Celebrity Cruises has placed its newest Edge-Series vessel, Celebrity Xcel, into service from Fort Lauderdale, presenting a set of newly conceived public areas shaped by passenger feedback gathered through the line’s Xcel Dream Makers programme. The ship’s design reflects the broader shift within the industry toward more flexible social spaces, varied entertainment, and a greater emphasis on personalised experiences.
A central feature of the vessel is The Bazaar, a 3-deck complex intended to mirror the cultural character of the destinations on each itinerary. Its atmosphere changes over the course of the day, supported by regionally influenced food, live music, and rotating activities. Two new dining venues, Mosaic and Spice Café, form the core of this space, while The Market displays artisan goods tied to ports of call. The ship also introduces Bora, a rooftop restaurant that adopts a casual Mediterranean style in daylight hours and a quieter, shared-plate format in the evening.
One of the more distinctive additions is Attic at The Club, a late-night, adult-focused games lounge offering retro arcade machines, along with darts, shuffleboard, and pool. The Pool Club has been reconfigured with increased shaded areas, private cabanas and dedicated hosts, reflecting a move toward resort-style deck arrangements. Indoors, Celebrity Xcel debuts the line’s first Celebrity Flagship retail space, combining merchandise, interactive displays and memorabilia, with options for guests to customise selected items.
The vessel’s spa complex marks the most extensive wellness offering in the fleet, featuring the new Hydra Room as part of an expanded Thermal Suite. A forward-facing Vitamin D Deck provides a quieter open-air area with ocean views supported by complimentary non-alcoholic refreshments. Entertainment has similarly been broadened, with new productions in The Theatre, interactive shows in The Club, and an expanded programme of live music and deck events.
Several of these features were informed directly by the Dream Makers group, whose members trialled concepts and helped determine elements of the ship’s dining, design and entertainment. Celebrity Xcel is now operating 7-night voyages from Fort Lauderdale to ports in The Bahamas, Mexico, the Cayman Islands, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. The ship is scheduled to begin its first Mediterranean season in summer 2026, including new overnight stays in Madeira on routes between Barcelona and Athens.