Ivanna Seymour is a Master Mariner and first officer at Royal Caribbean International. According to her LinkedIn page, she is a Second Officer holding a Chief Officer Unlimited license with a demonstrated history of working in the maritime industry. She earned a Higher National Diploma focused in Nautical Science from South Tyneside College.
Seymour was honored as a trailblazer and for being an inspiration to so many onboard ships and onshore.
Her achievements are a reminder of the unlimited possibilities for future generations, Royal Caribbean said.
"Growing up, I always loved the water, "Seymour said in the video posted on Facebook. "My mother used to call me a water baby."
Seymour's elementary school was right on Nassau harbor. As a young girl, she spent endless hours watching big ships sailing in. She was so fascinated by the vessels, the future seafarer was sometimes late for school.
Seymour got her start in the maritime industry by working on cargo ships that ran from Nassau to the United States. Later, she moved on to bulk carriers. After working in that sector for about seven years, Seymour joined Royal Caribbean in 2019.
"I'm very happy to be paving the path because there are quite few others really interested in the maritime industry," she said.
Recently, Seymour was celebrated on social media when she became the first Bahamian captain of a brand-new Royal Caribbean cruise ship.
The Official Nassau Guardian Ltd. shared that Seymour stood on the bridge of the Utopia of the Seas as the vessel sailed into Bahamian waters for the first time. The first-ever female Bahamian first officer said she was happy to be back home and will continue to push forward as she embarks on this new journey.
According to Royal Caribbean's website, Utopia of the Seas is the ultimate event destination. The vessel's guest capacity is 5,668, with a meeting space for 1,394. Utopia of the Seas also features several first-at-sea experiences along with a Zip Line, rock climbing walls, an ice-skating rink, basketball court and state-of-the-art fitness center.
"Captain Ivanna will be sailing Utopia of the Seas’ into her home country Nassau, Bahamas on Sunday, July 21st, 2024 from Port Canaveral in Florida," wrote one fan on Facebook. "At 32 years old, she has earned this prestigious position through hard work and dedication. Her journey from a mailboat crew to the helm of a cruise ship shows the world that Bahamians and Caribbean girls can achieve great things. Show her lots of love!"
Some reports on women seafarers say females make up only 2-3 per cent of the global ship workforce. A 2021 survey by the International Maritime Organization found that the percentage of women in the shipping industry is 29 per cent worldwide, but nearly all are on land.