In the sixteenth episode of our Women Power series, we interviewed Mary Giannou, Deck Officer for Celebrity Cruises. When rough seas inspire your future.
1. What was the main motivation behind your choice to pursue a career on cruise ships?
I decided to start working in the maritime industry when I was a child. I had taken a local ferry with my father from my hometown, Corfu, a small island in the Ionian Sea in Greece, to the mainland in Igoumenitsa. The sea was very rough, everyone was terrified and scared. I was very excited and realized how much I loved the sea even when it was rough. I was 9 years old and I knew what I wanted to do for a living.
2. What specific role do you play on board the ship and what are the challenges and satisfactions it brings?
My job as Chief Deck Officer involves taking care of all the maintenance of the ship's hull. Whenever there's a rust spot or it needs to be painted, I have my special team. The "head" of the team is the boatswain and the rest of the sailors work on any project I create to have a beautiful and safe ship. The second part of the job is dealing with all the ballast, the fresh water tanks we have on board. I go into the tank and see the conditions of the tank and take all the measurements or maintenance that needs to be fixed. Currently, I am the leader of a group of 20 men who take care of ship maintenance. My motto is: "teamwork."
3. Being an officer on a cruise ship is often associated with a predominantly male environment. How have you faced and overcome gender-related challenges in your career?
Being in a profession that is fundamentally dominated by men always puts you in a position of having to prove your integrity and discipline to maintain your position. At first, you have to be strict with yourself and then with those around you in order to succeed in maintaining the distances and values to be treated equally. Everything in life is earned, and it's you who chooses how you will be treated by your environment.
4. How do you manage the balance between work and life when you spend long periods away from home?
I have been working on cruise ships for 10 years, spending most of the time on the ship, about 10 months a year. The time I spend at home, I rest and see my family, which is the most precious thing, spend time with friends, and take many walks to create images and experiences that will fill me until I return to the ship for my work and for my family. After so many years, we have become a family from different parents but of different nationalities. All of us away from our homes have created our family on the ship.
5. Finally, what advice would you give to those considering a career as a cruise ship officer, particularly to women who may feel uncertain about this career path?
The only advice I can give to anyone who wants to pursue this career is to follow their heart, and you are the only one who knows how far you will go. If you want to be a captain, follow your dream.
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