea or preparing to bring the ship safely into port. On the Disney Wish, there’s 144,000 tons of steel that you have to stop without brakes. It’s challenging, and it’s rewarding,” added Gotor.
Disney Wish is currently sailing out of Port Canaveral, offering 3- and 4-night sailings to The Bahamas.
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