This is a huge honor for any captain. In her childhood, Kate McCue spent time living in Evans, Georgia and Michigan before returning to San Francisco. Captain Kate McCue has helmed Celebrity Edge since 2019. I will so-fish-ti-kate you! 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. MIAMI Celebrity Cruises' President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo recently announced that Captain Kate McCue, the first American female cruise ship captain, will take the helm of Celebrity Beyond . (for Accredited Press Only), Captain Kate McCue to Take the Helm of Celebrity Cruises Newest and Most Luxurious Ship Celebrity BeyondSM, From the Edge to Beyond: Highly Anticipated Ship Debuts April 2022. McCue was eventually promoted to first officer in 2004 for Royal Caribbean, which was a huge accomplishment for the female sailor. This is a real glimpse at the Captain's life on a mega cruise ship! The dynamic and decorated captain will usher in a new era for the new-luxury brand, sailing a ship brought to life by a dream team of modern lifestyle icons including multi-award-winning British designer Kelly Hoppen CBE; celebrated American designer Nate Berkus; the culinary gifts of Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud; and featuring wellness experiences and products from goop CEO and founder Gwyneth Paltrow, the brands Well-Being Advisor. By sheer determination and years of hard work, Kate finally achieved her life-long dream of becoming a ships captain, paving the way for others to follow in her footsteps. The ship begins its maiden voyage on April 27, 2022, from Southampton, England. -----Officia. That would be fine. In 2015, McCue, who was 37 years old, secured a place in the maritime history books as the first female American captain of a megaship. Celebrity Cruises president and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo said that McCue mirrors"the exceptional design and imagination" of the ship by constantly going the extra mile. We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports. Youcan check out the full length videos on his FB & Snap . Celebrity Edge Captain Kate McCue tells CNN Travel what it's like taking charge of an enormous floating city and navigating the unexpected, choppy waters of the pandemic. Additionally, Kate McCue has obtained online fame with over 3.5 million followers on her TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram channels. She moved to Celebrity Equinox before being appointed to helm the exquisite Celebrity Edge in September 2019. Her dad supported her decision but encouraged her to think bigger: Instead of just planning activities for passengers, why not run the whole ship? Kate noted that people tended to just call her Kate when she had Captain Kate on the name tag. As Captain of the ship, McCue is in charge of navigation, operations, safety and passenger service onboard her vessel. Kate McCue, the first American woman to captain a megaship . By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics, Captain Kate McCue to Helm Celebrity Beyond in 2022. When I started documenting my life as a cruise ship Captain, I never, in a million years, expected the interest or following that has grown around this platform. In a recent press release, Celebrity Cruises expressed that McCue has inspired people around the world, from all walks of life, to follow their dreams. "I didn't want to jinx it. I was an apprentice officer on banana boats, which were taking bananas between Guayaquil, Ecuador, and Long Beach," she said. "I spent 19 years looking out the window as an officer of the watch.". Video game developers aim to make the industry more appealing to girls, When other planes are grounded, this pilot heads straight for the storm, Journey to Mars: Meet NASA astronaut candidate Jessica Meir, Saving sea otters is part of her normal day at work, Captain Kate McCue, a trailblazer, is at the helm as U.S. relaunches cruises. "You know, more ships are coming out. @onespaworld, Snack it to me! Industry Q&A: Captain Kate McCue of Celebrity Cruises Discusses Life Celebrity Cruises. ", "I started at the bottom. Kate McCue, captain of the Celebrity Edge, a 2,918-passenger cruise ship, says she has too much time off work. Meet Kate McCue, the First American Woman to Captain a Cruise Liner: 'Let's Go Together' Season 2, Episode 22 A Buzzy Art Scene Has Popped Up in the Cayman Islands Here's What to See The 19 . This feels SO bizarre to say but TheCaptainKate.com is officially live! She accepted the highly-coveted role of commanding officer for Celebrity Summit in September 2015. The Beyond is the first ship she will captain from its launch. I never get stuck in traffic when I go to work, she said. McCue often posts to her hundreds of thousands of followers, showing them her daily life as a captain aboard a Celebrity Cruises ship. McCue said she became interested in cruises after going on a voyage with her family. Royal Caribbean promoted Kate to chief officer, which is considered a senior first officer, and later to staff captain. Because we never know what can happen," she said, referencing the COVID-19 pandemic that kept the industry shuttered for more than a year in the U.S. Im beyond excited to see her take our guests to locations that will open their eyes to the beauty of the world around them and experience travel on a new-luxury ship without comparison.. While she attended the California Maritime Academy, she completed an internship for Chiquita Brands International working aboard a cargo ship. 27, 2022. After her memorable first trip, she told her dad she wanted to be a cruise director when she grew up. All Rights Reserved. July 27, 2021 at 7:00 a.m. EDT. "I always say that if you see it, you can be it, and I hope that Celebrity Beyond sails as an inspiration for all to see past convention in pursuit of any goal in life. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. Captain Kate McCue was 45 years old in January 2023. Celebrity Cruises, owned by Royal Caribbean Group, requested Kate McCue to apply for the captains position. And before she captained the Edge, she served as captain of Celebrity Summit, a role she entered in 2015 and also was captain of Celebrity Equinox before joining the Edge. In 2015, then-37-year-old McCue became the first female American captain of a megaship. She graduated with a degree in business administration while also studying celestial navigation during summer breaks. Following her graduation from the maritime academy, she moved to Hawaii to work as a general deckhand on a catamaran. "There is no such thing as an average day, because the reality is that every day is different," she said. No matter her location, you can find her on Twitter, on Instagram or at caileyrizzo.com. There she got a degree in business administration, as well as a license to sail "anything from a tugboat to a supertanker, and everything in between," she said. . How I SEA it! As a former crew member for Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival Cruise Line I can continue my passion by sharing my experiences with readers. McCue said she tries to fill her time off by taking on public-relations gigs, attending trainings, or finding other ways to represent her company. Of the more than 300 passenger cruise ships around the world, only nine are captained by women, according to the Womens International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA). On March 8, 2020, McCue further cemented her place in the history books when she captained the history-making, barrier-breaking sailing onCelebrity Edgethat comprised a cruise ships first-ever all-female bridge and officer team. The new luxury ship debuted in the spring of 2022. During the first 10 months of the coronavirus pandemic, McCue stayed on the ship in the waters around Florida until the crew members could safely return to their homes in more than 60 countries. Meet Kate McCue, First American Woman to Captain Mega Cruise Ship - Insider On June 28, 2022, she posted a video walked viewers through all considerations that go into cancelling a port of a call, making this information more accessible than ever. Captain Kate McCue to Take the Helm of Celebrity Cruises' Newest and Luxury cruises keep crossing paths with migrants | CNN Captain Kate McCue was appointed master aboard Celebrity Cruises new cruise ship, Celebrity Beyond. People have described Kate as someone who goes above and beyond. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites. captain, watches as construction continues on Celebrity Beyond at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. By clicking Sign Up, you also agree to marketing emails from both Insider and Morning Brew; and you accept Insiders. Captain Kate McCue, the first and only American woman to captain a major cruise ship, isembarking on a new leg of her career by captaining the Celebrity Beyondwhich is expected to launch in April 2022. According to McCue, he told her, "You can do anything you want, including drive the thing.". While she works on the ship 24/7 for three months and . Changes Up Ahead: Promotion to Celebrity Cruises, Maritime Academy at California State University, Mechanical Issue Forces Disney Ship to Skip Port, Adjust Itinerary, First Cruise Ship Arrives for Busy Montreal Season, Another Overbooked Oasis-Class Royal Caribbean Ship. 590K Followers, 3,532 Posts - Official Instagram of @CelebrityCruises Captain, modern mermaid, red sole rockin' Mum to wanderluster @bugnaked "If you can Sea it, you can Be it" Captain Kate McCue (@captainkatemccue) on Instagram What started as a yearly vacation with family quickly turned into a passion for travel, cruising and adventure. McCue previously captainedCelebrity Cruises' Celebrity Edge, which was the first ship to sail with passengers in U.S. waters since the beginning of the pandemic,since 2019. For Captain Kate, the seed to be a captain was planted following a cruise the then-12-year-old McCue took with her family. In an industry dominated by men, Captain Kate McCue is making waves as the first American female captain of a mega cruise ship. What it's like to be a cruise ship captain | CNN During her time at the university, she landed an internship for Chiquita Brands International working on one of their cargo ships. I absolutely love cruising with my favorite ports of call being in the Caribbean. CEO and President of Celebrity Cruises stated, Captain Kate has transcended what it means to be captain as a voice and example of inclusivity, diversity and change. She will then offer a variety of Mediterranean journeys including nine-night Italian Riviera and France itineraries and 10-night Greek Isles itineraries through early October, when she then heads to the Caribbean. "I would prefer five months on to two weeks off. After going on her first cruise, McCue fell in love with sailing. I'm honestly not sure what most of that means but my 50 minutes made me feel like I just had a fantastic nap, which is handy as we change the time zones almost daily on the way to Europe. Celebrity Beyond will not only hold the title of the largest ship in the fleet, but the distinction as the brands most luxurious vessel. These shutdowns crippled the cruise line industry for over a year. So you're not ever going to have the same day twice, which is really cool.". document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Prevue Meetings & Incentives informs and inspires planners by providing experiential travel coverage, professional development, and thought leadership through print and online content, and virtual and live events. The Celebrity Edge's gross tonnage is almost 131,000. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Part 1: Behind the Scenes Tour of Beyond with Captain Kate McCue So that's kind of my message.". This historic sailing took place on International Women's Day - March 8, 2020 - aboard the Celebrity Edge. Celebrity Edge was the first major line to resume sailing on June 26, 2021. There are no limitations but those we place upon ourselves. "To be the 'take out' captain for a new vessel is an honor for any captain, and it is an absolute dream come true for me," McCue said in a statement. She told her father that she wanted to be a cruise director when she grew up. Today, Captain McCue is still the only American female captain of any mega ship. Your IP address is listed in our blacklist and blocked from completing this request. AbbyCruiser45. (10:05 a.m. EDT) -- Celebrity Cruises' Captain Kate McCue has been appointed master of the line's newest vessel, Celebrity Beyond, when it debuts in the spring of 2022. It eliminates EMF radiation from the entire body, enhances a meditative state and self awareness, supports quality sleep, enhances brain function and memory". "I'm so excited to go back into my bubble," she said of getting back to work after three months off. Copyright Cruise Blog Media LLC 2023. We'll send you a weekly newsletter to your inbox. She's even gone as far as to hop on TikTok to explain why the Celebrity Beyond was skipping a port of call due to safety reasons. To be the take out captain for a new vessel is an honor for any captain and it is an absolute dream come true for me. "We've got this really neat kind of around-the-world honeymoon thing going on, which is really cool because it makes the most out of the time we have, and we're having some really epic adventures," she said. I always say that if you see it, you can be it and I hope that Celebrity Beyond sails as an inspiration for all to see past convention in pursuit of any goal in life, said Captain Kate McCue. Here's what it's like inside. Kate McCue is the captain of Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Edge. She was 12 years old, and, after the trip was finished, she told her father she wanted to be a cruise director when she grew up. Captain Kate McCue To Take The Helm Of Celebrity Cruises - Insider McCue said to The Washington Post, It took me 19 years to earn that title.". This article was published more than1 year ago.