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Captain Kate McCue to Take the Helm of Celebrity Cruises’ Newest and Most Luxurious Ship – Celebrity Beyond SM

From the Edge to Beyond: Highly Anticipated Ship Debuts April 2022

MIAMI (October 14, 2021) – 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 Beyond , 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 .

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Meet America's first female captain of a mega cruise ship, who brings her cat and mermaid tail on every voyage

• Kate McCue is the captain of Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Edge.
• McCue is the first American woman (and fifth woman overall) to command a mega cruise ship . According to McCue, a mega cruise ship has a gross tonnage of 80,000 or more; the Celebrity Edge's is almost 131,000.
• While she works on the ship 24/7 for three months and then has three months off, McCue said she loves her job so much that she would happily take less time off.
• She likened the job of a cruise-ship captain to being the CEO of a company, with most of her time spent sitting in meetings, managing people, and doing paperwork.
• But she also gets time to explore the destinations where the cruise stops, documenting her adventures for her 91,400 Instagram followers. She also takes her cat, Bug Naked, who has 28,500 followers on Instagram, on every trip .
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories .

Kate McCue, captain of the Celebrity Edge , a 2,918-passenger cruise ship, says she has too much time off work.

"We do three months on, three months off, and it's kind of like you retire every three months," she told Insider of her work schedule. "I would prefer five months on to two weeks off. That would be fine."

In fact, when asked about her least favorite thing about working, eating, and sleeping all in the same place , she replied, "Having to leave my job and go on vacation ."

In 2015, when McCue was named the captain of a slightly smaller ship — the 2,158-passenger Celebrity Summit — she became the first American woman (and fifth woman overall) to command a mega cruise ship.

According to McCue, "size matters," as mega cruise ships have a gross tonnage of 80,000 or more. The Celebrity Edge's gross tonnage is almost 131,000 .

McCue said that at that size, you can't call it a boat.

"You can put a boat on a ship, but you can't put a ship on a boat," she said.

To McCue, ship life is like being in a bubble

"I'm so excited to go back into my bubble," she said of getting back to work after three months off.

"Everything's better on the ship. You know, this real world sucks. It's sitting in traffic, going grocery shopping, cooking for yourself, making your own bed, all of those things."

McCue said she tries to fill her time off by taking on public-relations gigs, attending trainings, or finding other ways to represent her company.

McCue's interest in cruise ships goes back to when she was 12 years old

McCue said she became interested in cruises after going on a voyage with her family. After her memorable first trip, she told her dad she wanted to be a cruise director when she grew up. According to McCue, he told her, "You can do anything you want, including drive the thing."

And drive the thing she does.

McCue went to Cal Maritime, encouraged and inspired by her father, who had also once applied there but didn't met the age requirements after a stint in the Peace Corps.

There she got a degree in business administration, as well as a license to sail "anything from a tugboat to a supertanker, and everything in between," she said.

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While McCue said she couldn't get one without the other, the idea was also that she would have the degree to fall back on should she ever get sick of sailing. But ultimately, she said, it "comes in really handy," especially as the captain of a ship, "because you are pretty much like the CEO of, for example, the Celebrity Edge, a $1.2 billion business, in just that one step."

McCue likens her job as a captain to that of a CEO and says her success didn't come overnight

"I started at the bottom. I was an apprentice officer on banana boats, which were taking bananas between Guayaquil, Ecuador, and Long Beach," she said. "Cargo ships are fine, but I always wanted to be on cruise ships."

Like pilots, who put in hours of flight time, captains must put in days at sea. McCue said it took her 19 years from the time she started working on ships to become a captain in 2015.

When most people think of the job of a ship captain, they imagine hours spent looking out to sea and pushing around a large wooden steering wheel, but that's not really what she does at all

"We don't sit on the bridge" — the ship's command center — "for hours on end, because we've actually done that," McCue said. "I spent 19 years looking out the window as an officer of the watch."

She explained that she's in charge of all the ship's department heads, who report directly to her and include a chief engineer, a hotel director, a staff captain responsible for security and ship maintenance, and a human-resources manager.

McCue said her days are spent in daily meetings with these department heads, leading various inspections of the ship, doing paperwork, and participating in events with the guests and crew. She's on call 24/7 and takes a nap every afternoon in case something comes up late at night.

It's not all hard work, though, as McCue said she gets to go out and explore the ports along the cruise's stops. She documents her adventures on Instagram , where she's racked up over 91,000 followers.

"There is no such thing as an average day, because the reality is that every day is different," she said. "Whether it's people that you have on board, the places that you are in, or even the weather, everything changes. So you're not ever going to have the same day twice, which is really cool."

McCue said she considers her coworkers family, and that partly comes down to the working environment.

"It is a unique environment where you play, you work, we sleep all in the same place. But what that means is you bond with people that you work with so much stronger than you do with people on land," she said, adding that she now has friends in dozens of countries. "It makes the world a very, very small place."

Because of the nature of her job, she doesn't get to see her husband, an engineer she met while working on a different ship, every day

"I think the secret to a happy marriage is 12 time zones," McCue said, adding that she sees her husband of 13 years more now via FaceTime than they did when they both worked on the same ship.

"He's in Italy, I'm in the Caribbean, and I actually get to hear about his day, he gets to hear about my day, and it really works for us," she said.

Doing the math, McCue said that when her husband joins her for a New Year's cruise, they'll have seen each other for 49 days in 2019. But to her, it's not about quantity, but the quality of their time spent together.

"We've got this really neat kind of around-the-world honeymoon thing going on, which is really cool because it makes the most out of the time we have, and we're having some really epic adventures," she said.

It also helps that she brings her cat, Bug Naked, on every voyage. Also Insta-famous , with more than 28,500 followers, Bug's account regularly offers glimpses into ship life.

"The three things I always travel with are Bug, my Louboutins, and a mermaid tail," McCue said.

On March 8, for International Women's Day, McCue will be sailing a ship staffed by an all-women bridge and officer team

The captain said Celebrity Cruises has been working hard to get more female representation on board.

"We've gone from a 3% female bridge team to over 22% on every single ship in our fleet. The Celebrity Edge, she came out with 30% of the bridge team being female," she said, adding that she hopes other companies will soon follow suit.

"We're hoping that something like this International Women's Day we put that message out there and people start to get on board and other companies will start to catch up, because right now we have over twice the representation — actually I think three times the representation — of any company in the cruise industry," she said.

"It's a great time in our industry," she added. "You know, more ships are coming out. There are so many opportunities for everyone, whether you want to be on the bridge or you want to be in any of the other departments on our ships. It's a great place to be. It's an incredible environment, and it's an opportunity to travel the world and meet the best people. So that's kind of my message."

While the job is demanding, according to McCue, it has its perks.

"People that come on cruises come for what I get to experience every single day," she said, "and I get paid for it."

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In the cruise industry, she's a trailblazer. On TikTok, she's @captainkatemccue. Meet Captain Kate.

She has more TikTok followers than Alex Rodriguez , Kesha and Rebel Wilson  but Kate McCue is not a sports star or an entertainer. She's a cruise ship captain. 

The 43-year-old Celebrity Cruises captain has amassed nearly 3 million followers on TikTok, regaling them with videos about life at sea, her career and videos of her cat Bug Naked.

Last week, McCue was named captain of Celebrity Beyond , Celebrity Cruises' newest ship, scheduled to launch in April , an assignment she called the "culmination" of her career. 

Her time in the cruise industry has stretched across two decades and a variety of ships and cruise lines. But her desire to spend her life cruising came much earlier, on a family cruise she took at age 12.

"I said to my dad, at the end of the cruise (that) I wanted to be the cruise director. And dad said, 'you can do anything you want the world, including drive the thing.' "

►Kate McCue's announcement  to captain new Celebrity Beyond cruise ship marking career 'culmination'

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USA TODAY chatted with McCue, who was the first – and remains the only – female American captain of a major cruise ship, about her next career move and how she has made a life in cruising.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Q: How did you start your career in cruising?

A: "When it was time to go to college, my dad reminded me of that conversation, because I didn't know where I wanted to go and what I was going to study exactly. And he suggested California Maritime Academy, which is one of the maritime academies in the U.S.

"At the end of the four years, I got a business administration degree and a license to sail anything from a tugboat to the world's largest super tanker.

"I graduated in 2000 and I sent my resume out. While I was waiting for a response, I was working at Maersk Sealand, which is container ship company in Long Beach, California.

"And after about 18 months, I hadn't heard anything. So I changed my resume. And I applied to be a bartender with Disney Cruise Line.

"When they got my resume, they looked at it and said, 'well, she's not qualified to be a bartender,' because I have never served a drink in my life. 'But she is qualified to drive our ships.' So they passed my resume to the correct department, which was the marine department. And that's where I got hired as a third officer, which was the entry-level position on the bridge."

Q: What other ships have you worked on?

A:  "Disney Magic, Nordic Empress (which was) Royal Caribbean, Brilliance of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Rhapsody, of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas.

"And then it was Celebrity Summit. Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Edge and now Beyond."

Q: What's your secret to success?

A:  "The reason for my success is the people that I work with."

Q: Are women represented in cruise leadership?

A:  "I think the representation isn't quite there.

"When I joined in 2015, 2% of our bridge team fleet-wide (crew members managing navigation)   was female. And today, I think it's over 27% now.

"I think why we don't see the representation necessarily is because, you know, women have different objectives and goals in their life and, and when family comes into play, I don't think there have been established." 

Q: How do you hope things evolve for women working on cruise ships?

A:  "As we have more women coming into these positions, you know, we find ourselves in these unique situations that they've never the office, shoreside has never really thought about or had to think about.

"(From the top, Celebrity is) open to accommodating our concerns and addressing policies that have never existed before."

Q: How do you see the industry moving ahead to become more inclusive? And are you hoping to elevate other women to this point?

A:  "Absolutely. This is where my tagline is, 'if you can see it, you can be it.'

"I've been given this platform (as a female captain) and if I didn't use it to normalize a woman in this position, then the next woman coming up through the ranks will go through the same thing that I did. So that's where I found social media to be a really amazing tool – one to normalize the position, to show kind of an inside look into a captain's life."

Q: You have a large presence on social media. How else are you using the spotlight?

A:  "We've hired quite a few people that I've met only through social media. So (giving) career advice, (I am able) to be accessible to everyone.

"For people (who) never thought that going to sea was a career that they would be interested in, and then they see it on social media and then that really piques their interest. I've been able to help – and not only myself but also you know, some of the officers that I work with, they're also heavily involved in social media – and become kind of guidance counselors in where to go in order to study to have a career at sea, it's phenomenal.

"People (who) come on the ship that follow me on TikTok, we already have kind of a connection they know about me or about Bug (Naked), the cat , and there's this nice familiarity.

"With that following, there's also a great responsibility to lead by example. But I hope it continues to grow. Because the more it grows, the more it means that the word is out there, that there are positions and options, like I've had in my career. I hope that that will garner more interest, not just from women, but anybody (who) wants to go to sea."

Q: What is it like to spend your career and life at sea?

A: "When you're on board the ship, you're in a bubble. So many things are within your control.

"It's the idea of going on a cruise, everyone has the same objective and that is to have a good time. Our crew is (aiming) to provide for their families. So everyone has this kind of positive attitude about a unique experience – which is your work experience.

"I've only sailed international ships, which means, you know, an international crew. And I love that because it's like having the entire world under one roof."

Q: What is the path like from apprentice officer to captain?

A:  "So, from apprentice officer to third officer, then it's second officer, first officer deck, first officer navigation. first officer safety, chief officer safety, staff captain, and then captain."

"I always say that to get to a captain's position, it's a marathon, it's not a sprint. And you want it to be a marathon because you don't want to fast track. Because every day you gain more experience with a situation maybe you haven't been in before."

Q: Do you have any advice for people looking to start a career in the cruise industry?

A: "If your goal and your dream job isn't the one that's available at the moment, (get) your foot in the door.

"And if you have the right attitude, that's going to take you very far."

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Meet captain kate mccue, the first american woman to ‘drive’ a mega-ship.

By Fran Golden

March 01, 2022

In March 2020, in honor of International Women’s Day, the Celebrity Edge cruise ship set sail on a groundbreaking voyage. Not only was an all-female crew staffing the bridge for the first time, but at the helm was Captain Kate McCue, the first American woman to command a megaship.

Now McCue is at the helm of the newest and largest ship in Celebrity's fleet, The Beyond, which makes its debut in April 2022. If the past is an indication, she will captain the 3,258-passenger ship with her signature style, wearing Louboutin shoes and accompanied by a hairless cat named Bug Naked who is dressed in a uniform and pushed around the ship in a stroller. The captain has also been known to don a mermaid tail to swim in the warm waters of the Caribbean.

In this interview, she talks about her career and reveals the story behind the mermaid's tail. 

Kate McCue at the helm of the Celebrity Edge . Photo courtesy Kate McCue

What does a captain do? Do you drive the ship?

Yes, the captain does drive. I am the CEO of the ship. I have an executive committee made up of staff captain (the second in command), chief engineer, hotel director, and human resources manager, and they handle their respective departments. I have overall command of the ship. It’s all my responsibility.

Why did you pursue a career at sea?

I went on a cruise with my family when I was 12 years old. It was a four-day sailing to the Bahamas and I spent the entire time with the cruise staff and had a blast. I said to my dad, “I am going to work as a cruise director when I grow up.” And he said, “You can do that, or you can drive the thing.”

When I went to college, he reminded me of that conversation. He guided me toward the California Maritime Academy. The thing is, he had applied there when he came out of the Peace Corps, but they told him he was too old. So, I am living the dream now for both of us.

How did you work your way up?

It is definitely a marathon, not a sprint. It was 19 years from the time I graduated and started sailing on Disney Cruise Line as a third officer [to the day I became a captain]. I moved to Royal Caribbean International, coming in as a second officer, and worked my way up.

In 2015, I was sailing with my husband as a guest on the Quantum of the Seas , where he was chief engineer, and I got a call from Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, president and CEO of Celebrity Cruises, asking if I would come over to that sister company as captain. I said, “Heck, yes.”

McCue’s career was inspired by her first cruise when she was a child. Photo courtesy Kate McCue

You have almost 3 million followers on TikTok (@captainkatemccue) and more than 228,000 on Instagram. Why is it important to have a social media presence?

I want to be able to show a behind-the-scenes view of how things really are on a cruise ship. Also, when I was promoted to captain in 2015, I did not anticipate the external spotlight of being a female in that role, and it did become quite a bit to handle. I use my platform to answer questions and normalize having a woman in this position. I believe the more open we are about it, the easier it is going to be for women coming up.

Do you look forward to the day when you are not referred to as the female captain?

You better believe it. I would just love to be the captain. My name tag only says “Captain.” Some people still tend to call me Kate. I worked hard for the captain title. I want to be called captain on the ship. Male captains are always addressed as captain.

When you’re not on the ship, you live in landlocked Las Vegas. Why Vegas?

Because my parents live there. My dad was working at Area 51 [a highly classified Air Force facility in Nevada]. I don’t know what he was doing—he can’t say. We stayed with my parents when we got off ships. My parents finally said, “We love you, but for the love of Pete, go buy your own house.” So we moved about 300 steps away from them.

Does your husband sail with you?

He could, prior to the pandemic. He loves coming onboard. He’s a bit of a drama queen, though. He’ll walk around and ask people, “Do you know who I am?” And when they say no, he says, “I’m the captain’s wife.” He thinks it’s really cute to say that, which it is.

Having achieved captain, what are your future career aspirations?

I would love to build a ship, to take it from the time the keel is laid until she is put into service. That will be my equivalent of having a child. I would love if my husband was part of it, so we could build it together. On top of that, I’d like to be the ship’s godmother. I don’t think any time in history has the captain been the godmother/mermaid.

What’s with the mermaid tail?

Bonaire is my favorite Caribbean island because it is so untouched. Swimming in Bonaire is like putting your face in a fish tank. It’s just phenomenal. The mermaid tail makes it more fun, being able to swim around and feel like you belong in the ocean. And it’s easy to swim with because it’s a mono-tail that floats. It’s better than flippers.

How do you view the future of cruising post-COVID?

Whenever something tragic happens in the world, it changes the way that we operate, but I think it makes us safer. Our crew members have jumped onto new health procedures and protocols and have a willingness to do whatever it takes to bring our guests back onboard.

I personally like wearing a mask because I only have to buy half the makeup I used to.

When you think about your future vacation options, with cruising you have a controlled environment. I have full confidence that it’s going to be the safest place that you could vacation.

What are you most looking forward to post-pandemic?

Seeing our guests walk back up the gangway. And we’ll be at the top of it with pots and pans and anything we can make noise with to welcome them back on. And I have a feeling that it’s going to come this year. But I am also confident that it’s not going to be premature, that we’re going to do it right, when it’s time.

Fran Golden is an award-winning travel writer who has sailed on more than 150 cruises. In addition to writing for leading travel publications, Golden is the author of more than 20 travel books, including her latest,  100 Things to Do in Alaska Before You Die  (Reedy Press, March 2021). She lives in landlocked Cleveland with her travel writer husband, David Molyneaux.

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Please Call Her Captain

Capt. Kate McCue became the first American woman to captain a cruise ship in 2015. She will soon be at the helm of the Celebrity Edge.

By Tariro Mzezewa

“This is Captain Kate, but you can call me Captain because it took me 19 years to earn this title.”

Those are typically the first words that passengers hear booming over the speakers when they are aboard any cruise ship helmed by Capt. Kate McCue. The announcement continues, like the woman who makes it, friendly and lighthearted, but also sharp and direct.

“People don’t have a tendency to call men captains by their first name,” Captain McCue said on a recent phone call from her home in Las Vegas.

Captain McCue became the first American woman to captain a cruise ship in 2015, and commands the Celebrity Equinox — a 122,000-ton, 1041-foot ship in the Celebrity Cruises fleet. Starting in September she will be at the helm of the Celebrity Edge , a billion-dollar ship that was designed by women and overseen by Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Celebrity Cruises ’ chief executive.

What sparked your interest in sailing?

My interest in sailing started when I was 12. I went on a four-day cruise with my parents and brother over Thanksgiving. When we got back, I told my dad that I was going to work on cruise ships. I wanted to be the cruise director. My dad said I could be a cruise director or a captain or whatever I wanted.

Do you have to join the Navy to become a captain?

It depends on the country you come from. Being American, I could have gone through an academy, which is what I did, or I could have started sailing without a license and then put in the time at sea and taken the exams when I could. The academy was a lot more organized and structured with schooling and exams as part of the curriculum. I also could have gone the military route and joined the Navy.

Can you walk me through the process of how you became a captain?

As a cadet I worked on banana boats, taking boats between California and Ecuador. I was unhappy doing [this] because I knew I wanted to be on a cruise ship. I applied to every cruise ship and didn’t hear back from anyone. I ended up applying to Disney as a bartender and was too qualified for that, probably because I had never been a bartender before, so they passed my C.V. along and I was hired as a third mate on a Disney cruise. That was great, but Disney only had two ships and not much room for growth. From 2003 to 2015 I worked my way up, from the entry level position of second officer, progressing through first officer deck, first officer navigation, first officer safety, chief officer safety and staff captain.

What challenges did you encounter on the path to getting where you are now?

I don’t have war stories. I know that’s not the case for everyone, but I’ve been really blessed in my career. I have only worked on international flagships where everyone is a minority of some sort. Most of us have a different religion, sexual orientation, nationality. When I was promoted I never got negative judgment from the crew, and I think the secret is that I was always surrounded by diversity.

Is being a captain in 2018 and 2019 very different than it was, say a decade ago?

There used to be the wrath of the captain. Those captains were older, stricter men and they ran the ships very differently. I’m part of a generation called the new age captains. We’re in our late 30s and early 40s. There’s an interesting gap between the captains who are retiring and the younger people replacing them. I love my job so much I’m not going anywhere for another 40 years, God willing.

Why did you want to be involved with the Celebrity Edge?

I wanted to be part of Edge because since joining Celebrity Cruises in 2015, I’d heard about this incredible ship that will change the way we see cruising and evolve the industry. I love change and wanted to be part of a something that was bringing such innovation and a new level to the cruising industry. Everything about this ship is revolutionary. It is the first ship to be designed using a 3-D virtual-reality lab.

Is there a big wheel on the ship like you see in the movies?

The “Christopher Columbus” dial is no longer. People expect to see that, but on new ships what you see is a wheel smaller than the wheel in your car. On one ship we brought the big wheel from a show and would have people and have them steer. It was a fantastic prop.

Does your cat, Bug Naked, come aboard?

Bug Naked comes when I’m the captain, not when I’m a guest on a trip. She’s got her routine on the ship and I’ve got mine. The guests love having her.

This interview took place in December, following the Edge’s first trip with passengers. It has been condensed and edited.

We have a new 52 Places traveler! Follow Sebastian Modak on Instagram , and discover more Travel coverage by following us on Twitter and Facebook . And if you sign up for our Travel Dispatch newsletter, each week you’ll receive tips on traveling smarter, stories on hot destinations and access to photos from all over the world.

Tariro Mzezewa is a travel reporter at The New York Times.  More about Tariro Mzezewa

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Watch CBS News

Kate McCue makes waves and history for women at sea

September 21, 2015 / 7:06 AM EDT / CBS News

A 91,000 ton vessel set sail yesterday afternoon for a typical cruise to New England and Canada. But what wasn't typical was who was in command, reports CBS News's travel editor, Peter Greenberg.

Kate McCue is at the helm of the Celebrity Summit, with more than 2,000 passengers and a crew of almost 1,000. She is the first American woman to do so.

"Everyone has a stereotypical idea of a captain and I'm missing some pounds. I don't have entirely gray hair. I don't have a beard or a parrot but I think when the guests meet me they're pleasantly surprised," said Kate McCue.

The 37-year-old began at 3:30 in the morning with a non-stop series of inspections and checklists, including making sure the cabins were ready, the galley was fired up, and most importantly, ensuring a smooth and safe voyage for her guests.

McCue's dream to command her own vessel began at the age of 12 when she took her first family cruise to the Bahamas. She said when she told her dad that she wanted to be a cruise director, he gave her the response that would change her life.

"He said, 'You can do anything you want in the world, including drive this thing,'" she said.

She started as a cadet at the California Maritime Academy in 1996 when men at the school outnumbered women 15 to one. Nineteen years and 10 ships later, she is now a maritime master in charge of her own ship.

When McCue first learned that she had been certified to become captain, she broke the news to her father first.

"I asked for special permission to tell my dad on Father's day...and when he finished the letter he looked up at me and then he looked back down at me," she said. "Then he said, 'Captain.' Tears were streaming down his face."

Captaining cruise ships still remains a profession dominated by men. But McCue's boss, the first female chief executive of Celebrity Cruises, said she hopes McCue's example would "makes girls and women raise their hands and say, 'yeah, I think I'd like to do this too.'"

"I think this is the greatest job in the world...traveling, meeting all these people, getting paid for it. It's amazing," said McCue. "And being the boss."

Despite making history, McCue is following at least one maritime tradition of ship captains before her.

"Well every sailor has to have a tattoo, right? So this is mine," she said, revealing hers. "This is my anchoring to keep me grounded. And then I have my compass rose, my ship's wheel, see where I'm going."

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Meet Kate McCue: The First American Female Captain Of A Mega Cruise Ship

What an inspiring woman!

• Kate Emswiler
• December 1, 2020 | Last updated on 03/10/2021

Even out on the open sea, Kate McCue has been able to smash a glass ceiling. The hardworking seafarer was named the captain of the Celebrity Summit, a 2,158-passenger cruise ship, in 2015. The new role meant that McCue was the first American woman (and fifth woman overall) to be captain of a mega cruise ship.

Now, McCue is captain of an even larger boat, the 2,918-passenger Celebrity Edge , which is a mega cruise ship with a gross tonnage of almost 131,000.

And this cruise ship captain adores her job.

“The best part about my job is there is no such thing as an average day,” McCue told Insider , who included her in their list of 25 Luminaries in 2020 — women who are “pushing the boundaries.” “Whether it’s people that you have onboard, the places that you are in, or even the weather , everything changes, so you’re not ever going to have the same day twice, which is really cool.”

Here she is enjoying her job in a 2016 photo tweeted by the Celebrity Cruises Twitter account:

Follow Captain Kate McCue on Instagram for more amazing shots like this. https://t.co/TANvnq99jc #CelebritySummit pic.twitter.com/lzd6jbbdbV — Celebrity Cruises (@CelebrityCruise) April 22, 2016

McCue herself is active on social media — including Instagram , YouTube and TikTok — where she hopes to inspire more young women to become mariners. Women who have maritime careers are still a rarity; in fact, only 2% of the world’s mariners are female.

“I think you have to see it to be it,” McCue told Insider. “I’m really focusing on putting the message out there of what the job is, what the opportunities are and how you can get there.” According to McCue, many commenters on social media remark that they didn’t even know this was a career option.

Her TikTok videos are often informative, upbeat and humorous, like this one that includes a little tidbit about modern shipboard radio stations … followed by a special appearance by McCue’s hairless cat, Bug.

@captainkatemccue Sometimes you get a Bug in the system. #fyp #cruise #ship #radio ♬ Smooth Operator – Rina Johnson

Perhaps one of her greatest TikTok videos, however, was an epic takedown of a troll who wondered how McCue could possibly be a cruise ship captain if she’s “only a woman.” Check out McCue’s smart retort on TikTok:

@captainkatemccue Reply to @seamus272 #yourewelcome #fyp #foryou #captain ♬ original sound – captainkatemccue

And recently, McCue posted a video about the clever way she and other female crew members have improved the unisex bathroom situation for the women who work on board.

@captainkatemccue Just go with the flow #cruiseship #bridge #bathroom #hack ♬ Waterdrop – Clutch

She also recently posted a video in which a guest on the cruise ship mistakes McCue for “the captain’s wife” — an occurrence that McCue says happens a lot .

The sea captain believes her role on the ship is similar to that of a CEO. All of the ship’s department heads — including a hotel director, a chief engineer, an HR manager and more — report directly to her. In addition to her captain duties, she spends her days meeting with these staff members, leading inspections of the ship and participating in events with guests and crew.

McCue spends a lot of time on her ship, but she would spend even more time at work if she could.

“I would prefer five months on to two weeks off,” she told Insider of her schedule, which typically calls for three months on board followed by three months off. “Everything’s better on the ship.”

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Captain Kate McCue to Take Helm of Celebrity Beyond

• October 14, 2021

Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo has announced that Captain Kate McCue, the first American female cruise ship captain, will take the helm of the cruise line’s new ship, the Celebrity Beyond.

According to a press release, the captain will “usher in a new era for the new-luxury brand,” sailing a ship brought to life by British designer Kelly Hoppen, American designer Nate Berkus, 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 McCue, the seed to be a captain was planted following a cruise she took with her family as a 12-year-old. 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 then, McCue 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, the Celebrity Summit. She moved to the Celebrity Equinox before being appointed to helm the Celebrity Edge in September 2019.

On March 8, 2020, McCue further cemented her place in the history books when she captained the sailing on the Celebrity Edge that comprised a cruise ship’s first-ever all-female bridge and officer team. She also led the Celebrity fleet back into operation when, on June 26, 2021, the 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 becoming a captain, McCue has inspired many people “from all walks of life to follow their dreams,” Celebrity wrote in a press release. 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 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 are only matched by her forward-thinking to move the industry beyond what it is now and see what it should be.”

The 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 said. The ship’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. 

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Head Turners: Captain Kate McCue Dreams Big

The pioneering cruise ship captain talks to Shondaland about how she’s charting a new course in the industry.

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After taking her first family cruise at age 12, Kate McCue told her parents she’d found her life’s ambition: to become a cruise director. Her dad, however, had another suggestion.

“He said, ‘Well, you can do anything you want in the world, including drive the thing,’ and that is where the seed was planted,” says Captain Kate McCue, the first American woman to helm a mega-ton cruise ship. Today, she commands the bridge of the 140,600-ton, 3,260-passenger Celebrity Beyond in her own way, standing tall in Louboutin heels and accompanied by a hairless cat named Bug Naked.

McCue was one of eight women in her graduating class of more than 100 students at the California State University Maritime Academy. As a practical strategy, she earned both a third-mate license and a business administration degree as a backup in case she ever decided to get a job on land. “But what I found is, as a captain, having a business administration degree comes in very handy,” McCue says, “because you are running basically your own business with a $1.3 billion ship.”

After working her way up the ranks, McCue was promoted to captain at age 37, joining Celebrity Cruises at the invitation of Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, the line’s first female president and CEO. “Captain Kate,” as she’s now known to her 3.7 million social media followers, has matured into an industry leader who’s not afraid to be her authentic self.

During a call aboard the Celebrity Beyond in the Dominican Republic, McCue spoke with Shondaland about defying tradition, bringing more women onto the bridge, and why she never travels without a mermaid tail.

LAURA BEAUSIRE: It took you 19 years to become a captain. Did people try to discourage you along the way?

CAPTAIN KATE McCUE: I always felt at California Maritime Academy that I was protected [because] people treated me like their little sister, or the underclassmen would treat me like the mom. I never had any issues at school. When [I started] working, I only sailed international cruise ships.

The thing about international ships is you have so much diversity represented — whether it’s race, religion, cultural background, sexual orientation, gender, it doesn’t matter. We have 77 different nationalities on board this ship alone in our crew. I find on cruise ships, specifically international cruise ships, we celebrate our differences; we don’t pick on them. And the secret to my success is that I grew up in companies that supported that idea of diversity.

LB: Do you feel the need to do things the usual way?

KM: If it’s “the way we’ve always done things,” that’s when I start to buck the tradition, and that was anything from uniforms to leadership styles. I’m at a company that is so progressive and really supports doing things in a modern way and bringing new perspectives. That’s great because it trickles down and gives people the independence and also the confidence to do new things.

If you look at the traditional role of a captain, there’s this idea of a tyrannical figure. And those times are long gone. Now, most importantly, you need to be accessible, a good listener and leader. Period.

LB: What response do you get from passengers when they learn that the captain is a woman?

KM : When our guests join the ship on embarkation day — before they even see me, they’ll hear me — and the very first thing I say is “My name is Captain Kate. You can call me captain because it took me 19 years to earn the title.” And the reason that I do that is because there’s almost this strange familiarity — and I’m not sure if it’s because it’s a woman in this position or because of social media — but people like to call me just Kate, and they would never call a male captain by his first name only.

We set the standard, and then they know that there’s a woman in charge. Our guests are very supportive. But at the same time, I really look forward to the day that I’m not a female captain, that I’m just a captain. That is a day that I will celebrate more than the day that I was promoted.

LB: What changes do you see in the cruise industry?

KM: We’ve seen the growth from 4 percent women on the bridges when I joined in 2015 to over 32 percent on every ship in our fleet today. No other company can even come close to that, and it does put quite a bit of pressure on other companies to step up and do the right thing.

Our numbers speak to the opportunities that are there. And it’s not just women in these roles; we’ve been very conscious about hiring from countries that weren’t given opportunities. Quite a few in Africa that weren’t on cruise ships before, including our first officer, who is joining the day after tomorrow. She is the first woman from Kenya to ever get her master license.

LB: Do you have any advice for younger women pursuing a career like yours?

KM: I always say give anything a try. You don’t know if you’re going to love it or hate it, but there’s no harm in trying. And when you do try, bring your authentic self because you’re going to bring something special that nobody else has brought to that position. Be patient, be humble, and be kind because when you are, people will want to help you succeed. And they will support you in ways that maybe you hadn’t had before, and they’ll help you grow.

LB: You’ve said you always travel with three things. What are they?

KM: That’s the naked cat, the Louboutins, and the mermaid tail. When I became a captain, I figured out pretty quickly that it can be lonely because you are theoretically the CEO on board the ship, and you live, work, eat, sleep under the same roof as the people that you work with.

Because my husband works on ships as well, he can’t sail with me all the time. And I had been scrolling through Instagram, and I came across hairless cats, sphinx cats specifically. I became obsessed, and I thought I would just love to have a snuggle bug on board. I got her when she was 3 months old, and she’s been sailing now over six and a half years. She has her own Instagram and TikTok following. She’s very social media savvy for not having opposable thumbs. She has 94 outfits, and I’ve only bought two of them. The guests love to bring outfits for Bug.

The mermaid tail just gives me a reason to go out in port and experience the places that we go. My favorite place to be is under the water, so if I can go free diving, or throw the tail on and go swimming, that’s my jam.

When I was promoted to captain — most captains will buy something to celebrate — for me, it was a pair of Louboutins. The pair that I wear today is the same pair that I rocked seven years ago. It was my way — I guess, unintentionally — of saying, “I am a woman in this position, and I’ve got a little something going on.” But it has set a [new] standard. [When] women on my bridge [are] promoted, [they] celebrate by buying a pair of Louboutins. It’s become our way of saying, “This is us stepping up, and we’re doing it in style.”

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Laura Beausire is a Colorado-based writer and photographer who has contributed to Condé Nast Traveler , Wine Enthusiast , Hemispheres , Sierra , Robb Report , The Denver Post , and TravelAge West .

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Why There are More Female Cruise Ship Captains Than Ever

By Cynthia Drescher

Kate McCue was walking along a beach on the Caribbean island of St. Maarten last June when an attendant asked if she was heading back to one of the cruise ships docked there for the day. Wearing a pair of mirrored aviator sunglasses and a sundress over a swimsuit, McCue certainly looked the part of the relaxed vacationer. She replied, however, that she worked onboard, then asked the attendant to guess her role on the ship. “I think you’re the captain’s wife, but if you’re not, then I think you’re the cruise director’s wife,” he said. McCue's reply—"What do you think if I tell you I’m the captain?”—and the man’s shocked but enthusiastic reaction, was posted on her Instagram account , and the short exchange has racked up more than 16,000 views and a deluge of supportive comments from viewers. Some even vow to only cruise on whatever ship she’s captaining (currently the Celebrity Equinox ).

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McCue may be the first American woman to captain a cruise ship, an honor she earned in 2015, but her story is emblematic of a paradigm shift in the cruise industry, where, for the first time, more women are taking the helm. Women now constitute between 18 and 20 percent of the cruise industry workforce, and five to 22 percent of cruise ship officers are women, depending on the line. Compare this to the global airline pilot industry’s five percent female statistic, and it’s clear that cruising is making waves (pun intended).

Not that progress has been easy, of course. Having a woman on a ship’s bridge was once considered a major no-no, and centuries of folklore painted women as sirens, mermaids, or demons who distracted crew and angered the sea gods into stirring up stormy weather. During the 19th century, the only female presence found on many ships would have been the carved wooden figurehead of an open-eyed, bare-breasted woman affixed to its bow—a totem the sailors believed would bring navigational luck while shaming the seas into calm weather. Ship officers, meanwhile, traditionally came from countries like Greece, Italy, England, and Norway—cradles of seagoing tradition and home to a plethora of professional maritime academies, many of which did not admit women until the last quarter-century.

But nautical superstitions die hard. The growing availability to all of a professional maritime education, combined with seemingly common sense developments like sexual harassment prevention training and making marine workwear available for women at sea, opened the way to shipboard leadership and, in the last decade, cruise lines have been enthusiastically promoting women to the top ranks.

The first woman appointed captain of a cruise ship was Karin Stahre-Janson of Sweden, who took command of Royal Caribbean’s Monarch of the Seas in 2007. Other lines that have added their first female captains include: Cunard (Inger Klein Thorhauge), P&O Cruises (Sarah Breton), Windstar (Belinda Bennett, the industry’s first black female captain), Sea Cloud Cruises (Kathryn Whittaker), AIDA (Nicole Langosch), and Silversea (Margrith Ettlin). Just this week, luxury line Regent Seven Seas Cruises announced that its newest ship, the Seven Seas Splendor , set to debut in 2020, will be the first brand new cruise ship to have a woman, Serena Melani, as its first master. (A ship’s master is the captain captain and the ultimate authority onboard, while a staff captain is the second-in-command and next to take a ship of their own.)

Lisa Lutoff-Perlo , president and CEO of Celebrity Cruises —and Kate McCue's boss—is a "first" herself. In 2014 she became the first woman to run a publicly traded cruise line, a position she’s held while developing initiatives to recruit more women to shipboard leadership roles. Celebrity now leads the industry, with women accounting for 22 percent of its bridge teams. The Celebrity fleet of 13 ships counts two female masters—McCue on the Celebrity Equinox, and Nathaly Albán, the first Ecuadorian cruise ship captain, on the Celebrity Xploration —and two female staff captains, Wendy Williams and Maria Gotor, as well as many more at other officer levels.

Yet another industry first came when Lutoff-Perlo had a chance meeting with a female cadet from Ghana’s Regional Maritime University. Learning that women enrolled at the institution have no career path following graduation other than turning around to assist or teach at the university, Lutoff-Perlo helped forge a partnership with the school to create a pipeline for female maritime professionals from Africa, and in 2017 RMU Cadet and Cameroonian Nicholine Tifuh Azirh became the first West African woman to work on the bridge of a cruise ship. All this trailblazing was also key in Celebrity’s convincing Malala Yousafzai, the female education activist and Nobel laureate, to christen and be godmother of the line’s newest ship, Celebrity Edge , in December 2018.

"I’m so excited to share the news of our partnership with RMU and to welcome Nicholine [Tifuh Azirh] onboard,” says Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, of Celebrity Cruises. “Nicholine isn’t just a new-hire, she symbolizes hope for women around the world who dream of working in a male-dominated industry.”

That said, no one goes straight from the maritime academy classroom to the dress whites and formal nights of a cruise ship career. Ally Cedeno, a chief mate of unlimited tonnage vessels and an offshore dynamic positioning operator, founded the Women Offshore organization to foster and support female interest in maritime professions. She tells Traveler that the organization's mission is to offer “virtual mentorships,” describing them as “a free resource for any woman, regardless of what body of water she works in.” Cedeno believes now is (finally) the time for women to rule the waves. “There are shifts to not only hire more women, but also retain a female workforce, effectively opening opportunities for women to pursue leadership roles," she says. "Addressing the gender gap has gone beyond recruitment practices to focus on maternity leave, availability of technical uniforms, mentoring, and harassment prevention guidelines.”

Laura Walsh

Alex Erdekian

Charlie Hobbs

Seeking out mentorships is also the advice of Uniworld River Cruises CEO Ellen Bettridge, whose line recently shook up the staid river cruising industry with initiatives to welcome LGBTQ+ couples and families as well as millennials. “Cruising is one of hospitality’s great innovators,” she says. “I do believe that women have a special understanding of the power that lies in making connections, and so I encourage young women to find an experienced person who can help them navigate their careers. And when you make it, be that person for someone else .”

The numbers of women on cruise ship bridges is only expected to grow, especially with newbie cruise line Virgin Voyages actively recruiting women to the bridge of their first ship, Scarlet Lady , due to begin sailing in 2020. Virgin has formed a “Scarlet Squad” with the explicit intent of “growing leadership roles for women in marine, technical, and hotel management positions onboard.” Dee Cooper, senior vice president of design for Virgin Voyages, tells Traveler that their shoreside team is 60 percent female, and they have set a goal for their shipboard crew to be at least 50 percent female. "We need to rebalance the field," she said at a recent press conference in New York City , when Virgin Voyages announced its sailings were open for booking . "And we're focusing our attention on recruitment and mentoring to do it."

A cruise ship may be a vacation factory for its guests, but it's also a workplace for the hundreds or thousands of crew onboard. Gender diversity is as critical to a ship as it is to any enterprise, encouraging teamwork and creativity while bringing a range of perspectives for better, more informed, and even faster decision making. It’s also just good business sense. Women make the lion’s share of decisions and bookings in the $7.6 billion dollar travel and tourism industry, so having women at all levels means better representing and relating to customers. And with 2019 set to be the biggest year ever for new cruise ships— 24 deliveries will bring another 42,488 beds to the seas—there's never been more opportunity in the industry, not to mention improved chances that the woman on the beach lounger next to you is your captain.

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Celebrity Cruises Has 2 New Co-captains for Its Latest Ship — and They’re Brothers

“Captain Dimitrios and Captain Tasos are our star-powered siblings, a maritime dream team."

Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Next winter, Celebrity Cruises will sail its newest ship, the Celebrity Ascent, and in charge will be two unique co-captains who are also brothers.

In what the cruise line is calling an industry first, the brothers, Dimitrios and Tasos Kafetzis, will each take the helm of the 3,260-passenger ship when it sails, according to Celebrity . The brothers, from Greece, have both been sailing with Celebrity for decades with younger brother, Tasos, following in his older brother's footsteps.

“Captain Dimitrios and Captain Tasos are our star-powered siblings, a maritime dream team. They have given so much to the Celebrity family over the years that we are like a second family,” Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo said in a releas. “Seeing their emotional reaction to this appointment and understanding what it means to share this pinnacle of their career together was something I didn’t expect and will never forget.”

Each of the brothers will alternate time on the new ship with a three months on-and-off rotation, according to the company. 

“Receiving this distinction with my brother and as part of the Celebrity Cruises family is an incredible honor for me and an emotional one, too,” Tasos said in the statement. “Together, my brother and I share a love of the ocean, and a love for this company and our guests. To share a special moment together like this is something I could have only dreamed of. I can’t wait to sail away on this incredible ship with our guests onboard and my brother in my heart.”

The ship itself will feature infinity-edge plunge pools, a Magic Carpet (or floating platform that serves as a cantilevered bar), and more than 30 food and beverage options.

This isn’t the first time Celebrity has made history with its choice of captain. In 2015, Celebrity Cruises Captain Kate McCue became the first American female captain on a megacruise ship . And in 2007, Captain Karin Stahre-Janson from Sweden became the first female cruise ship captain in the world, also with Celebrity.

What are cruise ship pilots, and what do they do?

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If you’ve sailed on a cruise ship of any size, you’ve probably seen pilot boats pull alongside the vessel, and you might have watched curiously as one or two people climbed onto the ship via a rope ladder. Have you ever wondered who these people are and what they do once they’re on board?

They are marine or ship pilots, experts on the waterways and ports you are entering or leaving. They come aboard to safely guide your cruise ship into and out of the harbor.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter .

To learn more, TPG chatted with two experts in the industry. Clayton L. “Clay” Diamond is the executive director-general counsel of the American Pilots’ Association, whose pilots are responsible for handling over 90% of the larger ocean vessels (cruise ships and cargo vessels) in international waters. We also spoke with Edouard Petitson, Norwegian Cruise Line’s port captain director. Based at Norwegian’s Miami headquarters, Petitson is responsible for many port-related matters, including pilotage.

Diamond and Petitson gave us the inside scoop on what happens once a cruise ship pilot is on board and how they interact with the captain and crew to help them safely navigate the ship into or out of port.

What does a cruise ship pilot do?

In ports in the U.S. and around the world, a pilot boards the ship 10 to 20 miles offshore via a pilot boat, which can be anywhere from 65 to 100 feet long. While on board, the pilot gives orders to the captain or helmsman regarding the best way to steer the ship to navigate the offshore channels and waterways until the cruise ship docks.

Marine pilots also pilot vessels from the dock to a “pilot boarding area,” where they transfer to the pilot boat. The pilotage can be as short as two to three hours or as long as eight to 10 hours.

Alaska has a different situation since cruise ships sail so close to the shoreline and icebergs during nearly all their transit. Vessels sailing in these waters will typically be under pilotage the entire time by using two pilots. This type of piloting arrangement is typical in places like Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve .

What qualifies a pilot over the ship’s captain to direct a ship into port?

“Marine pilots are the most highly trained mariners in the world,” says Diamond.

After many years of working in the maritime industry as a pilot apprentice and training in the waterways where they work, they are experts in their ports. Ship pilots must be able to chart the pilotage ground from memory, including the channel, landmarks, docks, buoys and any hazards to navigation.

“A pilot also has comprehensive knowledge of the local environments such as the hydrographic, wind and currents and tidal conditions,” Petitson adds.

Ship captains who sail into different ports around the world do not have the comprehensive knowledge and training that marine pilots do in one specific port. Essentially, marine pilots are maritime specialists in their port of expertise.

Related: How is cruise ship speed measured, and how fast is a knot in miles per hour?

Does every port have a pilot?

There are only a handful of ports in the world where pilotage isn’t mandatory. In Miami and all U.S. ports, pilotage is compulsory and provided by local pilots for all inbound and outbound ships.

A state regulatory board oversees the number of pilots needed in each port. The board determines the number based on the port’s shipping and cruise traffic. The goal is to have enough pilots working to avoid delays.

What happens in foreign ports? Do all pilots have to speak English?

All pilots around the world are required to speak English.

“In certain destinations where English is not the primary language,” Petitson explains, “the pilot can communicate in their native language with other ships in the channel, traffic control and other pilots to eliminate possible misunderstanding, especially in an emergency situation.”

Related: Boat vs. ship: What’s the difference? The annoying mistake some cruisers keep making

If the pilot and captain disagree, who has the final say?

The captain is always in charge of the vessel and the safety of the crew and passengers as the cruise ship is navigated into or out of port. If a disagreement arises, the captain will take over navigation until the situation is resolved.

Is the job dangerous?

If you’ve watched videos of pilots boarding ships by ladder, or have seen them jump from a moving ship to a pilot boat alongside, you’ve probably wondered how safe the process is.

Diamond tells us that the ladder has been deemed the safest way to board and disembark ships. The American Pilots’ Association focuses on safety and routinely works with the U.S. Coast Guard and the International Maritime Organization to improve and enhance the regulations for the ladders and pilot transfers. However, eight marine pilots have been killed since 2006.

Related: Are cruises safe? Here’s what you need to know about cruise ship security and safety

How do you become a cruise ship pilot?

Individuals interested in becoming a ship pilot, or a pilot candidate, typically attend the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York, or one of the six state maritime academies in the U.S. After completing the program, a pilot candidate will spend anywhere from eight to 14 years on ships to gain firsthand experience at sea.

Once they have earned their master’s credential, they can “master” a ship or become a captain. It’s usually during this time when a candidate enters a pilot apprenticeship program, which can take up to seven years to complete. Becoming fully licensed, where an individual can pilot the world’s largest ships, can take an additional four to five years.

Are there many female marine pilots?

No. The number of female pilots with an unlimited tonnage master’s credential is .01% overall. The number of female pilots in the APA is 4%-5%. Diamond tells us that the number is considerably better than what you’ll find in most other countries, but the APA would like it to be higher.

Bottom line

When you see that small pilot boat pull next to one of those giant cruise ships, you now know that the person coming on board to guide that ship safely into port has spent decades in education and training — and most of their career has been spent learning to expertly navigate one specific port. You can feel safer knowing that your captain can rely on a local expert to help guide the ship into or out of port.

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The 13 best solo cruises for 2024 (no supplement fare).

Set sail for a solo adventure at sea.

The Best Solo Cruises

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Relax by the pool, attend shows, dine with new friends and more on your next solo cruise.

Whether you're embarking on your first cruise alone or you've been on solo cruises before, single travelers will find more options than ever when it comes to cruising solo. Many cruise lines offer single staterooms with the same amenities as other cabins, at a price similar to what you'd pay with double occupancy fares. You'll also find special promotions where the single supplement fee is reduced or waived, making it more affordable to reserve a spacious stateroom or luxurious suite with even more amenities – including personalized butler service, an added perk of booking with many luxury lines .

If you're ready for a maritime adventure, an extended vacation or simply a quick getaway from home, these top cruise lines offer some of the best options for solo travelers on waterways around the world.

Lines with solo accommodations and waived fees

Norwegian cruise line.

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line

Launched in 2010, Norwegian Epic was the first cruise ship in the industry to feature studio accommodations for solo travelers. Norwegian Cruise Line offers this category on nine of the 19 ships in its fleet, including the newest ship, Norwegian Viva. These cabins, at an average size of 100 square feet, are designed and priced with the solo traveler in mind. They have no single supplements – and studio rooms on board Norwegian Bliss even boast virtual windows.

Guests of the studios get access to the private Studio Lounge. In this exclusive space, you can socialize with other solo travelers and enjoy complimentary refreshments. There are also singles meetups throughout the voyage and plenty of fun-filled onboard activities to mingle with like-minded cruisers. Solo travelers can check out all the fun for singles on Norwegian Viva this winter on a cruise to the Caribbean , or in spring 2024 as the ship sets sail for the Mediterranean .

Book a Norwegian Cruise Line voyage on GoToSea, a service of U.S. News.

MSC Cruises

Courtesy of MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises offers interior and balcony solo cabins for single cruisers on its Meraviglia-class ships: the MSC Meraviglia, Bellissima, Grandiosa, Virtuosa and the newest vessel in the fleet, MSC Euribia. The second-newest ship, MSC World Europa, has 28 cabins – 10 Studio Interior and 18 Studio Ocean View staterooms – designed specifically for solo travelers. MSC World America, set to debut in 2025, will also feature the solo studio staterooms.

During voyages with MSC Cruises , single cruisers are invited to a complimentary, hosted cocktail party to mix and mingle with other solo travelers. The daily program is also an excellent source to discover additional activities, entertainment and opportunities to meet other cruisers. You'll have onboard special events like the themed 70s-inspired Flower Party and the White Party, where the ship is decked out in festive white decor and guests don their best white attire. In addition, there are various sports tournaments, or you can show off your culinary expertise during a MasterChef competition.

MSC's Caribbean and Bahamas cruises departing from Miami and New York City feature an overnight visit to Ocean Cay, the line's private island and marine reserve. While there, singles can participate in fun-filled evening activities like a Champagne Sunset Cruise or a glow paddleboarding excursion in the lagoon, then attend the lively Luna Libre Party and the lighthouse show.

Find an MSC Cruises itinerary on GoToSea.

Holland America Line

Michel Verdure | Courtesy of Holland America Line

Three of Holland America Line's newest ships each offer 12 solo cabins to accommodate single travelers: the Pinnacle-class Nieuw Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Konigsdam. These ocean view staterooms range in size from 127 to 172 square feet and feature the same amenities as the double occupancy cabins but with a double bed. The cruise line's Single Staterooms are priced for one person. If a guest chooses to book a different stateroom, single supplements for double occupancy cabins are as much as 100% over the standard fare, depending on the voyage and the cabin category.

Long committed to solo travelers, the line offers many activities where guests can meet other singles such as wine tastings, cocktail mixers, exercise classes, daily quizzes, sports challenges and more. If you're a solo traveler and a member of AARP, Holland America is now the exclusive cruise benefit provider to AARP's members. Solo cruisers will have access to an AARP member-only onboard credit that ranges from $50 to $200, depending on the itinerary and stateroom category.

For itineraries, Holland America's Alaska cruises and cruisetours are perfect for solo travelers, offering many opportunities to connect with fellow cruisers. Another favorite for singles is the line's fall voyages sailing from Boston to Québec City or Montreal.

Explore Holland America Line deals on GoToSea.

Royal Caribbean International

Michel Verdure | Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean International features studio staterooms on select ships that range in size from 101 to 199 square feet. These solo accommodations include interior rooms, virtual balcony staterooms and a super studio ocean view stateroom with a balcony. The cabins do not carry the single supplement fee singles encounter when booking other types of staterooms, making them an attractive option when traveling alone.

Once on board the ship, solo cruisers will have countless options to engage and socialize with other travelers. When it comes to dining with Royal Caribbean , make a reservation at the Japanese restaurant Teppanyaki for an entertaining meal with new friends, or join fellow foodies for the intimate Chef's Table experience (the dining venues vary by ship). Singles can also participate in onboard activities like trivia contests, drink seminars, escape rooms, dance classes and pool parties.

If you need more thrills to stay busy and to meet people, Royal Caribbean's ships feature world-class shows and entertainment alongside adrenaline-pumping rides and attractions. If you're sailing in the Caribbean, there are plenty of opportunities to meet and chat with other passengers at the line's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Compare Royal Caribbean International cruises on GoToSea.

Atlas Ocean Voyages

Luxury line Atlas Ocean Voyages offers single cruisers 183 square feet of beautifully appointed space in solo accommodations that come without single supplement fees. These ocean view staterooms feature a queen bed, a panoramic picture window, a private spa bathroom with a rain shower and body jets, a stocked minifridge replenished daily with personal favorites, and other luxurious amenities. Single guests can also book other stateroom or suite categories with single supplements starting at 50% of the double occupancy price.

The line's three intimate yacht-style cruise ships – World Navigator, World Traveller and the new World Voyager, whose inaugural season begins in Antarctica in November 2023 – are all-inclusive . Meals at all the dining venues, premium beverages and wines, gratuities, culturally immersive excursions, and more are included in the fare. With fewer than 200 guests on board, there's an atmosphere of conviviality on these ships – especially when exploring remote destinations with like-minded and adventurous travelers during expeditions in Antarctica and the Arctic.

Read: The Top Cruises on Small Ships

Celebrity Cruises

Tim Aylen | Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises' new Edge-class ships offer some of the best options for solo cruisers. The line's two newest vessels, Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Ascent (set to debut in late 2023), each boast 32 single staterooms with an Infinite Veranda. In addition, Celebrity Apex has 24 solo cabins, and Celebrity Edge features 16 staterooms for individual guests. These one-person accommodations offer a minimum of 131 square feet of space and the same upscale amenities you'll find in other category staterooms on their ships. Solo guests can look for special promotions where the single supplement is waived on select Celebrity voyages throughout the year.

Once on board the vessel, check out the daily program for activities conducive to meeting others – like wine tastings, cocktail-making classes and more. You'll also enjoy thrilling top-notch entertainment around the ship in The Theatre, The Club and Eden. A few popular cruises for singles are the line's Caribbean and Mexico itineraries on Celebrity Beyond.

Book a Celebrity Cruise on GoToSea.

Virgin Voyages

Courtesy of Virgin Voyages

The hip vibe on board the adults-only Virgin Voyages ships is ideal for solo cruisers looking to meet other travelers. Its superyacht-style ships – Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady – offer 40 interior cabins ranging in size from 105 to 177 square feet. There are also six Sea View staterooms with portholes boasting between 130 to 190 square feet of space. These Insider and Sea View cabins are designed and priced for single travelers, with amenities like high-tech mood lighting and roomy rain showers. The line also runs promotions where solo cruisers can book double occupancy staterooms without paying a single supplement.

Activities and festival-like entertainment around the ships foster fast friendships. Diners will enjoy the interactive experience at Gunbae, the lively Korean barbecue venue. The "grog walk" is a fun pub stroll where solo sailors can join fellow mates while sipping and snacking their way through all the signature bars. For even more fun, check out the evening shipwide events such as the themed Scarlet Party, which features live music and immersive experiences. The line also hosts meetups for singles throughout each voyage.

Read: The Top Adults-Only Cruises

Avalon Waterways

Courtesy of Avalon Waterways

Avalon Waterways' river and small-ship cruises traverse waterways around the world, including in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. The company waives the single supplement on a selection of staterooms, including its Panorama Suites, on select European and Asia departures. The company recommends booking early as the specially priced cabins do sell out. Solo travelers make up about 10% of the passengers on this river cruise line .

Avalon's fleet of Suite Ships operates in Europe and Southeast Asia and features cabins with a minimum of 172 square feet. About 80% of the staterooms are Panorama Suites, which have 200 feet of living space, beds with a view and the river cruise industry's only open-air balcony. With Avalon excursions, solo cruisers have opportunities to meet like-minded guests during immersive tours, cooking classes, wine tastings, yoga or fitness classes, biking or hiking trips, and more. Single guests can choose to dine at tables for just two people or ones that can accommodate up to eight passengers.

Read: Cruise Packing List: Essentials for Your Next Cruise

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AmaWaterways

Courtesy of AmaWaterways

Two single occupancy staterooms are available on four of AmaWaterways' river cruise ships: AmaDolce, AmaDante, AmaLyra and AmaCello. These accommodations do not have single supplement fees. Solo cruisers can also book staterooms with a 20% single supplement on select sailings in Europe and Southeast Asia. (Note that this pricing does not apply to certain stateroom categories and suites.)

With the friendly, small-ship atmosphere, solo cruisers will find it comfortable to socialize with other passengers and the crew. Onboard activities and immersive excursions also create opportunities for fostering friendships, especially among like-minded travelers. Excellent options for solo cruises include themed sailings centered around music and wine or the magical Christmas markets itineraries along the Danube, Rhone and Rhine rivers.

Explore AmaWaterways deals on GoToSea.

Lines with discounted supplement fares

Courtesy of Azamara

Azamara's special offers for solo travelers include reduced single supplements of 25% to 50% of the double occupancy rate on select sailings. The line's four midsized sister ships – carrying no more than 700 passengers – are mostly all-inclusive. Amenities included in the cruise fare include most meals; standard spirits, wines and beers; bottled water, soft drinks, and specialty teas and coffees; shuttle service in port; gratuities; and complimentary AzAmazing Evenings ashore or Destination Celebration experiences on the ship. Dining at the two specialty restaurants is an additional cost unless guests have accommodations in the Club World Owner's Suites, Club Ocean Suite or Club Continent Suite.

Single guests on Azamara cruises will find events during the sailing and venues around the ship where you can mix and mingle with other solo travelers and chat with the friendly crew. Intimate and culturally immersive excursions also create opportunities to meet passengers with similar interests. Azamara Onward, the latest ship, boasts the new Atlas Bar, a great spot to meet other travelers.

For itineraries, Azamara's signature "Country-Intensive Voyages" are a favorite of solo cruisers, including the 10- or 11-night Greece Intensive Voyage. For an extended sailing, check out the festive 12-night Carnival in Rio Voyage, which features a stop in Rio de Janeiro during the city's famed Carnival.

Compare Azamara cruises on GoToSea.

Cunard Line

Courtesy of Cunard Line

Cunard Line features dedicated solo staterooms on its three ships, priced at approximately 166% to 174% of the equivalent double occupancy cruise fare. Guests can choose between a spacious Britannia Inside or Britannia Oceanview cabin, or opt for a larger stateroom with a single supplement. For a little "me time" pampering while on board, solos will appreciate 24-hour room service, complimentary Penhaligon's toiletries and a chilled bottle of sparkling wine. Single guests will also be invited to get-togethers. You can either dine alone at venues around the ship such as the main dining room or choose to share a table with other passengers.

With an international mix of travelers, single cruisers will find many opportunities to meet and chat with others, especially during a Transatlantic Crossing. During the sailing, you'll find many enriching and relaxing activities that encourage socializing. According to Cunard , there's a sense of camaraderie and a passion around the voyage – and the unique travel experience of crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

Find a Cunard Line cruise on GoToSea.

Silversea Cruises

Courtesy of Silversea Cruises

Luxury line Silversea Cruises offers 25% single supplements on various voyages throughout the year, including expedition cruises to destinations like the Galápagos Islands , Antarctica and the Arctic, and Greenland. The line's all-inclusive fares include luxurious ocean view suites, gourmet dining, complimentary wines and spirits, gratuities, onboard enrichment and entertainment, shore excursions, and more. Solo travelers will even have personalized butler service to indulge their every whim.

The line's fleet of a dozen intimate ships, carrying no more than 728 guests, offers a clubby atmosphere perfect for meeting solo and like-minded travelers. Single guests will also have the opportunity to engage with other solo passengers during a welcome reception with Champagne at the beginning of each voyage. Popular itineraries for Silversea's single cruisers include its Transoceanic journeys, a bucket list trip for many cruisers .

Explore Silversea Cruises deals on GoToSea.

Courtesy of Seabourn Cruise Line

Seabourn has special offers throughout the year where solo cruisers can take advantage of reduced pricing equal to double occupancy fares or discounts on the single supplement starting at 25% above the double occupancy fares. These rates are available on select voyages, including expedition cruises. Frequent solo cruisers and members of the luxury line's Seabourn Club Diamond Elite will also find reduced single supplements on Diamond Elite Single Supplement Sailings. In addition, club members receive invitations to exclusive events, where they can meet and mingle with fellow cruisers. Solo passengers are also invited to sit with the ship's officers, crew and entertainers at dinner – and there are hosted get-togethers for single travelers.

Solo cruisers will enjoy beautifully designed oceanfront suites and all-inclusive amenities on board Seabourn 's intimate ships. These perks include world-class dining; complimentary premium wine and spirits; a spa and wellness program in partnership with Dr. Andrew Weil; included gratuities; and the line's enrichment series, Seabourn Conversations. Single cruisers looking for an extended holiday will enjoy longer voyages on the line's newest purpose-built expedition ship, Seabourn Pursuit.

Compare Seabourn cruises on GoToSea.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Gwen Pratesi has been an avid cruiser since her early 20s. She has visited destinations around the globe on nearly every type of ship built, including the newest megaships, luxury yachts, expedition vessels, traditional masted sailing ships and intimate river ships on the Mekong River. She used extensive research and experience as a solo cruiser to write this article. Pratesi covers the travel and culinary industries for major publications, including U.S. News & World Report.

You might also be interested in:

• The Top Party Cruises
• The Top Transatlantic Cruises
• The Top 3-Day Cruise Itineraries
• Solo Travel for Women: The Best Places and Tips
• The Best Cruise Insurance Plans

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