Kate McCue

Last updated

Kate McCue
Born (1978-01-06) 6 January 1978 (age 46)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Alma mater California State University Maritime Academy
Occupation Cruise Ship Captain
Years active1999–present
Employer Celebrity Cruises
SpouseNikola Petrovic

Kate McCue (born January 6, 1978) [1] [2] is an American cruise ship captain. She is currently employed by Celebrity Cruises and is the captain of the Celebrity Beyond .

Contents

When she became the commanding officer of Celebrity Summit in 2015, it was the first time that an American woman had been named captain of a "Mega" cruise ship. Prior to her time at Celebrity, she had worked as an officer for both Disney Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean.

Early life

McCue moved around with her family during her childhood due to her father's employment as an engineer. [3] Originally from San Francisco, she spent time in Evans, Georgia, where she attended Lakeside High School, [4] and was resident for a period in Michigan. [3] After travelling with her family on a cruise ship to the Bahamas when she was 12, she sought to become a cruise director. [4] Her family then moved back to San Francisco. [2]

Maritime career

She began attending the California State University Maritime Academy, then California Maritime Academy, in 1996. [4] McCue graduated with a Bachelor's degree in business administration in 1999, and also studied celestial navigation during sailing trips in the summer breaks. [5] While undertaking her degree, she undertook an internship for Chiquita Brands International working on one of their cargo ships, transporting bananas from Ecuador to Long Beach, California. After graduation, she moved to Maui in the Hawaiian Islands where she stayed with her cousins for six months, working as a general deck hand on a catamaran undertaking tourist cruises to the Molokini crater. McCue then became a logistics manager to Maersk Sealand in Los Angeles but wanted to return to sea. [2]

After applying to cruise lines for nine months, [2] she gained a job with Disney Cruise Line in an entry-level position as a third mate. [5] In 2003, she became a second officer for Royal Caribbean. While her role on Disney saw her travel around the Caribbean, her new posting saw her travel all over the world. After a year, she was promoted to first officer. She attended the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) in Baltimore in 2009 where she earned her Chief Mate and Master's Licence to enable her to take command of a vessel. When she returned to Royal Caribbean, she was promoted first to chief officer (the senior first officer) and then to staff captain (the second in command) in 2011. [5]

The president of Celebrity Cruises, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, contacted McCue in 2015 and asked her to apply for a role of captain with them. [5] Celebrity Cruises is owned by the Royal Caribbean Cruises LTD. [6] McCue duly applied and was appointed as the commanding officer of Celebrity Summit on September 13, 2015, [7] making her the first American woman to command a modern "mega ship". [1] Lutoff-Perlo later said that "Kate was the first opportunity to make significant change at Celebrity related to gender equality." [6] In 2018, she left the Summit to become the commanding officer on Celebrity Equinox [8] and subsequently moved to the Celebrity Edge in 2019. [9] On October 14, 2021 Celebrity Cruises announced that McCue will take the helm of Celebrity Beyond , their newest ship debuting spring 2022. [10]

McCue follows in the footsteps of other female cruise ship captains, including Swedish captain Karin Stahre-Janson who was placed in command of a Royal Caribbean vessel in 2007. Other women such as Inger Klein Thorhauge for Cunard Line (2010), Sarah Breton for P&O Cruises (2010), Lis Lauritzen for Royal Caribbean, and Margrith Ettlin for Silversea Cruises (2013) each preceded McCue. [11]

Her sphynx cat, Bug Naked, sails with her aboard and has attracted media attention. [12]

She also has social media accounts with millions of followers. [13] [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Caribbean International</span> Norwegian–American cruise line

Royal Caribbean International (RCI), previously known as Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL), is a cruise line brand founded in 1968 in Norway and organized as a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group since 1997. Based in Miami, Florida, it is the largest cruise line by revenue and second largest by passengers counts. In 2018, Royal Caribbean International controlled 19.2% of the worldwide cruise market by passengers and 14.0% by revenue. As of January 2024, the line operates 28 ships and has three additional ships on order.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celebrity Cruises</span> Cruise line headquartered in Miami, Florida, US

Celebrity Cruises is a cruise line headquartered in Miami, Florida and a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group. Celebrity Cruises was founded in 1988 by the Greece-based Chandris Group, and merged with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line in 1997. Celebrity's signature logo is an "Χ" displayed on the funnel of Celebrity ships, and is the Greek letter chi, for "Chandris".

<i>Marella Explorer</i> Century-class cruise ship built in 1996

Marella Explorer is a Century-class cruise ship owned and operated by Marella Cruises. Before joining TUI she cruised as MV Galaxy with Celebrity Cruises, and later as Mein Schiff with TUI Cruises. She was laid down at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, on 25 May 1995, was launched in May 1996, and was delivered to Celebrity Cruises on 10 October 1996. She entered service on 21 December 1996.

<i>Celebrity Summit</i> Millennium-class cruise ship

GTS Celebrity Summit is a Millennium-class cruise ship owned and operated by Celebrity Cruises and as such one of the first cruise ships to be powered by more environmentally friendly gas turbines. Originally named Summit, she was renamed with the "Celebrity" prefix in 2008.

<i>Celebrity Millennium</i> Millennium-class cruise ship operated by Celebrity Cruises

GTS Celebrity Millennium is a cruise ship operated by Celebrity Cruises. She is the lead ship of her namesake class, whose ships are powered by gas turbines. Delivered in 2000, she is the oldest operating ship in Celebrity's fleet.

<i>Oasis</i>-class cruise ship Class of Royal Caribbean International cruise ships

The Oasis class is a class of 7 Royal Caribbean International cruise ships. The first two ships in the class, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, were delivered respectively in 2009 and 2010 by STX Europe Turku Shipyard, Finland. A third Oasis-class vessel, Harmony of the Seas, was delivered in 2016 built by STX France. A fourth vessel, Symphony of the Seas, was completed in March 2018. As of March 2022, the fifth Oasis-class ship, Wonder of the Seas, was the largest cruise ship in the world. A sixth ship, Utopia of the Seas, is currently being built for entry into service in July 2024 with a seventh to follow in 2028.

<i>Mein Schiff Herz</i>

Marella Voyager is the second of two Century-class cruise ships operated by TUI Cruises. Built for Celebrity Cruises at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, she was launched on 11 July 1997, and was christened and entered service as MV Mercury on 27 October 1997.

<i>Celebrity Infinity</i> Millennium-class cruise ship operated by Celebrity Cruises

GTS Celebrity Infinity is a Millennium-class cruise ship operated by Celebrity Cruises, a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group. She measures 90,940 GT and 294 m (965 ft) long, and holds a capacity of 2,170 passengers across 12 decks. After Royal Caribbean signed a letter of intent with French shipbuilder Chantiers de l'Atlantique in February 1998, she was floated out in June 2000 and delivered in February 2001, making her the second Millennium-class ship to join the fleet following Celebrity Millennium.

<i>Celebrity Equinox</i> Solstice-class cruise ship

Celebrity Equinox is a Solstice-class cruise ship built by Meyer Werft in Germany. Celebrity Equinox is the second of the five Solstice-class vessels, owned and operated by Celebrity Cruises. She is a sister ship of Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Eclipse, Celebrity Silhouette, and the Celebrity Reflection. Construction officially started in September 2007. Celebrity Equinox entered commercial service for Celebrity Cruises on July 31, 2009.

<i>Regal Princess</i> (2013) Royal-class cruise ship operated by Princess Cruises

Regal Princess is a Royal-class cruise ship operated by Princess Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc, and is the second ship to sail for the cruise line under this name. Regal Princess, as well as her sister ship Royal Princess, were ordered on 17 February 2010 from Fincantieri and were constructed at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, and debuted in 2014.

<i>Symphony of the Seas</i> Oasis-class cruise ship

Symphony of the Seas is an Oasis-class cruise ship owned and operated by Royal Caribbean International. She was built in 2018 in the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, the fourth in Royal Caribbean's Oasis class of cruise ships. At 228,081 GT, she was the largest cruise ship in the world by gross tonnage when built, surpassing her sister ship Harmony of the Seas, also owned by Royal Caribbean International, and surpassed by her sister ship Wonder of the Seas in 2022.

The Edge class is a class of cruise ships operated by Celebrity Cruises, a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. The class is constructed by Chantiers de l'Atlantique of France. At present, there are three active Edge-class ships: the lead vessel of the class Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex and Celebrity Beyond. Celebrity Apex was scheduled to begin operations in April 2020, but entry into service was delayed until June 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Celebrity Ascent is planned to debut in the 4th Quarter 2023. A fifth ship, Celebrity Xcel is currently under construction.

<i>Celebrity Edge</i> Edge-class cruise ship

Celebrity Edge is an Edge-class cruise ship operated by Celebrity Cruises, a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group. After the new vessel was ordered with French shipbuilder STX France in December 2014, her keel was laid in June 2017 and she was floated out in January 2018. Upon delivery in October 2018, at 130,818 GT, she became the lead ship of the Edge class and the largest ship by gross tonnage to have joined the Celebrity fleet.

Karin Stahre-Janson is a Swedish cruise ship captain. When she became the commanding officer of Monarch of the Seas in 2007, it was the first time that a woman had been in command of a "mega" cruise ship. She has also been placed in command of Serenade of the Seas and Majesty of the Seas.

Lis Lauritzen is a Danish cruise ship Captain for Royal Caribbean International. She previously worked in the cargo ship industry.

<i>Celebrity Apex</i> Cruise ship operated by Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Apex is an Edge-class cruise ship operated by Celebrity Cruises, a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Constructed at Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France, she is the second vessel in the company's Edge class of ships, following the delivery of her sister ship, Celebrity Edge, in 2018. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, her debut sailing was from Athens on June 19, 2021 to the Greek Islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lisa Lutoff-Perlo</span> CEO of Celebrity Cruises

Lisa Lutoff-Perlo is an American businesswoman. She was the president and CEO of Celebrity Cruises, making her the first woman to lead one of the Royal Caribbean Group's cruise line brands.

<i>Celebrity Beyond</i> Passenger cruise ship launched in 2021

Celebrity Beyond is a cruise ship owned by Celebrity Cruises, taking its name from the company's slogan. The third in the Edge class, the ship was constructed at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard, and entered service in April 2022. The ship is captained by Kate McCue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah Oakley</span> British naval officer (b. 1973)

Captain Sarah Ellen Oakley is a British Royal Navy officer, who, until December of 2023, served as the commanding officer of Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.

References

  1. 1 2 Satchell, Arlene (July 13, 2015). "First American woman to captain cruise ship". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved April 29, 2018. McCue, 37
  2. 1 2 3 4 Wood Rudulph, Heather (September 28, 2015). "Get That Life: How I Became the First American Female Captain of a Megaton Cruise Ship". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved April 29, 2018. McCue, 37
  3. 1 2 "'Drive', He Said, and Now She Does". Royal Caribbean. February 28, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2018. Four years later, preparing to take the helm of Celebrity Cruises' Summit at age 37
  4. 1 2 3 "Evans native becomes first woman cruise ship captain in the US". No.  WRDW–TV. September 21, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2018. The 37-year-old
  5. 1 2 3 4 "How I got my job... travelling the world". Glamour. August 29, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  6. 1 2 Farber, Madeline (November 30, 2016). "How the Top Women at Celebrity Cruises Are Sailing Through Gender Barriers". Fortune. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  7. ↑ Mitchell, Heidi (September 1, 2015). "What Captain Kate Carries Onboard". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  8. ↑ Crow, Melinda (February 5, 2018). "Captain Kate is Swapping Ships". FirstRead.me. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  9. ↑ Mzezewa, Tariro (February 25, 2019). "Please Call Her Captain". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  10. ↑ Hines, Morgan. "EXCLUSIVE: Kate McCue to captain new Celebrity Beyond cruise ship marking career 'culmination'". USA TODAY. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  11. ↑ Garay, Elissa (June 21, 2016). "What It's Like to Be a Female Cruise Ship Captain". Conde Nast Traveller. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  12. ↑ Quindara, Henry. "Cruise kitty makes the cutest first mate". usatoday.com. USA Today. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Captain Kate McCue Instagram Account". Instagram. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Captain Kate McCue TikTok Account". tiktok. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.