Less than one month after revealing that she was leaving Celebrity Cruises, Captain Kate McCue announced that she'll be joining a new cruise line.
Her departure from Celebrity after making history as the first American woman to captain a mega cruise ship left many wondering what her next move would be. However, she promised she wasn't retiring because she has "too much salt in [her] veins to leave the sea behind."
Instead, the Instagram-famous Captain is joining Four Seasons Yachts.
"It's time for a new season!" Captain Kate shared on Instagram, "I'm thrilled to join an amazing team, introducing a new category of luxury and excellence to our guests at sea."
"A new build vessel is one thing. A start-up with an incredible prototype vessel is a whole new opportunity to grow with an iconic brand like Four Seasons! It's yacht like anything you've seen before!"
“Captain Kate McCue is the ideal leader to helm Four Seasons I as we embark on this exciting new chapter in luxury yachting,” said Rainer Stampfer, President, Global Operations, Hotels and Resorts, Four Seasons.
“Her passion for hospitality, commitment to excellence, and trailblazing leadership align perfectly with our vision to reimagine the yachting experience. We are thrilled to welcome her aboard as we prepare to set sail in 2026, knowing she will inspire both our guests and employees alike.”
Captain Kate spent 22 years with Royal Caribbean Group
She began working for Royal Caribbean Group in 2003 as 2nd Officer aboard the Nordic Empress after beginning her maritime career with Disney Cruise Line. Captain Kate then worked her way up to 1st Officer on Brilliance, Mariner, and Independence of the Seas.
While working on Royal Caribbean ships, she earned her Chief Mate and Master's License in 2009 from the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies, giving her the necessary qualifications to take command of a cruise ship.
As such, she became a Chief Officer and worked on ships like Allure and Mariner of the Seas.
A few years later, then-President Lisa Lutoff-Perlo asked Captain Kate to apply to work for Celebrity Cruises, a sister brand to Royal Caribbean owned by Royal Caribbean Group.
She happily accepted the position of cruise ship Captain in 2015 and began her nearly 10-year stint with Celebrity aboard Celebrity Summit, one of the line's oldest and smallest ships.
After four years on Summit, she moved to Celebrity Edge and became the first female Captain to command one of the line's newest and most innovative vessels.
Captain Kate finally made the decision to depart Celebrity Cruises while Captain of Celebrity Beyond, the second-newest ship in the fleet measuring over 140,000 gross registered tons (GRT).
Read more: I sailed on Celebrity's three newest ships. The one with the Instagram famous Captain was the best
Four Seasons Yachts is a new luxury line set to redefine the cruising experience by bringing the iconic hotel chain to sea
The brand is positioning itself as a game-changer in the yachting world, offering ultra-luxurious experiences aboard smaller, intimate vessels with none other than Captain Kate at the helm.
Four Seasons is schedule to launch its first-ever yacht in 2026. Four Seasons I will measure around 34,000 GRT and 679 feet long with just 95 suites and a guest-to-staff ratio of 1:1.
True to the hotel chain's refined nature, guests can expect world-class service, luxurious accommodations, and Michelin-calibre dining.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on nearly 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
