Four Seasons is getting into the cruising business, with the launch of Four Seasons Yachts. The first ship is expected to set sail within the next year, and it looks like it’s going to take luxury cruising to the next level, especially in terms of the amount of space dedicated to each guest.
We booked one of the first sailings, as we’re curious to check it out. I’ve been excited in anticipating the journey, but my enthusiasm just increased even more, following today’s announcement. First some background…
In this post:
Captain Kate McCue is a cruise ship legend
Let me be 100% clear — I don’t usually follow the cruising world, and I haven’t been on a cruise since I was a kid. That being said, I’ve long known about Kate McCue, who is probably the most famous cruise ship captain in the world.
For years, she has been a captain at Celebrity Cruises, and even an ambassador for the company. What makes her memorable is how how much of her job she shares on social media, and also how much she interacts with guests. Captain Kate just comes across as such a genuine and kind person, and that’s what makes her so likable. I know there are plenty of people who book a specific cruise in hopes of having her as a captain, and meeting her.
I love anyone who is passionate about whatever they do, and Captain Kate’s enthusiasm is infectious, and it’s one of the reasons I’ve known about her. She’s also an inspiration for so many young women and girls, since the job of ship captain has historically been pretty male dominated. It’s nice to have a role model where you can say “hey, I can do that too.” She’s a bit of a trailblazer, as she also become the first female, American cruise ship captain in the world.
For those not familiar with Captain Kate, below is a Peter Greenberg segment from several years back, featuring her.
Several weeks back, I saw the news that Captain Kate was leaving Celebrity for a new adventure. I was curious what was next for her, and now we know…
Captain Kate McCue moves to Four Seasons Yachts
Four Seasons has today announced that Kate McCue will be the captain of Four Seasons I, Four Seasons Yachts’ first ship. On her Instagram account, she posted a video, plus the following message:
I’m thrilled to join an amazing team, introducing a new category of luxury and excellence to our guests at sea. A new build vessel is one thing. A start-up with an incredible prototype vessel is a whole new opportunity to grow with an iconic brand like Four Seasons! It’s yacht like anything you’ve seen before!
Here’s some background on Captain Kate, via Four Seasons’ press release on this announcement:
Kate McCue has never cared much for boundaries. As a teenager growing up in San Francisco, she was enamoured by life at sea—so much so that after a family trip to The Bahamas, she told everyone she’d become a cruise director. Her father’s response changed everything: “You can do anything you want, including drive the thing.” That spark lit the path for a maritime career that would see her break records, cultivate fresh voices on the bridge, and eventually helm Four Seasons I as its inaugural Captain.
A graduate of the California Maritime Academy, Captain Kate gained her sea legs in roles spanning from cadet to deck officer before rising through the ranks. She then stepped into maritime history in 2015 when she became the first American woman to command a mega-ton cruise ship. But it’s her gift for leadership and her zest for guest engagement that truly define her. “Connecting with people—the crew, the guests, even the local communities we visit—that’s my favourite part,” she often says.
Following nearly a decade with Celebrity Cruises—where she captained the award-winning Celebrity Beyond and championed female representation on ship bridges—she arrives at Four Seasons Yachts with a vision shaped by decades of experience. Now entrusted with Four Seasons I, she presides over a meticulously curated one-to-one guest-to-staff environment designed to deliver intimate, one-of-a-kind voyages through the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and beyond.
Captain Kate’s approach blends technical mastery with genuine warmth. Whether charting a smooth course into a secluded port or orchestrating impromptu moments of magic for travellers on board, she harnesses the same creativity that made her the “Most Followed Mariner on Social Media.” She views her online platforms as more than a personal stage—rather a way to offer a real-time glimpse of life at sea, guided by the belief, “If you can ‘sea’ it, you can be it.”
As she sets sail with Four Seasons I, Captain Kate’s mission remains simple: to foster a culture where excellence and optimism thrive on every deck. From greeting early risers on the bridge at sunrise to hosting evening conversations about the day’s discoveries, she brings an unwavering commitment to ensuring that, under her watch, yachting transforms into the sort of experience dreams are built upon.
Bottom line
Four Seasons Yachts is setting sail within the next year, and the first ship will be under the command of Captain Kate McCue, probably the world’s most famous and likable cruise ship captain. Congrats to Captain Kate, and what a win for Four Seasons Yachts!
I am not sexist, but I hope she is happy to go toe to toe on the foredecks with pirates, as any male Captain would leading his men.
I just looked at their website and even a "basic" med cruise was $26k JUST for the suite.
Hard pass.
Taking nothing away from Capt. McCue, but Windstar Cruises has Capt. Belinda Bennet who we have sailed with a number of times. Capt. Bennet has a compelling personal story being from St. Helena Island. She also is a hands on leader interacting with guests on a daily basis.
Just want to say people who immediately think this is a “DEI” hire is just ignorant. Look this woman up, she is no less capable than others in her field, she didn’t need to pull a woman card to get this job. Four seasons is about hospitality, and if you follow her ig you’ll see they’re a great match. She doesn’t just drive a ship, she enjoys interacting with passengers and she’s famous for hosting trivia of her cat.
These ships are setting out to do something quite different at sea, they are proposing a Four Seasons on water. So that means you'll get breakfast, but otherwise NOTHING is included. So be prepared to walk off the ship with a bill in the thousands just for meals. Perhaps their clients won't care, but they are going to have to really deliver on the Four Seasons promise to make that work.
First port of call: The nearest iceberg.
That’s funny…I don’t remember titanic’s captain being a diversity hire. Or are cis white males incapable of making any mistakes in your myopic viewpoint?
Definitely DEI...
Where is your evidence? Have you actually served aboard a ship? I was a Coast Guard officer when women were new as crew at sea. Not only is it not DEI, women have had so many EXTRA obstacles that they have had to be BETTER than most men at most aspects of their jobs merely to keep the job. Your comment, without evidence or explanation, just falls flat.
You're a moron. Captain McCue has over 20 years experience on the water.
"Definitely DEI..." I'm going to give the benefit of the doubt and presume this is sarcasm, and not that you're another idiot who doesn't look at actual qualifications before making such statements (or even read the blog post on which you're commenting).
Never heard of her.
DEI
Everything is DEI if they don’t look you, isn’t it?
Captain Kate is the real deal. A rockstar.
She was a value add to Celebrity onboard and as an ambassador. We learned about Celebrity watching her pandemic videos and whether self initiated or with the backing of Royal Caribbean Group she knocked her social media out of the park. We sailed with her a year ago, and saw first hand her leadership and personal skills.
It's a loss for Celebrity and thousands more...
Captain Kate is the real deal. A rockstar.
She was a value add to Celebrity onboard and as an ambassador. We learned about Celebrity watching her pandemic videos and whether self initiated or with the backing of Royal Caribbean Group she knocked her social media out of the park. We sailed with her a year ago, and saw first hand her leadership and personal skills.
It's a loss for Celebrity and thousands more passengers a week that she departed. She probably accomplished all she could, but Royal should have done anything to try to keep her. (Btw, it's a pretty good suite experience for the price and with the amenities of a bigger ship on the newer ones).
Four Seasons is getting someone that is better known, and frankly more personable and skilled than probably any of their hotel managers. Hopefully she is utilized well, and the fit works. The other captains on Four Seasons will have a lot to do meet the bar set by Captain Kate presuming she's hired to do her thing (besides captaining the ship and crew). The passengers -- if -- they want to interact with an amazing person will have that opportunity.
Just wonder if Four Seasons customers want their ship and Captain to be a celebrity. And, for Captain Kate, she'll be on a ship with passengers that are arguably
(in their minds) more high flying and successful than she is.
It’s great (and sweet) that you’re supportive of your spouse’s Four Seasons booking business, but every time you do this, you stray away from the original purpose of this blog - points and miles. You have been doing more points hotel reviews and less non-point hotel reviews recently, so many of your readers appreciate it. Just a kind reminder here made in good spirit.
Wow - talk about passive-aggressive! Not all the readers are points whores and many appreciate reviews of luxury non-points properties. Please keep writing about all travel products Ben! I'm sure the vast majority of readers understand that just because your husband is a travel advisor doesn't mean your interest in reporting on luxury hotels and resorts is unseemly.
Celebrity party barge to a Four Seasons yacht? Nice upgrade, that's like going from a Greyhound bus to a Bentley.
On a separate note, are the Four Seasons yacht names finalized? Even I could have done better than "Four Seasons I"...
Dusty - perhaps you are mixing up Carnival and Celebrity. Much to the chagrin of some, a Celebrity cruise is far from a party barge.
I meant exactly what I said, apologies if that struck a nerve. Her prior command was a 3200+ pax 141k ton cruise ship. That's not a Royal Carribean Condo Block, but it's not much better in passenger count and size than Carnival's Dream or Vista ships either. Huge difference between a 130-140k ton cruise ship and a 34k ton cruise ship (I didn't realize Four Seasons ships were quite that big admittedly, that's well into WWII battleship size and displacement lmao).
In spite of her accomplishments and passing all of the licensing requirements, there will be inadequate jerks who will not give her credit.
... and some of them will post here.
I am not a jerk.
Gotta love when the jerks call themselves out.
Her cat was just as famous.
Even tho I don't think you usually do cruises, I'm excited for you and look forward to your post(s)!