Beyond, the third of Celebrity Cruises’ Edge series, will sail its maiden voyage from Southampton on 27 April.
The vessel will cruise a 10-night Western Europe itinerary visiting Bordeaux, Lisbon, Seville, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona.
In a statement announcing McCue’s captaincy, Celebrity said she had wanted to be a ship’s captain since cruising as a 12-year-old.
After telling her father that she wanted to be a cruise director, his advice was “she could do anything she wanted”, the line said, including captaining the ship.
In 2015, McCue was chosen by Celebrity president and chief executive Lisa Lutoff-Perlo as the first American woman to captain a major cruise ship when she took the helm of Celebrity Summit.
She later moved to Celebrity Equinox before being appointed to helm Celebrity Edge in September 2019.
In March 2020, McCue captained Edge during a “barrier-breaking” sailing – which comprised a cruise ship’s first all-female bridge and officer team.
She was also at the helm of Edge on 25 June 2021, when the vessel became the first cruise ship carrying guests to sail from a US port in more than a year, following the Covid-19 cruise industry shutdown.
“This is a day that I’ve been waiting for since we made the first cut of steel on our beautiful Celebrity Beyond,” said Lutoff-Perlo. “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.
“I’m beyond excited to see her take our guests to locations that will open their eyes to the beauty of the world around them and experience travel on a new luxury ship without comparison.”
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.”
