Tough: Captain Kate’s Seafaring Cat, Bug Naked, Passes Away at 8. https://t.co/J6PcjyXPbK #cruise
— Cruise Radio | Doug Parker (@CruiseRadio) December 30, 2024
– Famous seafaring Sphynx cat, Bug Naked, owned by Captain Kate McCue of Celebrity Cruises (the only American female captain of a mainstream cruise ship) passed away at the age of 8 after a routine dental cleaning and tooth extraction.
– Bug Naked was famous on Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Beyond (and Captain Kate’s other ships before it) with her owner for visiting guests, hosting her own trivia contest, and being featured on social media having the run of the ship since she was a 3-month-old kitten.
– Captain Kate is currently on vacation; captains generally work three months on, three months off as per their contracts. Meanwhile, many cruise crew members work up to 7 days a week, 12 hours a day, for up to 9 months per contract (remember to tip your service staff on cruises besides the automatic gratuities!).
Bug Naked was often present as an emotional support cat when new bridge crew members maneuvered the ship for the first time.
– Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines has a seafaring Golden Retriever aboard Icon of the Seas, but does not belong to the captain, though he does have a full-time staff member assigned to him.
