MIAMI, Oct. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Exciting news
today, as Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo announced Captain Kate McCue, the first American female cruise
ship captain, will take the helm of Celebrity
BeyondSM, the company's third ship in its
industry-transforming Edge Series debuting in spring
2022.
The dynamic and decorated captain will usher in a new era for
the new-luxury brand, sailing a ship brought to life by a dream
team of modern lifestyle icons including multi-award-winning
British designer Kelly Hoppen CBE;
celebrated American designer Nate
Berkus; the culinary gifts of Michelin-starred chef and
restaurateur Daniel Boulud; and featuring wellness experiences and
products from goop CEO and founder Gwyneth
Paltrow, the brand's Well-Being Advisor.
For Captain Kate, the seed to be a captain was planted following
a cruise the then-12-year-old McCue took with her family. She told
her father that she wanted to be a cruise director when she grew
up. His advice to her was that she could do anything she wanted,
including captaining the ship.
Since that time Captain Kate has been a pioneer and trailblazer,
breaking the gender barrier in 2015 when Lutoff-Perlo named her to
be the first -- and still only -- American female to captain a
major cruise ship - Celebrity Summit. She moved to
Celebrity Equinox before being appointed to helm the
exquisite Celebrity Edge® in September 2019. On March
8, 2020, McCue further cemented her place in the history
books when she captained the history-making, barrier-breaking
sailing on Celebrity Edge that comprised a cruise ship's
first-ever all-female bridge and officer team.
Captain Kate also led the Celebrity fleet – and the industry –
back into operation when, on June 26,
2021, Celebrity Edge became the first cruise ship to
sail with guests from a U.S. port in more than a year due to the
global coronavirus pandemic.
"This is a day that I've been waiting for since we made the
first cut of steel on our beautiful Celebrity Beyond.
Captain Kate has transcended what it means to be a captain as a
voice and example of inclusivity, diversity, and change," said
Lutoff-Perlo. "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."
Since taking on the mantle of captain, McCue has inspired others
to shoot for the stars and encouraged people from all walks of life
to follow their dreams. The endearing and charismatic McCue has
also become a social media celebrity, amassing nearly 3.5 million
followers across TikTok, Instagram and YouTube by humanizing the
profile of captain and sharing behind the scenes looks at seafaring
life.
"To be the 'take out' captain for a new vessel is an honor 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," said Captain
Kate McCue. "I'm forever grateful to
Lisa for entrusting this labor 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."
Celebrity Beyond will not only hold the title of the
largest ship in the fleet, but the distinction as the brand's most
luxurious vessel.
Celebrity Beyond stands at 17 decks high and 21
meters longer than her innovative predecessors Celebrity
Edge (2018) and Celebrity Apex (2020). Every
element of Celebrity Beyond's look and feel has been
carefully curated with newly imagined spaces and expanded versions
of the brand's popular signature spaces, including:
- The Retreat, an exclusive area for suite guests, now featuring
a two-story sundeck
- Transformational accommodations, from modern two-story villas
with plunge pools to staterooms with infinite verandas, blurring
the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living
- An expanded Rooftop Garden and stunning resort deck featuring
cantilevered float pools
- A stunning multi-level, multi-terraced Sunset Bar that defines
the ship's aft
- A first-ever Daniel Boulud fine-dining restaurant at sea called
Le Voyage
- A redesigned Grand Plaza spanning three decks and creating an
airiness never-before experienced on a cruise ship
- And, the Magic Carpet®, an engineering feat soaring
cantilevered above the sea, offering guests uninterrupted vistas
while sipping cocktails or having dinner.
Celebrity Beyond's maiden voyage will depart on
April 27, 2022, from Southampton, England, for a 10-night
Western Europe cruise visiting
Bordeaux, France; Lisbon, Portugal; and Seville, Malaga, Palma
de Mallorca and Barcelona,
Spain.
She will then offer a variety of Mediterranean journeys
including nine-night Italian Riviera and France itineraries and 10-night Greek Isles
itineraries through early October, when she then heads to the
Caribbean. Voyages are on sale
now. For more information on all Celebrity Beyond inaugural
2022-2023 season sailings, visit
https://www.celebritycruises.com/cruise-ships/celebrity-beyond.
About Celebrity Cruises:
Celebrity Cruises' iconic "X" is the mark of a fleet of 14
award-winning ships redefining luxury cruise travel with cool,
contemporary design and accommodation; dining, spa, and
entertainment experiences for modern tastes; and culturally rich
and diverse destination experiences, all complemented by warm,
personalized service. Celebrity has pioneered many industry firsts
at sea, including the first use of solar panels on a cruise ship;
the first to eliminate the use of plastic water bottles; the first
American female captain of a cruise ship; the first-ever all-female
bridge and officer team sailing; the first West African woman to
work on the bridge of a cruise ship; and one of the first legal
same-sex weddings performed at sea. Driven by wanderlust and a
passion for opening the world, Celebrity journeys to all seven
continents, visiting nearly 300 destinations in more than 70
countries. Celebrity Cruises is one of five cruise brands operated
by global cruise company Royal Caribbean Group. (NYSE: RCL).
Celebrity Cruises is applying the recommendations of
the Healthy Sail Panel of public health and scientific
experts to provide a safer and healthier cruise vacation
on all of its sailings. Health and safety protocols,
regional travel restrictions and clearance to visit ports of call,
are subject to change based on ongoing evaluation, public health
standards, and government requirements.
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SOURCE Celebrity Cruises