Captain Kate McCue will be first American woman to captain a ship at a major cruise line. She will be driving the 2100 pax Summit.
Her experience? How’s 15-years grinding it out as a “Master Mariner” with Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity’s parent company.
She’s 37 and hails from San Francisco.
The Captain is the head cheese – the one responsible for everything on the ship. As speakers, we work for the Cruise Director. I have never seen a female CD. Perhaps this will help change this.
Most Captains are crusty Scandinavian men. The only time you see them is at the “meet the captain” party. At 9 am the Captain on many ships gets on the speaker system and tells all passengers how it’s going, the weather, time to destination and other tidbits.
The Captain has a staff of about a dozen that actually turn the rudder. He – now she – sits in a comfy chair, ala Kirk on the Enterprise and gives orders. The only time he/she does not have control is when the local pilot gets on to steer the ship into the harbor.
I’m seeing more and more airlines with women pilots. It’s a bit hard to get used to. But hey, we have female fighter pilots and astronauts.
Go girl go!
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