Celebrity Xcel: The Ultimate Guide to Celebrity’s Newest Edge-Class Masterpiece
The premium cruise landscape shifted when Celebrity Cruises introduced its revolutionary Edge Class. The fifth sister ship in this award-winning lineup—Celebrity Xcel—takes everything travelers love about modern luxury cruising and amplifies it with brand-new venues, smarter technology, and unparalleled style.
Whether you are planning a sun-soaked voyage or simply tracking the latest innovations in modern sea travel, here is everything you need to know about this spectacular vessel.
Technical Specifications
For travelers and ship spotters alike, here is a quick look at the core physical and operational metrics of Celebrity Xcel:
141,420 GT
Gross Tonnage
November 2025
Year Built
3,937 maximum
Passenger Capacity
1416
Crew Size
Barcelona, Spain
Home Port
Game-Changing New Features on Celebrity Xcel
While she shares the sleek architectural DNA of older sisters like Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Ascent, the Xcel introduces several reimagined public areas and exclusive concepts that can't be found anywhere else in the fleet.
1. The Bazaar (Evolution of Eden)
Replacing the multi-story Eden venue found on earlier Edge-class ships, The Bazaar serves as a lively, destination-centric cultural hub. This transformed space features an indoor marketplace celebrating the artisan crafts, sounds, and flavors of the regions the ship visits. It features:
-
Mosaic Restaurant: An open-kitchen venue serving elevated regional cuisine, alongside a highly exclusive Chef's Table experience.
-
Spice: A casual, beachfront-style café offering grab-and-go bites throughout the day.
-
The Chef's Studio: Celebrity's first-ever dedicated cooking school at sea, where passengers can take interactive, destination-inspired culinary classes.
2. BORA (Rooftop Garden Dining)
Nestled right in the middle of the lush, open-air Rooftop Garden, BORA is an entirely new al fresco dining venue. Replacing the previous Rooftop Garden Grill concept, BORA focuses on shareable, authentic Mediterranean dishes. It is designed to capture relaxed, romantic coastal dining under the open sky—perfect for a sunny sea-day brunch or a starlit dinner date.
3. Attic at The Club & The Annex
Grown-up gaming gets a major upgrade in the Attic at The Club. This retro, neon-lit lounge features classic arcade games (like Pac-Man), pool tables, foosball, and darts. For groups wanting a private experience, The Annex can be reserved for karaoke nights and advanced multi-sport simulators.
4. IYKYK Speakeasy
Tucked away on board is IYKYK (If You Know, You Know), an intimate, hidden speakeasy bar serving craft cocktails in a sleek, exclusive atmosphere.
Setting a New Standard for Sustainable Cruising
Celebrity Xcel isn't just a triumph of interior design; it represents a major technical milestone for marine engineering.
A Fleet First: Celebrity Xcel is the very first ship in the Celebrity Cruises fleet equipped with a tri-fuel-capable engine built by Wärtsilä.
This innovative propulsion system is uniquely engineered to run on three different fuel types, including green methanol. By integrating methanol compatibility, the ship drastically reduces its local exhaust emissions—including sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter—making it one of the most eco-conscious premium ships currently sailing.
World-Class Accommodations & Staterooms
True to the Edge-class philosophy, the accommodations onboard feel more like high-end boutique hotel suites than standard cruise cabins.
-
Infinite Verandas: With the touch of a button, your entire stateroom wall drops down, transforming your living space into an open-air balcony.
-
The Retreat: An exclusive "resort-within-a-resort" sanctuary reserved strictly for suite guests. It grants access to a private sun deck, a dedicated lounge, and the high-end restaurant Luminae.
-
Two-Story Villas: For ultimate luxury, these sprawling multi-level villas feature their own private plunge pools and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the ocean.
Where is Celebrity Xcel Sailing?
Following its highly anticipated winter debut in the Caribbean out of Fort Lauderdale, Celebrity Xcel has crossed the Atlantic. It is currently operating 7- to 11-night Mediterranean loops out of prime European ports like Barcelona and Athens, offering immersive itineraries through the Greek Isles, the Italian Riviera, and overnight stays in Madeira, Portugal.
Culinary Excellence: 32 Food & Beverage Venues
Celebrity Xcel boasts an incredible 32 distinct food and beverage venues, including 15 restaurants and 12 bars and lounges. The sheer variety ensures that guests can eat their way around the world without ever leaving the ship.
Signature Specialty Dining
For guests looking to elevate their evenings, Xcel brings back fleet favorites alongside completely new concepts:
-
Le Voyage by Chef Daniel Boulud: The globally renowned chef returns with an intimate, upscale dining experience inspired by his own world travels.
-
Fine Cut Steakhouse: A high-end, sophisticated space serving premium cuts of meat and fresh seafood.
-
Raw on 5: The go-to spot for fresh sushi, oysters, and Japanese-inspired delicacies.
-
Eden Restaurant: A multi-level, visually stunning dining room that blends nature-inspired architecture with inventive, sensory-focused cuisine.
The Grand Plaza & Bars
The beating heart of the ship is The Grand Plaza, a soaring, three-story venue inspired by the piazzas of Italy. Beneath a striking, massive chandelier, guests can gather at the famous Martini Bar for flair bartending shows.
If you prefer a view, head to the Sunset Bar at the aft of the ship. Designed as a multi-level terrace, it offers panoramic, unobstructed ocean views—the perfect place for a pre-dinner craft cocktail.
Next-Generation Entertainment & Tech
Celebrity Xcel completely reimagines what entertainment at sea looks like, leaning heavily into immersive technology.
The Theatre & The Tree of Life
The main Theatre features a spectacular 20-foot-tall curved 4K LED screen packed with 17 million pixels. It utilizes a 360-degree circular scrim and eight 21K laser projectors to wrap the audience in stunning visuals.
The centerpiece of the stage is the Tree of Life—a monumental 18-foot-tall structure adorned with 2,842 individual LED leaves. The ship hosts three brand-new production shows developed by talent from Broadway, film, and television, performed by Celebrity’s largest cast to date.
The Magic Carpet
You cannot talk about the Celebrity Xcel without mentioning the Magic Carpet. This incredible engineering marvel is a tennis-court-sized cantilevered platform that hangs off the starboard side of the ship. It moves vertically across 14 decks, transforming its function based on where it stops—from an open-air extension of a restaurant on Deck 5 to a sky-high lounge with live music at the very top of the ship.
Celebrity Xcel Insider Tips: Hidden Secrets & Hacks You Need to Know
f you want to experience the Celebrity Xcel like a seasoned pro, you have to look beyond the deck plans. Here are the top insider tips and hidden gems that will elevate your sailing from a standard vacation to a VIP experience.
1. Find the Secret 1920s Speakeasy
There is a hidden bar onboard that you will not find on any official map, and the crew will playfully deny its existence if you ask them directly about a "secret bar" (try asking about "secrets on the ship" instead for a hint).
-
How to find it: Look for a vintage-style photo booth. When you scan your SeaPass card, the booth physically moves to reveal the entrance to a hidden 1920s-themed speakeasy.
-
The Experience: There is a strict no-phones policy—you are asked to place your device in a sealed bag—a period-accurate cocktail menu, and a one-hour time limit to ensure everyone gets a chance to experience the magic.
2. The Bazaar's Immersive Details
The Bazaar is heavily promoted as Xcel's ever-changing cultural venue, but there are two specific features most cruisers miss:
-
Programmed Scents: The venue doesn't just change its lighting and live performances—the scent of the room is actually programmed to shift throughout the day to match the regional theme of your itinerary.
-
Spice Restaurant: Tucked away at the very back of The Bazaar is a complimentary, fast-casual dining spot called Spice. It features a customizable menu, a beautiful enclosed outdoor seating area, and a secondary coffee bar that rarely has the long lines you will find at the main Café al Bacio.
3. Track Down the "Secret" Pools & Hot Tubs
The main Resort Deck is stunning, but it gets busy on sea days. For a quieter soak, seek out these alternative spots:
-
The Champagne-Glass Hot Tubs: Walk up the stairs near the running track to find two elevated hot tubs. They offer the best panoramic views on the entire ship and are often completely empty early in the day.
-
The Aft Plunge Pools: Located near the Sunset Bar, these glass-sided plunge pools offer incredible wake views and are tucked away from the heavy foot traffic of the main thoroughfare.
4. Unlock the "Vitamin D Deck"
If you purchase access to the SEA Thermal Suite in the spa, do not just stay indoors. Xcel introduced the Vitamin D Deck, an exclusive, forward-facing sun deck located right at the front of the ship. It is specifically reserved for Thermal Suite guests, making it one of the quietest, most peaceful outdoor lounging areas onboard.
5. Smart Cabin Hacks
The Edge-class staterooms are packed with modern tech that can catch first-timers off guard:
-
The "Go Green" Setting: Check your thermostat's settings on the digital wall panel. If the "Go Green" mode is active, your room will automatically warm up by a couple of degrees and turn off the lights when you leave. Toggle this off if you prefer returning to a perfectly chilled cabin after a hot day ashore.
-
Heated Mirrors: The bathroom mirrors are heated, meaning they will never fog up while you are taking a hot shower.
-
Magnetic Walls: Like most cruise ships, the cabin walls are metallic. Pack heavy-duty magnetic hooks to hang lanyards, hats, and daily planners to maximize your vertical storage space.
6. Skip the Main Pool Bar
The primary bar on the Resort Deck gets slammed during peak afternoon hours. Instead of waiting, take a short walk aft to the Sunset Bar. It is typically fully staffed, multi-leveled, and offers much faster drink service with infinitely better views of the ship's trailing wake.
Celebrity Xcel The Bazaar
Celebrity Xcel Bora
Celebrity Xcel
Celebrity Xcel The Retreat
Celebrity Xcel Fine Cut
Celebrity Xcel The Magic Carpet
