The first female American cruise ship captain will take the helm of Celebrity Cruises new ship Celebrity Beyond when its makes its debut in the UK next spring.
Captain Kate McCue will steer the line’s largest vessel when it leaves Southampton on its maiden cruise to Barcelona on April 27, 2022.
The ship will then run Mediterranean voyages including nine-night Italian Riviera and France itineraries and 10-night Greek Isles itineraries until early October when it repositions the Caribbean.
McCue, who has almost 3.5 million followers across TikTok, Instagram and YouTube sharing behind the scenes looks at seafaring life, was the first American woman to captain a major crusie ship when she took charge of Celebrity Summit in 2015.
She has since worked on Celebrity Equinox and Celebrity Edge, returning the company back into service in June when it became the first cruise ship to sail with passengers from a US port in more than a year due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.
Celebrity Beyond is 21 metres longer than sister ships Celebrity Edge and Apex.
Celebrity Cruises president and chief executive Lisa Lutoff-Perlo said: “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.”
McCue added: “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.”