Captain Kate McCue has announced she is leaving Celebrity Cruises after 22 years with the Royal Caribbean Group. She adds: ’Are my sailing days over? Absolutely not. I’ve got too much salt in my veins to leave the sea behind.’

In 2015, she became the first American woman to command a “mega” cruise ship when she took the helm of Celebrity Summit. Captain Kate went on to command Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Edge, and Celebrity Beyond.

McCue, first set her heart on the role at the age of 12.