Photo courtesy of Celebrity Cruises
There are moments in travel that make you pause, exhale, and realize you’re witnessing something that will change the way people explore the world. Celebrity Cruises just had one of those moments twice in the same week.
Last week, I watched as I was sailing on the Silhouette (virtually, this time) as Celebrity took delivery of Celebrity Xcel, the newest addition to its award-winning Edge Series, while also announcing the start of construction on its next big launch, Celebrity Xcite, at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.
Two milestones. One brand. And a single, crystal-clear mission: to redefine premium travel at sea.
Celebrity Xcel: Where Sea Meets Sky (and Innovation Meets Guest Dreams)
When you’ve sailed with Celebrity before, as I have many times, you learn that every new ship feels like a conversation between the sea and imagination. There’s something new and elegant that defines each of the Celebrity ships that I’ve been on. But Celebrity Xcel? She’s an entirely new chapter.
But this one, the fifth ship in the Edge Series, Xcel takes everything that’s made this collection so iconic, from the design, the culinary artistry, to the unmistakable feeling of modern luxury, and then it adds something more: you.
Literally.
For the first time ever, guests were invited to help shape the ship through Celebrity’s Dream Makers program, a groundbreaking initiative that asked travelers to share what their “perfect cruise” would look like. The result is seven brand-new spaces designed to blur the line between ship and shore, merging the serenity of a resort with the sophistication of the world’s most beautiful destinations.
It’s not just design, it’s what we cruisers really want, realized.
As Laura Hodges Bethge, President of Celebrity Cruises, explained during the handover ceremony:
“Celebrity Xcel has been designed with our guest as our north star.”
That single sentence says it all. The goal isn’t to impress you, it’s to understand you.
The Dream Voyage Begins: November 2025
Celebrity Xcel will make her dazzling debut in November 2025, setting sail from Fort Lauderdale on a series of seven-night Caribbean itineraries through spring 2026. Think turquoise waters, white-sand serenity, and those famous floating sunsets that linger just a few minutes longer than you expect.
And because this ship was designed for travelers who crave discovery, not just destination-hopping, each voyage will feel more like a curated journey rather than a checklist.
But it doesn’t stop there.
When summer comes, Xcel will cross the Atlantic for her inaugural Mediterranean season, offering 7- to 11-night sailings from Barcelona and Athens, including an exciting new overnight stay in Madeira, Portugal, a destination that feels as though it were sculpted for slow, sensory exploration.
Imagine sipping local Madeira wine on a terrace that overlooks the Atlantic, knowing your the very embodiment of modern comfort, is waiting just beyond the horizon.
A Ship That’s as Smart as It Is Beautiful
Celebrity Xcel continues the Edge Series tradition of merging innovation with intimacy. The Magic Carpet that you see in all of the photos, that bright-orange, multi-deck platform that seems to float off the side of the ship, is back, offering sea-level cocktails one moment and a sky-high view the next. The Resort Deck stretches into infinity, complete with cantilevered pools that make you feel like you’re suspended above the ocean.
And yes, The Retreat, Celebrity’s ship-within-a-ship experience returns, more refined than ever, offering exclusive access to a private sundeck, lounge, and dining venue (I’ll be bringing you updates on what it’s like to travel in The Retreat in December, as I have a sky suite booked for my early holiday cruise).
But maybe what makes Xcel stand out most is the human touch. There’s an underlying thoughtfulness in every detail, from the way sunlight filters into the Grand Plaza’s three-story space to the flow of social areas that encourage connection rather than crowding.
The ship is going to feel less like a resort at sea and more like a world you could live in forever.
Celebrity Xcite: The Future Begins Now
While Xcel gets ready to welcome her first guests, her sister ship, Celebrity Xcite, is already taking shape in France.
During a ceremonial steel-cutting ceremony (a maritime tradition marking the official start of a ship’s construction), the brand revealed her name for the first time.
Celebrity Xcite will be the sixth ship in the Edge Series, and if the pattern continues (which, judging by the trajectory of this class, it will), she’ll debut with even more inventive ways to experience the sea.
Slated for delivery in 2028, Xcite represents the next wave of Celebrity’s evolution: a ship built not just for where travelers want to go, but for how they want to feel while getting there.
It’s the future of cruising, designed to be both forward-thinking and deeply personal.
The Celebration: Tradition Meets Tomorrow
The handover of Celebrity Xcel wasn’t just a corporate milestone; it was a celebration of artistry, craftsmanship, and maritime heritage.
In a ceremony that blended ritual with emotion, leaders from both Royal Caribbean Group and Chantiers de l’Atlantique gathered to mark the moment.
Jason Liberty, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, called Xcel
“the next bold step in our journey to transform premium travel.”
Standing beside him were Laura Hodges Bethge, Laurent Castaing, Captain Kyriakos Matragkas, and more than 1,600 crew members who will soon bring this magnificent ship to life.
Flags were ceremonially changed (a maritime gesture that marks a vessel’s transition to its new owner), and champagne flowed inside the ship’s dramatic three-story Grand Plaza, which is at the heart of every Edge-class ship.
This wasn’t just a delivery; it was a handing over of dreams, carefully constructed over years of collaboration between shipbuilders, designers, engineers, and the thousands of men and women who worked on her decks.
Beyond the Edge: What Makes Celebrity Different
If you’ve ever sailed with Celebrity, you know that its magic lies in contrast.
- It’s elegant but never pretentious.
- Innovative but always human.
- Luxurious but grounded in real, lived experiences.
The Edge Series has always been a bold experiment in reimagining what a cruise ship could be. When Celebrity Edge first debuted, it changed the look of ship design forever with outward-facing spaces that invited you to look at the sea, not away from it. Then came Apex, Beyond, and Ascent, each expanding on that vision with richer culinary experiences, more sophisticated spa offerings, and a deeper sense of flow between indoors and out.
Now, Xcel and Xcite take that lineage further by anchoring Celebrity’s philosophy in guest-led creativity and emotional connection.
The ships aren’t just for travel—they’re for transformation.
The Human Element: The Dream Makers Program
One of the most exciting things about Celebrity Xcel is how deeply it embodies guest-driven design.
The Dream Makers program was a first for the cruise industry, a global invitation for travelers to share what their ideal vacation at sea would look like. The responses helped guide everything from layout concepts to wellness amenities, ensuring that the ship feels tailor-made for modern travelers.
This collaborative approach marks a turning point. Luxury cruising is no longer something you’re simply “treated to.” It’s something that was a partnership between traveler and brand.
And that, in my opinion, is where Celebrity truly excels (pun intended).
Why This Moment Matters
As someone who spends a lot of time at sea (and even more time writing about it), I’ve come to recognize the difference between marketing buzz and genuine innovation. Celebrity’s latest milestone isn’t just about adding ships to the fleet, it’s about shifting the definition of luxury travel from something exclusive to something inclusive.
Luxury, in this new era, is about choice, personalization, and experience. It’s not about being waited on, it’s about being seen.
From the personalized touches in The Retreat to the quiet luxury of a Martini Bar cocktail at sea, Celebrity has always understood that travelers want more than extravagance, they want meaning.
And as these two new ships come to life, it’s clear that the company is steering its compass firmly toward the future.
A Toast to What’s Next
As I watched the ceremony unfold from afar, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride both as a traveler and as someone who happens to love Celebrity as a travel writer who chooses Celebrity for her personal vacations.
When I finally step aboard Celebrity Xcel in less than three weeks, I know it won’t just be another cruise. And when Celebrity Xcite debuts in 2028? I’ll be ready, wine in hand, to see just how far the Edge can go.
Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned from sailing with Celebrity, it’s this: they don’t just build ships. They build experiences that stay with you long after you’ve disembarked.
So here’s to the next adventure—from Xcel to Xcite, from sea to shining sea, from dream to design.
The best is yet to sail.
- For more information or to plan your own voyage aboard Celebrity Xcel, visit www.celebrity.com, call 1-800-CELEBRITY, or connect with your favorite travel advisor.
