Captain Kate McCue’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. In an exclusive interview with Sail Away Magazine, she shares the pivotal moments that shaped her career, her leadership style, and the challenges she faced. Authentic, candid, and endlessly passionate, Captain Kate offers readers a glimpse into the world of a modern cruise captain.

Captain Kate’s path to the bridge began on a family holiday. “When I was 12 years old, my parents took me and my brother on a four-day holiday with Premier Cruise Lines, which was the original Disney Cruise Line. I had so much fun that, as we packed up to leave, I told my dad, ‘I want to be the person that plans all the fun events on the ship,’ which was, of course, the cruise director. My dad looked at me and said, ‘You can do anything you want, even drive the thing.’”

In this exclusive interview with Sail Away Magazine, Celebrity Ascent’s co-captains Dimitrios and Tasos Kafetzis open up about their journey from Piraeus to the bridge, navigating sibling dynamics at sea, and making cruise history together at Celebrity Cruises.

In the ever-evolving world of cruising, it’s not often that you hear of history being made on the bridge. But aboard Celebrity Ascent, that’s exactly what happened when Captain Dimitrios and Captain Tasos Kafetzis became the world’s first brother co-captains of a cruise ship.

For maritime enthusiasts, the name Queen Mary 2 stirs a sense of awe. As the last great transatlantic liner, she represents a bygone era of ocean travel, reimagined for the modern age. At the heart of her story is Dr Stephen Payne OBE, the visionary naval architect whose lifelong passion and innovative spirit brought this iconic ship to life.

For Dr Payne, the dream of designing a ship like Queen Mary 2 began early. In 1965, at the age of five, he watched a Blue Peter episode featuring the Queen Elizabeth. “Even on our black-and-white television, it was enthralling,” he recalls.

The role of a Hotel Director aboard a cruise ship is unlike any other. It demands leadership, precision, and a knack for creating memorable guest experiences. For Tony Markey, one of Azamara’s Hotel Directors, the path to this role has been as unique as it has been fascinating. Speaking exclusively to Sail Away Magazine, Tony shares his captivating journey, the joys and challenges of his role, and his insights into what makes Azamara a standout luxury cruise line.

Tony’s journey to the high seas began in an unexpected place: the stage. Alongside his wife Christine, Tony performed as one half of the double act ‘Inseparable.’ In 1988, they joined the SagaFjord as guest entertainers, travelling the world and serenading audiences aboard cruise ships. “We sang our way through life,” Tony reminisces.