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Kate McCue
Impact of the CSU
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Alumni
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Made in the CSU
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Maritime Academy
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Kate McCue
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Kate McCue
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Captain, Celebrity Summit, Celebrity Cruises
Cal Maritime
B.S. Business Administration (2000)
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McCue is the first-ever American female captain of a mega cruise ship, the Celebrity Summit, which accommodates 2,158 guests and 952 dedicated crew members.
At 11 years old, while enjoying her first cruise, she told her parents she wanted to be a cruise director when she grew up. Her father told her, “You could do that or you could do anything you want—including drive the thing.”
Her father reminded her of that conversation when she applied to college and encouraged her to apply to CSU Maritime Academy. At that time, the ratio of men to women was 15-to-one and there were just eight women in her graduating class.
McCue was promoted to captain by Celebrity Cruises’ first female president and CEO, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, who described McCue as “a dynamic and highly respected leader who will continue to pave the way for women in the maritime industry.”
She travels with a glass jar of marbles that belonged to her best friend’s late uncle. She honors his memory by hiding the marbles in many destinations around the world he would have enjoyed visiting.
More Maritime Academy Alumni
Notable CSU Alumni in
hospitality & recreation
Dean Biersch
San Francisco
Owner, Hopmonk Tavern
San Francisco State
B.A. International Relations (1984)
Bridget Bilinski
Pomona
Senior Advisor and Brand Strategist, Twin Bridges Hospitality Co-owner, Oceanus Inc.
Cal Poly Pomona
B.A. Hotel and Restaurant Management (1986)
Natalie Cilurzo
Sonoma
Co-owner and President, Russian River Brewing Company
Sonoma
B.S., Business Administration (1998)
Shawn DeWitt
San Bernardino
Founding Partner and Director of Brewing Operations, Coronado Brewing Company
CSU San Bernardino
B.S. Marketing (1993)
Michele Gendreau
Pomona
Director, Food and Beverage Experience Integration Disneyland Resort
Cal Poly Pomona
B.S. Hospitality Management (1983)
Mourad Lahlou
San Francisco
Chef/Owner
San Francisco State
BA, Economics (1993)
Linda A. Lang
San Diego
Chairman, President and CEO, Jack in the Box Inc.
San Diego State
Finance (1991)
hospitality & recreation
Maritime Academy
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