The Celebrity Summit is poised to be the first cruise ship captained by an American woman when it visits the Island next month.

Celebrity Cruises has announced that San Francisco native Kate McCue is set to take the helm of the ship in August as it continues its regular visits to Bermuda.

“Becoming the first female American captain of a cruise ship has been a goal of mine for as long as I can remember,” Capt McCue said.

“The honour is amplified by being the first at a company like Celebrity Cruises.

“The cruise industry is ever-evolving, from the ships and the itineraries, to our guests’ expectations for vacation experiences.

“Celebrity has a history of delivering on each of these and I am thrilled to be a part of it.”

Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, the president and CEO of the Celebrity brand, was quoted as saying: “From the first time I met Kate, I looked forward to this moment, when I could extend my congratulations to her for being such a dynamic and highly respected leader who will continue to pave the way for women in the maritime industry.

“Of all the great moments throughout my career, this is at the top of my list.

“I am both honoured that Kate accepted this position, and proud of the way our team continues to transform the way people think about Celebrity, and about cruising in general.”

Capt McCue, 37, graduated from California State University’s California Maritime Academy and has worked at Celebrity’s sister brand, Royal Caribbean, where she reached the position of master mariner.