There were 27 women from 16 countries sailing Celebrity Edge out of Port Everglades on 8 March for a seven-day Caribbean trip, including captain Kate McCue and retiring pilot boat captain Cheryl Phipps.

The three British women involved were first officer Rachel Arnold from Bristol, guest relations director Julie Sherrington from Godalming and cruise director Sue Denning from Blackpool.

Guests also included trailblazing women in other fields, such as Madeline Stuart, an Australian model with Down’s syndrome; child prodigy artist Autumn de Forest; and Kellee Edwards, the first black woman to host a national travel show.

There will be panel discussions, gallery exhibitions featuring female artists, excursions to women-led businesses at ports, and a cinema series showcasing female directors and actors throughout the sailing.

Celebrity Cruises, which also lit up the ship in IWD’s purple branding for the occasion, believes the all-female crew is the first in maritime history. 

“My hope is that today we inspire a new generation of young girls and women to chart their own course of pushing boundaries and breaking barriers to be whatever it is they want to be,” said captain McCue.

She was inspired to become a cruise captain by her father at 12 years old. 

Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Celebrity Cruises’ president and chief executive, said: “To ‘man the bridge’ with 100% women and to fill every leadership role onboard with women is truly significant.

“I am so proud of these accomplished women, who worked tirelessly to be the best person for the job in a traditionally male-dominated industry and I am honoured to work alongside them.”

A quarter of the cruise line’s crew are female, compared with 2% of mariners globally.