San Francisco native Kate McCue will become the first American woman to captain a cruise ship when she takes the helm of Celebrity Summit in August, Celebrity Cruises announced Monday.
McCue, 37, will be responsible for the safe navigation of the 91,000-ton ship and the safety of its 2,158 guests and 952 crew as it sails between the eastern U.S. and Bermuda.
“I’m elated,” said McCue when reached by phone Monday of her new role. “I’m pretty excited about being in command.”
McCue first fell in love with the cruise industry at age 12 on a Bahamas cruise with her parents. After that trip she wanted to become a cruise director — or, as she recalled telling her father, “the person who plans all the fun events on board.”
Her father had an encouraging and eye-opening response: “But you can also drive the ship if you want,” he said. “He planted a seed,” she said.
