MIAMI, July 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time
in the cruise industry – and in Celebrity Cruises' history – an
American female will take the helm of a mega-ton cruise ship. At 37
years of age, San Francisco native
Kate McCue will command Celebrity
Summit– a 91,000-ton, 965-foot ship in the Celebrity
Cruises fleet, sailing between the eastern United States and Bermuda. As Captain, she will be responsible
for the safe navigation of the ship and the onboard experience of
its 2,158 guests and 952 crew members.
The modern luxury cruise brand, which operates a fleet of 10
ships, has elevated McCue to the position of Captain based on her
15 years of successful experience and leadership in the maritime
industry. During her tenure, McCue has managed ship logistics while
sailing worldwide itineraries, including Europe, Asia,
Australia, the Caribbean, the Pacific Northwest and
Alaska, and along the Panama
Canal. Captain McCue has also served as a maritime leader while
sailing several transatlantic and repositioning cruises, and played
a notable role in the revitalization of ships in Singapore.
Continuing Celebrity Cruises' dedication to advancing the role
of women in leadership, Kate McCue's
appointment follows that of Lisa
Lutoff-Perlo, who was named President and CEO of Celebrity
Cruises in December 2014.
"From the first time I met Kate, I looked forward to this
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
Lutoff-Perlo. "Of all the great moments throughout my career, this
is at the top of my list. I am both honored 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."
A graduate of California State University's
California Maritime Academy, Captain McCue has held a
variety of roles in the maritime industry, beginning as a cadet and
deck officer, then working through a series of successively more
responsible positions to her most recent role as Master Mariner
with Royal Caribbean International. McCue has earned numerous
certifications in a variety of areas pertaining to leadership
navigation, ship management and security.
"Becoming the first female American captain of a cruise ship has
been a goal of mine for as long as I can remember," says McCue.
"The honor is amplified by being the first at a company like
Celebrity Cruises. The cruise industry is ever-evolving, from the
ships and the itineraries, to our guests' expectations for vacation
experiences. Celebrity has a history of delivering on each of these
and I am thrilled to be a part of it. I look forward to
working with an amazing team and the exceptional leadership who
bring the Celebrity Cruises vision to life every day."
McCue will begin her new role on Celebrity Summit in
August of 2015.
For more information about Celebrity Cruises, visit
www.celebritycruises.com or 1-800-437-3111.
About Celebrity Cruises:
Celebrity Cruises' iconic
"X" is the mark of modern luxury, with its cool, contemporary
design and warm spaces; dining experiences where the design of the
venues is as important as the cuisine; and the amazing service that
only Celebrity can provide, all created to provide an unmatchable
experience for vacationers' precious time. Celebrity Cruises' 10
ships offer modern luxury vacations visiting all seven continents.
Celebrity also presents immersive cruisetour experiences in
Alaska and Canada. Celebrity is one of six cruise brands
operated by global cruise vacation company Royal Caribbean Cruises
Ltd. (NYSE, OSE: RCL). For more information, dial 1-800-437-3111,
visit www.celebritycruises.com, or call your travel agent.
Photo -
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150713/235420
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kate-mccue-advances-womens-leadership-in-cruising-as-celebrity-cruises-names-her-the-industrys-first-ever-american-female-captain-300111992.html
SOURCE Celebrity Cruises