The Maltese woman who is second-in-command of a cruise ship

It is 7am. 34-year-old Maria Agius sits in her office on a 3,200-passenger cruise ship. When the ship is out at sea, her morning begins over a quiet cup of coffee, reviewing night reports and weather updates before heading to the bridge to help steer one of the world’s most luxurious tourist vessels.

The Maltese mariner is serving as the staff captain of the Celebrity Xcel - a cruise ship which launched just last November and is operated by Celebrity Cruises.

This means she is one of the highest-ranking Maltese women out at sea, and she just navigated the cruise ship into Valletta’s grand harbour today. The company’s newest ship is sailing her inaugural season in Europe and it has docked in Malta three times since last month.

Agius spoke to Times of Malta earlier this year about her journey to the top and the struggles and challenges to get there.

Her job is to oversee the ship’s navigation, deck, safety, security, environment and public health – a role that fills her with pride but also with a huge sense of responsibility, she told Times of Malta.

At any given moment, Agius is responsible for almost 5,000 lives, a vessel weighing well over 140,000 tonnes, and a daily operation so vast it rivals a medium-sized Maltese locality.

While the role demands immense grit, she says it also comes with the unique romance of a life out at sea – waking up to the calm, open ocean views and unforgettable sunrises.

Onboard, Agius lives in her own cabin and walks the decks in full uniform, leading an international crew and running a tight, disciplined operation that keeps the floating city safe.

She says that on other, more relaxed occasions, her job requires her to simply leave the bridge and walk along the ship and mingle with guests.

Agius stands underneath the massive Celebrity Flora, another one of the company’s cruise liners.

What’s it like on the job?

While the captain holds ultimate command, it is Agius – the staff captain – who is more directly involved with the ship’s internal moving parts. She said her days are split between bridge navigation and oversight on operations.

On a typical day out at sea, her morning begins with reviews of night and weather reports, and she then moves on to help the staff navigate the massive ship across the ocean.

“Port days follow a completely different rhythm,” she explained, noting that the job becomes more about manoeuvring the ship in and out of ports and oversee arrivals and departures of guests.

“In addition to planned activities, there is always the unexpected to manage, which keeps the role dynamic, engaging, and never quite the same from one day to the next.”

After a decade of training, she holds a Master Mariner Unlimited licence – the highest seafaring qualification, allowing her to command any vessel worldwide.

From Villa Portelli to the seven seas

Agius says her journey did not start with a family legacy in shipping. She is the first in her family to choose the maritime life. Instead, it began with a childhood fascination with the sea – a fascination she shared with her father – and a visit to the old Maritime Institute at Villa Portelli in Kalkara in 2010.

“I remember seeing the students in uniform. That experience in that environment left a strong and lasting impression on me,” she recalled.

In 2012 she took the plunge, packing her bags to start her formal training. Her studies took her from Malta to Scotland, climbing a gruelling ladder of theoretical exams and hands-on sea service.

Today, after more than a decade of studies and experience, she holds the prestigious Master Mariner Unlimited licence – the highest qualification a seafarer can achieve, legally permitting her to command any vessel, anywhere in the world, regardless of its size.

The 3,200-passenger cruise ship weighs 140,000 tonnes. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

The responsibility of command

But running a ship of this scale is not just about the glamour and guest greeting at evening events. The job carries a heavy weight of discipline and responsibility.

“I strongly believe that success at sea, or in any high-responsibility role, comes down to capability and performance rather than gender,” she said.

“Respect is earned through competence, professionalism, consistency, and results. Over the years, I have learned that leadership and dedication speak louder than stereotypes.”

For young Maltese girls looking out at the Mediterranean and wondering if they can cut it in a global industry, Agius’s trajectory is proof that being born on a small island is not a limitation.

“Be passionate in all that you do and do it for yourself,” she advised young women and girls.

“Confidence, professionalism, and resilience earn respect, and results always speak louder than gender. The sea rewards those who are committed, capable, and determined.”

The Celebrity Xcel – the fifth ship in the company’s Edge Series – is designed to offer ways for guests to restore and explore through food, activities and live music.

The ship does seven-to 11-night journeys in the Mediterranean out of Barcelona and Athens.