MaryEllen Windsor: 25 Years Building Disney Cruise Line's Crew

MaryEllen Windsor, Disney Cruise Line's director of recruitment, is celebrating 25 years with the company that began when she transferred from Walt Disney World Resort to help staff the inaugural Disney Magic in 1997. Over the course of two and a half decades, Windsor's team has grown alongside the fleet — from two ships to five, with three more on the way — hiring crew members from more than 70 nationalities around the world.

MaryEllen Windsor, Disney Cruise Line's director of recruitment, is marking 25 years with the company during the fleet's Silver Anniversary at Sea. Starting with the inaugural Disney Magic in 1997 — before the cruise line had its sea legs — Windsor has spent a quarter century identifying, recruiting, and developing the global crew that brings Disney magic to life at sea, now spanning more than 70 nationalities across five ships.

From Walt Disney World to the Open Sea

Windsor's path to Disney Cruise Line began on land. As a hospitality major, she interviewed with The Walt Disney Company after college and spent time working in various roles at Walt Disney World Resort. She had never cruised before, and had never traveled outside the United States, when she first heard about plans for Disney Cruise Line's first ship, the Disney Magic. The idea captured her immediately.

When the cruise line began hiring for the opening team, Windsor was selected for recruitment. The early days felt like a family — a small, tight-knit group where everyone knew each other both shipboard and on shore. Starting with two ships allowed for deep mentorship and close connections that Windsor says still define the culture today.

Learning and Growing with the Fleet

"I was learning at the same time the company was learning a lot about the cruise industry," Windsor explained. "I was able to apply my recruitment experience while learning the industry experience and knowledge from our operators and officers." As announcements came for the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, the recruitment scope expanded dramatically — and with it, Windsor's team.

"My team is so passionate about what they do and watching them grow has been the best part of my job," Windsor said. "They love making an impact on the candidate experience and identifying the best crew in the industry to work on board Disney Cruise Line."

Over 25 years, Windsor has visited more than 50 countries through her work with Disney Cruise Line. She views each new ship announcement as both a professional milestone and a personal thrill — the fleet now stands at five ships sailing worldwide, with three more in development.

A Legacy Passed Down Through Crew Families

One of the most striking hallmarks of Windsor's tenure is the generational loyalty it has fostered. About once a week, she receives messages from crew members whose children are now old enough to apply to work on the ships. "Our crew are now referring their children to work on board our ships, continuing that legacy," she said. "It feels so good when a crew member reaches out and says my son or daughter is now of age to work on the ship and we get the opportunity to interview and potentially hire them."

A Personal Voyage Aboard the Disney Dream

Windsor's family has grown up with the cruise line alongside her. Her now 20-year-old daughter's baby book records all her first foods as Disney Cruise Line offerings — a testament to how deeply the line has been woven into family life. "She has literally grown up with Disney Cruise Line," Windsor said. "She has seen the world through the eyes of our crew members."

Why This Matters for the Next Generation at Sea

Windsor's 25-year story is a window into how Disney Cruise Line has evolved from two ships and a pioneering opening team into a global fleet representing more than 70 nationalities. For anyone considering a career at sea, her journey — from land-based hospitality roles to leading one of the most globally diverse recruitment operations in the cruise industry — illustrates the breadth of opportunity within The Walt Disney Company's maritime arm. "If there's an opportunity that you want or something you want to try, it's somewhere here in The Walt Disney Company," Windsor said. "When we grow as a company, our crew have the opportunity to grow with us." Explore crew career opportunities at DisneyCruise.com.