Carnival Appoints First Female Staff Captain to Global Fleet
Gargiulo joined Carnival as a Deck Cadet in 2013 after starting nautical school in Italy at 14, and will oversee marine operations, safety and crew leadership.
Updated August 9, 2026
Carnival Cruise Line has appointed Daniela Gargiulo as the first female Staff Captain in its global fleet, naming her second-in-command aboard Carnival Adventure during an Aug. 5, 2026 ceremony in Sydney. Captain Francesco Bencivenga welcomed her to the post while the ship was returning to Sydney from the South Pacific.
Carnival operates 29 ships. As Staff Captain, Gargiulo serves directly under the Captain, oversees day-to-day marine operations and assumes command of the ship in the Captain's absence. Her responsibilities include "marine operations, safety and crew leadership among many other roles," Bencivenga said.
Gargiulo joined Carnival Cruise Line as a Deck Cadet in 2013 and progressed through the ranks for six years before her 2019 promotion to First Officer Jr. She held that position for seven years and joined Carnival Adventure last year. Her maritime training began at 14, when she enrolled in a nautical school in Italy.
"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," Gargiulo said. "Carnival's career pathways allow men and women wonderful opportunities for a life at sea." Gargiulo also said she loves "working with people from all over the world, from different cultures."
"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," Bencivenga said.
Carnival Adventure sails year-round from Sydney. The 2,636-guest, 108,865-gross-ton ship offers 3- to 10-night itineraries across the South Pacific, including Vanuatu and New Caledonia, as well as the Great Barrier Reef. Gargiulo will continue her career aboard the ship, and said she is "especially excited" to begin the new role.
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