Celebrity Cruises appoints first-ever female captain from US

Celebrity Cruises has appointed Kate McCue as captain of Celebrity Summit, marking the first time an American female has ever taken the helm of a mega-ton cruise ship.

McCue, a 37-year old San Francisco native, will command the 91,000gt, 965ft Celebrity Summit from August 2015 as she sails between the eastern US and Bermuda. As captain, McCue will be responsible for the safe navigation of the ship and the onboard experience of its 2,158 guests and 952 crew members.

“Becoming the first female American captain of a cruise ship has been a goal of mine for as long as I can remember,” said McCue. “The honour is amplified by being the first at a company like Celebrity Cruises. I look forward to working with an amazing team and the exceptional leadership who bring the Celebrity Cruises vision to life every day.”

A graduate of California State University’s California Maritime Academy, McCue has held a variety of roles in the maritime industry and most recently served as Master Mariner with Royal Caribbean International. During her 15-year career, McCue has also managed ship logistics in various regions around the world, served as a maritime leader on several transatlantic and repositioning cruises, and played a notable role in the revitalisation of ships in Singapore.

In addition, McCue has earned numerous certifications for leadership navigation, ship management and security.

“From the first time I met Kate, I looked forward to the moment when I could extend my congratulations to her for being such a dynamic and highly respected leader who will continue to pave the way for women in the maritime industry,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, who became president and CEO of Celebrity in December 2014. “Of all the great moments throughout my career, this is at the top of my list. I am both honoured that Kate accepted this position, and proud of the way our team continues to transform the way people think about Celebrity, and about cruising in general.”