I Got A First Look At Celebrity Cruises’ Newest Ship—Here’s What Impressed Me Most

It had been awhile since I sailed with Celebrity Cruises, the last time being when my extended family gathered in Alaska to celebrate my dad’s 80th birthday a couple of years ago. The comfortable, classic ship we sailed that summer was one of the cruise line’s Solstice series of ships; it launched in 2008. In 2018, Celebrity introduced its innovative Edge series, making a splash with its newest ship this November: Celebrity Xcel.

To be honest, I had no idea what to expect from this new series of ships, but when my friend Melissa and I stepped onboard Xcel for a preview sailing, I felt the difference immediately. The amount of natural light streaming in through floor-to-ceiling windows brightens the public spaces and reminds guests that they are indeed at sea. The ship is thoughtfully designed to allow for ample space so guests do not feel overcrowded, even in the most happening spots. There are also plenty of open-air spaces to stretch out and enjoy the fresh ocean air, like The Pool Club on deck 14 and the Rooftop Garden on deck 15.

The place to be onboard is the open-concept Grand Plaza. Soaring three stories in the middle of the ship, the Grand Plaza is anchored by the Martini Bar with myriad spaces branching off on all three decks, including Café Al Bacio, popular for coffee and sweets, and Craft Social with its pub feel and eats.

We took part in a two-night preview sailing in November for a sampler of all that Celebrity Xcel has to offer; I think we could have stayed for a full week and still not experienced everything.

Keep reading for my review of Celebrity Xcel, Celebrity’s newest cruise ship.

New Spaces and Experiences

Celebrity broke the mold when designing Celebrity Xcel, tapping into their global community of vacationers—collectively known as Dream Makers—who tested, tried, and voted on the seven new experiences that are found onboard the ship.

One of the new spaces inspired by the Dream Makers is The Bazaar, a vibrant, three-story space that brings the ship’s destinations onboard through sights, sounds, flavors, and activities, as well as live music and entertainment. It even includes a market highlighting local artisan products. Another, the newly conceptualized Celebrity Pool Club, elevates the main pool experience with poolside valet service that provides sunscreen and chilled towels, more shaded spaces, and private cabanas for a real VIP experience.

History buffs and shoppers alike will delight in Celebrity Flagship, a combination of interactive and curated exhibits highlighting Celebrity’s cruising history, and exclusive merchandise, including vintage collectibles, found only onboard Xcel.

There is another experience inspired by Dream Makers, but cruisers will have to wait until their onboard to discover what it is. Trust me, it’s worth finding it!

Staterooms

When we walked into our Sky Suite, I was instantly struck by the layout: the king-size bed faces the floor-to-ceiling windows and doors that lead out to a spacious balcony, affording ocean views morning, noon and night. I had only seen this cabin design once before, on a European river cruise with Avalon Waterways. What a luxury to lay in bed, doors wide open, ocean breeze wafting in and watching the world go by! And then there was the bathroom—very spacious with a double-sink and small but roomy bathtub with a shower.

In total, Celebrity Xcel has 1,640 staterooms across 14 decks, accommodating up to 3,276 guests. Those staterooms range from inside and ocean view cabins, to verandas and infinite verandas. Infinite verandas are essentially staterooms wherein the entire living space opens to become a veranda. Infinite veranda staterooms are 23% larger than their veranda counterparts.

Additional accommodations are found in Concierge Class, Aqua Class, and The Retreat, each of which boast their own exclusive amenities, like dedicated concierge and butler service, spa-inspired elements, and even a private restaurant and lounge. And then there’s a range of spacious suites for those who really want to splash out.

Restaurants, Bars, and Lounges

With more than 30 dining options, from fine dining to grab-and-go bites, there is absolutely no way anyone will go hungry onboard Celebrity Xcel. They also manage to accommodate nearly all diets, including gluten-free, vegetarian, dairy-free and “fit fare,” dishes created with balanced nutrition in mind. Bites we particularly enjoyed were Raw on 5, a raw bar with the freshest seafood, and an exquisite, fine dining dinner at Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud, both of which are specialty dining.

That’s not to say Xcel’s complimentary dining options were lacking in any way. Rather than one large main dining room, guests can choose to eat at one of the four smaller dining rooms (Cosmopolitan, Normandie, Cyprus, and Tuscan) each night. We popped by Oceanview Café, designed to be more of a food market than a buffet, for breakfast and bites throughout the day, and vowed to grab a burger and fries at Mast Grill next time.

A new dining experience inspired by Xcel Dream Makers is Bora, an open-air Mediterranean restaurant serving lunch and dinner with sea views from the top of the ship. Sea days see brunch served at Bora, which is a must-do and worth the upcharge. Did I mention there’s an over-the-top Bloody Mary Bar?

Speaking of bars, we spent pre-dinner cocktail hour mid-ship at the very popular Martini Bar, where the bartenders add showmanship to their mixology skills. Upstairs, World Class overlooks The Martini Bar and serves a delicious Fig Espresso Martini. As can be imagined, the Sunset Bar is a popular spot to toast the end of the day, and there are plenty of other spots to discover.

Entertainment

Celebrity Xcel makes a splash with five new shows. Between Takes, set in the 1920s; global rock-inspired Mainstage; and the experiential Chapters are all performed in The Theater. The ‘80s come to life via live performances of 254West in the more intimate The Club, where you can also take in the comedic cabaret HOTEL.

Upstairs, Melissa and I played Pac-Man at Attic at The Club, a fun interactive space filled with retro video games, pool, darts, foosball, and more.

Back in The Bazaar, live performances and festivals are held each sailing, varying by geographic region. Guests will also happen upon entertainment throughout the ship, provided by the 75 resident performers onboard.

The Spa

One of the first spots I always check out on a cruise ship is the spa and fitness center, and I have to say, I’m thoroughly impressed by The Spa on Celebrity Xcel. An airy reception area sets the tone, as do the wide hallways and treatment rooms with ocean views. New to Xcel is Celebrity’s first-ever Hydra Room, a warm, bubbling pool with massaging jets and heated lounge chairs, that compliments the Thermal Suite’s other therapeutic experiences, including steam and an ocean view sauna. There’s also a new Vitamin D Deck to soak up the sun, available exclusively to Thermal Suite guests. The spa offers more than 120 treatments and therapies, and a salon with bubbles (aka champagne) bar, and ocean view mani/pedi stations. An impressive fitness center adjoins the spa.

Related: The 10 Best Cruise Lines 2025

How To Get Onboard

Celebrity Xcel is sailing her inaugural season from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with seven-night itineraries to The Bahamas, Mexico, Cayman Islands, and Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten through the winter and into spring. In Summer 2026, she will sail seven-to 11-night journeys in the Mediterranean, from Barcelona and Athens.

For more information visit celebritycruises.com/xcel.

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