One of the world’s most famous cruise ship captains announced she is stepping away from the helm.
Captain Kate McCue, widely recognized for her influential presence on social media, is bidding farewell to Celebrity Cruises after two decades with Royal Caribbean Group. With millions of followers on Instagram and TikTok, Captain Kate skyrocketed in popularity for her trailblazing contributions in the cruise industry as one of the few female cruise ship captains.
In fact, Captain Kate took command of Celebrity Summit as the first American woman to captain a mega cruise ship in 2015. She later helmed the brand-new Edge class ship, Celebrity Beyond, in 2022 when the ship was first built. She has been captaining Celebrity Beyond since the ship's inaugural voyage.
After achieving these milestones, Captain Kate started sharing her onboard experiences online, offering a glimpse into life as a cruise ship captain. She quickly grew a devoted social media following across millions of followers on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
However, Captain Kate has decided to start a new chapter in life. The famous cruise ship captain wrote in her announcement on Instagram, “Today, I say farewell to Celebrity.”
She continued, “I’ve spent the last 22 years on 11 ships in the Royal Caribbean Group, from 2nd Officer to Captain. I have seen some of the most beautiful places, met inspiring and wonderful people, and had opportunities to live my 12-year-old dream out loud!”
In her emotional tribute, Captain Kate also shared video clips and photos from her time with Royal Caribbean Group. She writes, “This video serves as a small glimpse into moments that I am forever grateful for. It is memories of those who made an impact on this journey and who will live forever in my heart.”
In addition, Captain Kate shared with her millions of followers her reason for leaving includes a shift in life priorities.
She explains, “You might be wondering why am I leaving. Simply put, life has an incredible way of reminding us what’s important and changing up priorities. I’ve recently had some big life changes, and this just happens to be one of those.”
However, Captain Kate assures her fans and followers that she won’t be done sailing. She states at the end of her post, “Are my sailing days over? Absolutely not! I’ve got too much salt in my veins to leave the sea behind.”
At this time, it’s unclear what is next for Captain Kate in her career. As a nod to her widely followed social media series, “Captain’s Log,” where she documents her daily responsibilities as a captain, she states her next chapter will be titled “Changing Seasons.”
Although she does not provide detail about these life changes, Captain Kate is very candid on social media about her life, including the highlights and struggles. Back in December, she shared online that her beloved cat, Bug, passed away following a routine dental surgery. Bug was only 8 years old, leaving Captain Kate and her husband devastated by the unexpected loss.
“Our hearts have been ripped from our chests. Bug, we will look for you in every rainbow and never forget the joy you brought every second of your brief life. Forever yours, Mum & Dad," she posted online.
Bug lived aboard Celebrity Beyond with Captain Kate during her time at sea, quickly becoming an iconic sidekick aboard the vessel. Bug was often seen accompanying Kate onboard and online, serving as her loyal companion on the ship.
In addition, Captain Kate also shared with her followers how she suffered complications from her hysterectomy survey last fall. Following her surgery, she shared on Instagram how she returned to the emergency room after being discharged from surgery due to blood clots in her lungs. Luckily, she made a full recovery before returning to Celebrity Beyond this winter.
Not to mention, she also posted about losing another beloved pet in her family, Dewey. Only a few days after Bug passed away, Captain Kate shared how her parents’ dog also crossed the rainbow bridge.
“When you think your heart can’t break anymore. This morning, Bug’s best friend, Dewey, joined her across the rainbow bridge,” she posted on Instagram.
Captain Kate dreamed of becoming a cruise ship captain since she was a child. On her website, she shares how she fell in love with the sea as a child and took her first cruise at 12-years-old. At the time, her dream was to become a cruise director. However, her father encouraged her to dream even bigger, telling her she could become the cruise ship’s captain if she wanted.
Many expressed their gratitude and appreciation to Captain Kate for her hard-work in the maritime industry.
Captain Kate’s announcement has taken many fans by surprise, while others are using the moment to express their gratitude for her contributions to the industry.
"Enjoy your new adventures and wish you all the best in your new endeavors looking forward to your new chapter," commented one follower. Another user commented, "Captain Kate, you are, and will always be a rock star! Proud to have sailed with you and your superbly led crew."
Another female officer at Celebrity Cruises, Chief Officer Elizabeth Marami, said, "A true legend! You wrote your own rules and created a path for so many. Because of you, I AM. You have changed so many lives and I am so glad I had the chance to not only work with you, but grow in my career with you by my side. Can't wait to see your next adventure."
In fact, the official page for Celebrity Cruises commented on her post to commend the captain for her hard-work and dedication
“The journey we have shared has been absolutely amazing. You brought passion and heart to everything you did, inspiring so many along the way, and leaving a lasting mark on our industry. We wish you fair winds and following seas, always,” commented the cruise line.
Allie Hubers
Allie Hubers has been cruising since she was a tiny toddler. What started as a yearly vacation with family quickly turned into a passion for travel, cruising and adventure. Allie's been on over 45 cruises all over the world. She even studied abroad on Semester at Sea, sailing the world on a ship while taking courses for college and visiting 4 continents.
