“With each new ship, we raise the bar for the ultimate vacation experience—and Celebrity Xcel stands in a class of her own,” said Jason Liberty, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group. “With innovative design, elevated style and signature hospitality, Xcel’s arrival sets a new standard for the industry.”
“From the seven new spaces guests will experience to the innovative Dream Makers program, where our guests played a direct role in shaping the ship’s features, Celebrity Xcel lives up to her name in every way,” added Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises.
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1. The Bazaar
Cruises have always offered a taste of the destinations they visit—but often, there’s never quite enough time to take it all in. Celebrity is changing that with its new Bazaar concept, a two-story immersive hub that brings the flavors, culture and energy of each port onboard long before guests step ashore. Located at the fifth floor of the ship, The Bazaar blurs the line between ship and shore with pop-up artisan markets, live entertainment and two new destination-inspired dining concepts: Mosaic and Spice Café. Each voyage also features four rotating cultural festivals, transforming the space daily with new food, music and experiences drawn from the ship’s itinerary. Eighty percent of the items on sale are locally sourced, says Hodges Bethge. It's a sight to behold and I'm excited to experience it more.
Spice Restaurant - Deck 5 Aft Portside Celebrity Xcel - Celebrity CruisesRelated: 6 Biggest Travel Trends Defining 2026, According to Experts
2. Bora
By night, the space shifts gears. Candlelit, chef-led dinners unfold to a soundtrack of Italian love songs and Greek ballads, turning brunch’s lively energy into an easy, elegant evening. The idea was to create an all-day date night—and it completely delivers. "It's the best Mediterranean restaurant on sea," the Celebrity team told us. "It’s the spot everyone’s returning to again and again."
3. The Celebrity Pool Club
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4. The Attic at The Club
This was such a fun surprise—most ships cater to kids with game rooms, but Celebrity is catering to the kid in all of us with its retro-inspired, adults-only games lounge. Open 24/7, it’s packed with ’80s arcade favorites like Pac-Man and Golden Tee, plus billiards, darts and shuffleboard, creating a playful, social vibe that carries late into the night. I can easily see gamers and solo cruisers having a blast here and meeting new friends along the way. And I don't want to give it totally away, but there's one more fun surprise at the The Club—just try to find the photobooth after dinner and take three photos, and then a whole new unique cocktail experience awaits.
5. The Celebrity Flagship
Celebrity Flagship - Deck 5 Midship Portside Celebrity Xcel - Celebrity CruisesPart museum, part boutique, the Celebrity Flagship is an interactive retail space that celebrates the brand’s history with digital displays, vintage artifacts and customizable items—from engraved cocktail kits to embroidered robes. Superfans will love the exclusive merchandise available only aboard Xcel along with a little bit of memorabilia about its past.
6. The Spa on Celebrity Xcel
Hydra Pool - Deck 14 Forward Starboard Celebrity Xcel - Celebrity CruisesI may book a future cruise on Xcel just to revisit this spa. Celebrity’s most expansive wellness space to date spans more than 120 different treatments and therapies, along with the brand’s first-ever Hydra Room—a water-focused thermal experience unlike anything else at sea—Hammam, steam room, salt room—this place has it all. Outside, the new Vitamin D Deck offers ultra-comfortable loungers and front-of-ship ocean views, perfect for soaking up the sun between treatments.
7. Next-Level Entertainment
The new theatre productions are custom-designed for Xcel, featuring large casts, cutting-edge technology and immersive, multi-sensory storytelling. Over in The Club, the vibe shifts from classic theatre to all-out party. Guests can step into “254 West,” an ’80s-inspired dance night, or join the all-day disco experience, complete with throwback beats, dazzling lights, and spontaneous performances that happen well into the night.
Where Xcel Will Sail
In Summer 2026, the ship will debut in Europe, sailing seven- to eleven-night itineraries from Barcelona and Athens, including new overnight stays in Madeira, Portugal.
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