Celebrity Xcel: shaped by passengers  

With seven all-new experiences, Celebrity Xcel is ground-breaking in more ways than one. The Celebrity Dream Makers initiative saw past guests and participants from around the world fine-tune the ship’s design. 

From choosing textiles and managing interior design elements including artwork, they cast 650,000 votes through global online polls and experiential in-person events to help shape the vessel. In addition to design, the Dream Makers project also saw members of the public influence culinary and entertainment offerings. 

“Our guests continue to be our North Star,” vice president product development, Jeannette Coto Dou, tells Passenger Ship Technology. “We’re guided by their feedback and continue to evolve our product offering to meet their vacation needs. Celebrity Xcel builds on the success of our existing Edge-series fleet, while introducing seven all-new spaces for guests to explore.” 

3,276-passenger, 141,262-gt Celebrity Xcel is the fifth Edge-class ship, following the debut of Celebrity Edge in 2018. Like its predecessors, the ship features the eye-catching Magic Carpet, a cantilevered platform that travels up and down between the decks and is variously used as a bar or restaurant depending on its location. 

Elsewhere, passengers will find – or possibly discover in the case of one of them, more of which later – all-new and redesigned venues. 

Ms Coto Dou said, “The innovative team has pushed the boundaries yet again to design a ship which takes forward the best of Edge-series ships and introduces seven new spaces, to deliver an unmatched vacation experience. These new spaces invite guests to escape their daily routine and make memories that will last a lifetime.” 

One of the biggest transformations on the 16-deck ship is The Bazaar, a three-storey dining, bar and entertainment complex that replaces Eden on the previous ships. 

A multi-sensory entry walkway of archways, depicting colourful LED displays of different Caribbean festivals – which reflect Celebrity Xcel’s maiden season out of Fort Lauderdale –are enhanced by changing scents such as spices and floral notes. 

Ms Coto Dou said, “Inspired by guest feedback and building on existing venues we know guests love, the team has created new and exciting spaces to elevate the guest experience even further on Celebrity Xcel.   

“Promising to be an epicentre of excitement, The Bazaar invites guests to get swept away in the sights, sounds, flavours and traditions of the places they visit through destination-inspired festivals, food, drink, live music and more. We’re no longer just blurring the line between ship and shore. We’re erasing the line completely.” 

The interior design in The Bazaar features floor-to-ceiling LED walls showing images of the Caribbean, including colourful houses and waves lapping palm tree-fringed beaches. All of this will change to depict different regions when the ship repositions next year. 

The Dream Makers also chose the ambience for The Bazaar, picking “lush, tropical and cool” over choices such as “sultry, floral and fiery”. 

Additionally, the line has worked with local artisans to create an authentic destination experience so passengers can take part in art and craft classes and buy locally made clothing, jewellery, gifts and souvenirs. 

Moving to Celebrity Xcel’s top deck, there is the new venue Bora, which was previously home to the Rooftop Garden Grill. 

“The space has been transformed into an inviting Mediterranean al fresco dining experience, with bright colours, warm hues and comfortable seating,” said Ms Coto Dou. “Every detail has been taken care of, from utilising heavier glassware and silverware to sustain the warm open breezes on deck, to additional shading and windbreakers.” 

The Dream Makers also fashioned the pool deck, voting for it to be “warm, tropical and playful” with “abstract and thought-provoking artwork”. This has resulted in a giant silver sculpture of a monkey, with a baby, and smaller monkeys dotted around the deck.  

“Celebrity Pool Club transforms the space known as the Resort Deck on other Edge-series ships into a new area with more shade, more personalised service, more entertainment, and some unexpected treats,” continued Ms Coto Dou. “Guests can visit the pool valet for poolside services and amenities like sunscreen or a chilled towel or opt for VIP experiences with a cabana featuring dedicated service, elevated sips and more.” 

The other all-new spaces are the Attic at The Club, a retro-style arcade area, Celebrity’s first ever hydra room and Vitamin D Deck, an outdoor space at the spa, and Celebrity Flagship which is a cross between a nostalgic shop and museum with memorabilia relating to Celebrity and the original Chandris line. The Greek-owned company inspired Celebrity’s trademark X branding which comes from the Greek letter Chi, standing for Chandris.  

The interior designers who worked on previous Edge-series ships, such as Kelly Hoppen who was responsible for areas such as stateroom interiors and the exclusive Retreat, were involved in the same spaces on Celebrity Xcel. The new venues were all designed inhouse. 

The sharp-eyed may notice that Celebrity Xcel’s promotional material lists seven new spaces but only includes details of six. They have left curious travellers to try and find the hidden speakeasy bar, enigmatically referred to in one or two documents as IYKYK – if you know you know. Hint: If guests drop by at the photo booth on the lower level of The Club, then all might be revealed.    

During the inaugural season, Celebrity Xcel is sailing on seven-night itineraries out of Fort Lauderdale with ports of call including the Bahamas, Mexico, Cayman Islands, Puerto Plata, St Thomas and St Maarten. In summer 2026, the ship will sail on a maiden Mediterranean season on seven- to 11-night journeys out of Barcelona and Athens, including all new overnight stays in Madeira.