Celebrity Cruises' most popular ship captain, Kate McCue, is leaving the cruise line.
McCue, the first American woman to be a captain of a large cruise ship, announced her departure to her 1 million followers on Instagram on Monday.
"You might be wondering why I am leaving. Simply put, life has an incredible way of reminding us what's important and changing up priorities. I've recently had some big life changes, and this just happens to be one of those," she wrote.
McCue has spent the last 22 years on 11 ships with Royal Caribbean Group, she said. Most recently, she has been captain of the Celebrity Beyond.
McCue was named commanding officer of the Celebrity Summit in 2015, becoming the first American woman to captain a large cruise ship. McCue also captained the Celebrity Equinox and Celebrity Edge. As famous as McCue was her hairless cat, Bug Naked, who lived with her on the ship. Bug died late last year.
Leading up to the Beyond's debut in 2022, McCue was a spokeswoman for Celebrity, starring in videos promoting the line's third Edge-class ship.
"Are my sailing days over? Absolutely not!" she wrote in her Instagram announcement. "I've got too much salt in my veins to leave the sea behind."
Celebrity Cruises president Laura Hodges Bethge wished McCue well in her departure.
"I know her love for the sea and those who share in its magic will never change. And, so it is with gratitude and admiration that, on behalf of all of us at Celebrity Cruises, we wish her fair winds, following seas, and the very best always," she said.