CruiseCaptain Maria joins Mickey Mouse and his mates, aboard the Disney Wish.

Disney Cruise Line welcomes its first female captain

By Travel Weekly Asia

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Jul 22, 2026

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Maria Gotor is taking the helm of Disney Wish.

Maria Gotor is taking the helm of Disney Wish.

Disney Cruise Line has appointed its first female captain.

Maria Gotor will take the helm of the Disney Wish two years after joining Disney Cruise Line as a staff captain.

A trained lawyer who grew up in Seville, Spain, Gotor swapped the law for the sea after qualifying in nautical engineering.

She joined the cruise industry in 2009 as a junior officer for Celebrity Cruises, moving on to join Mickey Mouse and friends in September 2024.

Disney plans to nearly double its fleet with 13 vessels by 2031. It recently announced its fourth Wish-Class ship, Disney Believe, debuting in late 2027.

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