Celebrity Xcel

The 2025-built Celebrity Xcel cruise ship is the fifth and final vessel in the EDGE-class series of passenger liners, following sisterships Celebrity Edge (2018), Celebrity Apex (2021), Celebrity Beyond (2022), and Celebrity Ascent (2023). All EDGE-class ships (gross tonnage 140,600 GT) were built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France.

The vessel (IMO number 9884136) will be Malta-flagged (MMSI tba) and registered in Valletta. During its construction, it was France-flagged (MMSI 227022600).

History – Construction and Ownership

Celebrity Cruises was established in 1988 as the Greece-based Chandris Line (operational between 1974–1996). In 1997, Royal Caribbean International (RCI) merged with Celebrity Cruises Ltd to form Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL). The "X" on the ship's funnels represents the Greek letter chi, symbolizing "Chandris."

Key features of Celebrity Cruises ships include aft-facing glass-walled dining rooms, signature specialty restaurants, lounges, expansive atriums, a high percentage of balcony staterooms, large pool decks, The Retreat (an adults-only sundeck with pool, Jacuzzis, cabanas, and bar), Rooftop Terrace (open-air lounge, cinema, and restaurant), expansive spas with thermal suites, and premium boutiques.

The 3,300-passenger Celebrity Xcel is the fifth newbuild under “Project Edge.” These vessels are larger than Millennium-class and slightly smaller than Solstice-class ships. Celebrity promotes them as offering “small-ship itineraries with large-ship amenities,” destination-focused experiences, and distinctive modern design.

New Features (EDGE-Class Ship Design Changes)

Compared to EDGE-class ships Apex and Edge, Celebrity Xcel is 20 m (66 ft) longer, one deck taller, has 179 more staterooms, and is ~12% larger in volume (140,600 GT). The ship introduces various design updates, new venues, and expanded public areas.

New venues on Celebrity Xcel include "Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud" (a 50-seat specialty restaurant), a redesigned Luminae (suite-only restaurant by designer Kelly Hoppen), an updated Pool Deck, an expanded Rooftop Garden (Deck 15, featuring two infinity pools, larger shaded seating, and a bigger Rooftop Grill Bar), a double-sized Sunset Bar (aft, Decks 15–16), and an enlarged Retreat complex (suite-only lounge forward on Deck 15).

• The Resort Deck (Deck 14) features a 23 m / 75 ft lap pool with in-pool loungers, terraced sundecks, martini glass-shaped whirlpools (two-deck-high), sunken seating areas, and a life-size elephant statue.
• Sunset Bar (Decks 15–16) is a two-deck, Casablanca, Morocco-themed outdoor venue designed by Nate Berkus and Tom Wright (WKK), with cascading terraces and pergola-covered spaces.
• The Retreat spans three decks (15–17) and includes The Retreat Lounge (Deck 15), a Lower Sundeck (Deck 16, with a glass roof over the Solarium pool), and The Retreat Sundeck (Deck 17), offering cabanas, luxury loungers, a round pool, two cantilevered plunge pools, outdoor showers, and a bar. The Edge Villas (two-deck suites) were also redesigned.
• Le Voyage Restaurant, in partnership with Daniel Boulud, is a fine dining venue featuring a curated wine list and Michelin-level service in a space designed by Jouin Manku.
• The fleet’s first World Class Bar (in partnership with Diageo plc) offers premium cocktails and wines prepared by expert mixologists.

Tom Wright (WKK Architects) redesigned much of the ship’s exterior, including The Retreat, Rooftop Garden, and the Resort Deck. The Resort Deck is ~40% larger than on Apex and Edge and includes a night-time prism light show and live DJ performances.

The 3-deck Grand Plaza (midship) has been enlarged, allowing the Martini Bar to be relocated to the center of the Lobby (Deck 2) as a full-circle bar. Its chandelier features a unique design with 765 blades and dynamic LED lighting.

New to Celebrity Xcel are the AquaClass SkySuites, offering floor-to-ceiling views, spacious terraces, premium bedding, and wellness amenities. The ship also introduces a partnership with Gwyneth Paltrow, Celebrity Cruises’ "Well-Being Advisor." Since 2022, AquaClass guests (excluding Galapagos ships) receive complimentary wellness kits from goop and access to "Women in Wellness" programming.

Decks and Cabins

Most Celebrity Xcel staterooms are Balcony cabins. Of the 1,646 staterooms, 918 are Edge Staterooms (with Infinite Verandas) and 176 are Suites. All staterooms feature keyless entry (digital keys via smartphones), RFID bands, and standard keycards.

The boat has 16 decks, 15 of which are accessible to passengers, with cabins available on 10 of them.

Shipboard Dining Options - Food and Drinks

Celebrity Xcel offers 32 food and beverage venues, including 4 main dining rooms (MDRs) and 6 specialty restaurants new to Celebrity Cruises. In total, the ship has 15 restaurants, 5 cafes, and 12 bars and lounges.

The MDRs are named Cosmopolitan (contemporary American), Cyprus (Mediterranean), Normandie (French), and Tuscan (Italian). Collectively, the MDRs offer 84 different menu items.

Guests in AquaClass staterooms or Suites dine at Blu Restaurant, known for its lighter, spa-inspired cuisine. The Luminae Restaurant, branded as "Luminae at The Retreat," is part of the exclusive Suite Class complex "The Retreat" and is available to suite passengers. They may also dine in any of the four MDRs (Normandie, Tuscan, Cosmopolitan, Cyprus). These complimentary venues feature menus inspired by the ship’s itinerary and destinations, regional wines, themed cocktails, locally sourced ingredients, and a rotating selection of Signature and Classic dinner dishes. Each table is served by dedicated wait staff, including a sommelier, assistant waiter, and head waiter. Guests are assigned to one MDR but may request to dine in the others.

Celebrity Xcel features the line’s "Celebrity Select Dining Plus" (your-time dining), allowing passengers to either make dinner reservations in any MDR or dine at their leisure.

In addition to the MDRs, the ship offers several complimentary dining options, including Oceanview Cafe (live cooking stations, bakery), Mast Grill (poolside), Spa Cafe & Juice Bar (healthy options), and Eden Cafe (breakfast and lunch items). Two alfresco dining areas are also available.

There are 11 bars and lounges onboard, including Eden, Cafe al Bacio, The Club, Sunset Bar, Theatre Bar, Casino Bar, Martini Bar (Grand Plaza), Pool Bar, Il Secondo Bacio, The Retreat Bar, and The Retreat Lounge.

Specialty dining venues (with per-person surcharges) include Qsine (USD 45), Tuscan Grill (Italian steakhouse, USD 45), Murano (French, USD 45), Lawn Club Grill (DIY steaks, USD 40), Bistro on 5 (creperie, USD 10), and The Porch (panini restaurant open for breakfast and lunch, USD 5). At Qsine, guests order via iPads and receive dishes in their chosen order.

The Chef's Table is a private dining room available for rent, seating up to 6 guests and offering a multi-course dinner with premium wine pairings.

Craft Social Bar (introduced on Celebrity Apex) serves premium wines by the glass, craft cocktails, and over 50 craft beers, including rare international selections. It is staffed by certified beer sommeliers.

Unlike other EDGE-class ships, Xcel features redesigned restaurants and expanded food and beverage menus.

The exclusive Blu Restaurant includes an outdoor terrace for alfresco breakfast and dinner.

The Eden Restaurant now offers a plant-based, 7-course tasting menu with ingredients sourced from their native regions. Dishes include Golden Beet-Tomato Ceviche, Ajoblanco Panna Cotta (Spanish Almond Soup), Celeriac Steak, and Rose Masala Chai. The menu is available à la carte or for a fixed fee. Eden also serves organic and vegan cuisine with wine pairings.

The new Bora Restaurant is an alfresco venue on the rooftop, offering Mediterranean brunch and seafood dinners. Brunch options include shakshuka, croissant eggs benedict with salmon gravlax, French toast, customizable cocktails (including Bloody Marys), and live music. In the evening, Bora transforms into a seafood restaurant with dishes like pan-seared branzino, fideos negros tostadas con calamares, and lamb tagine, accompanied by live Greek and Italian music.

Shipboard Entertainment Options - Fun and Sport

The Lawn Deck features real grass and offers a relaxing environment with more deck chairs than other ships. The Celebrity iLounge provides Apple computer tutorials and sells Mac products at duty-free prices. AquaSpa Cafe is a convenient option for a quick post-spa lunch.

Sky Observation Lounge hosts live sunset music, while Fortune's Casino offers gaming entertainment around the clock.

The Virtual Concierge app enables guests to book dinner and spa appointments, order drinks and room service, and access other services. Smartphone sensors are used to track guest locations to enhance personalized service.

EDGE-Class ships feature the most technologically advanced theater in the Celebrity fleet, spanning three decks and hosting the largest number of production shows and performing crew.

The Theatre Lounge includes seven stage areas—three large and four small. The main stage extends into the audience and features two rotating platforms that elevate over 2 meters (7 feet). The venue includes two rotating spiral staircases, ten synchronized projection screens, sixteen laser projectors for video mapping, and rigging for aerial acts. It hosts seven new shows such as "A Hot Summer Night’s Dream" (Shakespeare with acrobatics), "The Jewelry Box" (technology-driven), "Kaleidoscope" (dance/music), "Arte" (acrobatics), "Elements" (themed on air, water, earth, fire, ether), "Stage Door" (recorded at London Palladium), and two "Headline Residency" shows – "Get Up" (pop concert by Black Skull Creative) and "The Purpose" (celebrating inner self).

"The Club" is a dual-purpose venue with a dance floor, performance stage, LED screen, and two bars. By day, it offers activities like laser mazes, drone hunting, trivia, and dance classes. At night, it hosts "The Jazz Joint at The Club" and transforms into the Prohibition-era-themed nightclub "Undercover at The Club" with 1920s cocktails and aerial saxophone acts. The Andromeda body scanner allows guests to assume a new identity, and the Hypno Cam Experience features a roaming camera capturing party moments on a big screen.

The Kids Club offers over 500 complimentary activities under the "Camp at Sea" program, including two new teen and kids areas called "The Basement."

Celebrity's signature Rooftop Garden has expanded facilities and live shows like the Rooftop Concert Series, Garden Cinema Series, and Taste of Film experience, with five new live music performances.

In 2023, Celebrity introduced fleetwide pickleball courts with complimentary equipment and scheduled sessions for adults and families (children over 6). On EDGE ships, pickleball is played at the Rooftop Garden.

Group gaming activities include "Game On: Augmented Multiplayer Experience," "Guilty Pleasures" (singalong), "Sands of Time" (escape room-style challenge), and "Sketch Art Classes."

Fleet-first venues and amenities

With the Xcel ship, Celebrity Cruises introduced several fleet-first venues and amenities - Celebrity Pool Club (an upgraded poolside retreat), the Attic at The Club (a neon-lit retro games lounge/arcade games room), a redesigned wellness complex with expanded spa offerings (Hydra Room), the Celebrity Flagship (store), The Bazaar (a multideck venue hosting 3 itinerary/destination-based festivals per 7-day voyage), and Bora (an alfresco restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine).

• The poolside sanctuary Celebrity Pool Club provides a valet service for amenities like chilled towels, deck games, shaded seating and secure personal storage. The redesigned rooftop retreat features additional shade, and private VIP cabanas (complete with dedicated service). On the final sea day of each Caribbean itinerary, the Celebrity Pool Club transforms into "Poolest Day Ever", boasting organized pool games, Caribbean-inspired live music, DJ parties, and pop‑up encounters. The experience also includes specialty cocktails (served in mini Patron bottles) and culminates with the "Shine the Night" poolside evening party with elevated refreshments.
• The Attic at The Club is an entertainment lounge suffused with neon light. Tailored for adults, the gaming room invites guests to enjoy classic arcades (Pac‑Man, NBA Showtime, Golden Tee) and traditional bar games (pool, darts, foosball, shuffleboard). Private-event bookings are also available for activities including karaoke and golf‑simulator sessions.
• The redesigned wellness complex now includes the Hydra Room. Part of the Thermal Suite’s 8 therapeutic offerings, the new hydrotherapy room features a warm bubbling pool with massaging jets and heated loungers. Adjacent to the Hydra Room is the Vitamin D Deck (an outdoor sundeck providing unobstructed ocean views, and complimentary non‑alcoholic beverages for Thermal Suite guests). Overall, the spa offers 120+ treatments. The complex also consists of an expanded Beauty Salon (with a bubbles bar), an interactive Shopping Salon (for testing and purchasing of wellness products), and a Skin Lab (where licensed specialists provide personalized skincare analysis and recommendations).
• The new Celebrity Flagship is the fleet's first hybrid retail-exhibit shop tracing Celebrity Cruises’ history through interactive screens and curated artifacts. The store offers for purchasing logoed merchindise, including keepsakes (water bottles, cocktail kits, keychains, caps, robes) and exclusive products sold only on Celebrity Xcel.

Grand Plaza

The Grand Plaza is the ship’s central gathering space, spanning three decks midship. Its open design blends modernity with the nostalgic charm of Transatlantic ocean liners and was created by Jouin Manku Studio.

A key highlight is The Chandelier, an LED-lit art installation composed of 765 blades across five levels, stretching three decks high above the Grand Plaza Martini Bar and weighing 7 tons.

The Grand Plaza features several specialty restaurants, including Fine Cut Steakhouse and Raw on 5 (Deck 5), Le Grand Bistro and Cafe al Bacio (Deck 4), and Grand Plaza Cafe (Deck 3), along with Italian piazza-style spaces. Deck 3 midship houses the Martini Bar, known for its flair bartender shows. Surrounding the plaza are over 13,500 handcrafted mesh screen art pieces made of leather, fabric, and metal.

The Grand Plaza cafes are ideal for coffee, tea, or pre-dinner drinks, with live entertainment in the evenings, transforming the space into the ship’s vibrant social hub.

By day, Le Grand Bistro (Atrium Deck 4) functions as a French patisserie and cafe. In the evenings, it becomes "Le Petit Chef," an immersive dining experience in partnership with TableMation Studios and Skullmapping. The 3D visual dining show features animated characters projected onto tables and plates, telling a fairytale-style story through a 4-course meal. Le Grand Bistro has a surcharge of USD 25 pp, while Le Petit Chef is USD 55 pp.

Eden Lounge

Eden is a three-deck venue (aft on decks 4, 5, 6) combining a bar, restaurant, and lounge with programming that evolves throughout the day. Eden Lounge spans 10,439 m³ (368,640 ft³) and 1,175 m² (12,650 ft²).

Its outward-facing design offers a signature dining experience (light lunches, 5-course dinners, wine tastings), daily lectures, and live performances. The lounge includes alfresco dining on both sides and transforms in the evening into "Eve at Eden"—a provocative fusion of performance art, dining, and nightlife.

The Eden Restaurant is integrated within the lounge. The Eden Bar serves drinks and handcrafted cocktails.

A 90-meter (295 ft) ramp winds through the space, providing panoramic views. The unique furniture and interiors are by Patricia Urquiola (Spain), who also designed the "Library of Plants" and hanging plant pillars. The venue was designed by Scott Butler (Wilson Butler Architects, Boston MA), and evening shows are curated by Variety Worldwide (New York).

"The Meeting Place" is the ship’s Conference Center, sized 183 m² (1,970 ft²), designed by Wilson Butler Architects. It includes advanced AV tech, flexible seating, a private planning office, mobile bars, and a pantry.

Magic Carpet ("Outdoor Elevator Lounge")

Celebrity EDGE-class ships feature the unique "Magic Carpet"—a cantilevered, glass-roofed platform the size of a tennis court that moves vertically across 14 decks like a giant elevator.

Mounted on the starboard side, this open-air venue offers ocean views, comfortable seating, a full bar, and a live music stage. Its function and design vary based on its deck position (Decks 2 to 16).

Guests cannot ride the Magic Carpet while it’s moving. Once secured on a deck, passengers may board. Some furniture is fixed to ensure safety.

Its functions include:

• Deck 16: "Dinner on the Edge" alfresco dining experience under the stars.
• Deck 14: Pool deck extension with live music performances.
• Deck 5: Alfresco dining extension of the main restaurant.
• Deck 2: Tender platform for "Destination Gateway," facilitating seamless embarkation/disembarkation via "Edge Launches" (luxury tender boats). This space includes LCD screens, 130 seats, and air conditioning.

"Destination Getaway" refers to the embarkation point when the Magic Carpet is docked at Deck 2.

The Magic Carpet’s schedule is published daily.

Itineraries

Celebrity Xcel’s inaugural cruise program was announced in November 2023.

The Maiden Voyage is scheduled for November 18, 2025. This 5-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary ("Bahamas and Mexico Cruise") sails roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale/Port Everglades, Florida USA, visiting Resorts World Bimini Port and Cozumel. Prices started at USD 660 per person (double occupancy), with an additional USD 167 for taxes and fees.

All other inaugural Caribbean cruises are 7-night itineraries, alternating between Bahamas (Bimini), Mexico (Cozumel), Grand Cayman (George Town), Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, St. Thomas USVI (Charlotte Amalie), and St. Maarten (Philipsburg).

In 2026 (May through October), the ship will reposition to Europe, before being homeported in Miami.

EDGE-Class liners were developed through an exclusive partnership with Nate Berkus, a renowned U.S. interior designer who founded his own company at the age of 24.

On November 7, 2023, construction of the vessel officially began with a steel-cutting ceremony at Chantiers de l'Atlantique Shipyard (formerly STX France) in St. Nazaire, France. The ship is identified by yard number/hull N34. The event was attended by Richard Fain (Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group), Laura Hodges Bethge (President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises), and Laurent Castaing (General Manager of the shipyard). During the ceremony, the ship's name—Celebrity Xcel—was officially announced.

On April 11, 2019, Royal Caribbean Group (RCG) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chantiers de l'Atlantique to build a fifth EDGE-class vessel, scheduled for delivery in Q4 of 2025.

Physical construction of the ship began on June 13, 2024, with the keel-laying ceremony at Chantiers de l'Atlantique. Attendees included Jason Liberty (President and CEO of RCG), Laura Hodges Bethge (President of Celebrity Cruises), and Laurent Castaing (General Manager of the shipyard). The ceremony included the lowering of the vessel's first and largest steel block (weighing 739 tons). A newly minted coin, traditionally placed under the keel for good luck, was engraved with Olympic Games symbols and the Saturn V rocket (developed by NASA for the Apollo/Moon program).

Unlike the previous four EDGE-class ships, Celebrity Xcel is methanol-ready—a first for the French shipbuilder. The engines, ordered from Wartsila in January 2023, include two 8-cylinder Wartsila 46F methanol engines, two 12-cylinder Wartsila 46F engines, and one Wartsila 32 engine. Wartsila modified the 46F diesel engines to operate on methanol. These engines are capable of running on three types of fuel: MDO (marine diesel oil), LNG (liquefied natural gas), and methanol (CH3OH).

The ship's first Master is Captain Kyriakos Matragkas (with Celebrity Cruises since 2000, starting on Celebrity Millennium).

Inaugural Itineraries (2025)

In late April 2025, Celebrity Cruises expanded Xcel’s schedule to include a 4-night Preview Voyage (roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale on November 9th) with a port call in Cozumel.

The following tables list Celebrity Xcel's inaugural season itineraries (November 2025 – April 2026), categorized by themes and regions.

(INAUGURAL CRUISE / 2025) 5-day "Maiden Voyage - Bahamas and Mexico" – starting from US$870 per person

7-day "Bahamas, Mexico and Cayman" itinerary - from US$1220 pp

7-day "Puerto Plata, St Thomas and St Maarten" itinerary - from US$1010 pp

(Inaugural Transatlantic crossing from the USA to Europe) 15-day from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona

(Inaugural Mediterranean voyage, 2026) 11-days "Spain, Portugal and Morocco" itinerary

(Inaugural voyage from PortMiami, 2026) 7-day "Puerto Plata and St Maarten" itinerary

Godspeed!