Girl Power! Captain Kate McCue to take the helm of Celebrity Beyond
She’s been blazing a trail since deciding to become a ship captain at the age of 12; has become a TikTok sensation, amassing 3.5 million followers on social media, and is still America’s only female cruise ship captain six years after taking the helm of Celebrity Summit.
Now Kate McCue will be in charge of Celebrity’s newest, largest and most luxurious ship, Celebrity Beyond, for its maiden voyage from Southampton on 27 April, 2022.
But Captain Kate is used to making history – and headlines – with her pioneering career. She captained the first ever all-female bridge and office team in March 2020 on board Celebrity Edge, and led the Celebrity fleet back into operation on 26 June, 2021 when the same ship became the first to sail with guests from a US port in more than a year because of the global Covid-19 pandemic.
She’ll now usher in a new era for Celebrity with Beyond, the third ship in the cruise line’s Edge class, which features the work of British designer Kelly Hoppen, Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud, and boasts Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow as Well-Being Advisor.
Captain Kate McCue has been making history – and headlines – since become America’s only female cruise ship captain
Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo said: ‘This is a day that I’ve been waiting for since we made the first cut of steel on our beautiful Celebrity Beyond. Captain Kate has transcended what it means to be a captain as a voice and example of inclusivity, diversity, and change.
‘She constantly thinks about how she can go above and beyond, mirroring the exceptional design and imagination of the ship she will captain. I’m 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.’
Captain Kate, who shares her life on deck with her fans on Instagram and TikTok, said: ‘To be the ‘take out’ captain for a new vessel is an honour for any captain and it is an absolute dream come true for me. 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.
‘I’m forever grateful to Lisa for entrusting this labour of love to me to captain. The thoughtfulness and imagination she put into this ship is only matched by her forward thinking to move the industry beyond what it is now and see what it should be.’
The idea to become a captain came to Kate during a family cruise when she was just 12. She told her father she wanted to be a cruise director when she grew up, but he said she could do anything she wanted, including captaining the ship
The idea to become a captain came to Kate during a family cruise when she was just 12. She told her father she wanted to be a cruise director when she grew up, but he told her she could do anything she wanted, including captaining the ship.
Celebrity Beyond’s maiden voyage is a 10-night Western Europe cruise visiting Bordeaux, Lisbon, Seville, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona. The new ship has 17 decks and is 21 metres longer than predecessors Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Apex. She will spend the summer offering a variety of Mediterranean cruises before heading to the Caribbean in October. For more details visit www.celebritycruises.com
