The ship sets sail in Europe this summer (Image: Celbrity Cruises)
Celebrity Cruises has long attracted a younger crowd to its designer ships, but there’s a sophisticated party atmosphere to its newest arrival, Celebrity Xcel.
The ship retains Kelly Hoppen’s designer interiors and Tom Wright’s innovative outdoor spaces such as the Magic Carpet bar, which moves up and down the side of the ship.
But there’s an explosion of colour and intrigue in some of its seven new spots, particularly The Bazaar lounge and “secret” IYKYK (If You Know You Know) bar.
And the good news is that this summer it will be sailing the Mediterranean, with departures from Barcelona and Athens, after a season in the Caribbean following its December 2025 naming ceremony in Fort Lauderdale.
Celebrity Xcel was named in Miami in 2025 (Image: Celebrity Xcel)
What’s it like on board?
Cool, calm and sophisticated yet with an increasingly party atmosphere – cocktail rather than riotous. Celebrity Xcel has gorgeous spots that own the outdoors and are perfect for summer in the Mediterranean and Caribbean winters.
The lovely new Bora conservatory-like restaurant with a bar and outdoor seating has made the urban-feel Rooftop Garden even more attractive. The Sunset Bar, curving around the ship’s stern, is a casually smart al fresco spot with comfy chairs where you might find a singer playing an acoustic guitar while you watch the sun set.
The outdoor pool, now known as The Pool Club, has pool valets who provide chilled towels and sunscreen – or you can pay for a VIP cabana service – and the Solarium, a glass-roofed pool with hot tubs, is a quiet lounging area. Then there’s the Poolest Day At Sea – a once-a-cruise celebration with live music, DJs, pop-up shows and pool games that carries on long after the sun goes down.
The WOW factor
The carnival-themed Bazaar – a new bar, lounge and cultural experience – is the big news on Xcel, ramping up the “anything goes” vibe with music, dancing, food, entertainment and craft stalls that reflect the culture of the region you’ve just spent the day exploring. It replaces Eden Lounge but still has the wonderful sea views from the back of the ship, and on sea days it becomes a festival destination with a live music show and party until late at night. In between are ‘Sips and Snack Carts’ treats, arts and crafts for all ages, and roaming performances by singers and outrageously dressed dancers. Caribbean cruises feature steel bands, with a more sophisticated vibe in the Mediterranean.
The Spa is also one of the new wonders. It’s bigger than ever, with a SEA Thermal Suite which has huge views over the front of the ship, while the new Hydra Rocelebritycruises.comom is like a pool-sized hot tub. A 24-hour Thermal Suite pass is $119.
The ship has an amazing theatre (Image: Celebrity Xcel)
Staterooms
Xcel’s staterooms start with Inside cabins, through Ocean View rooms, Veranda or Infinite Veranda cabins, better-equipped Concierge Class staterooms, Aqua Class cabins with spa benefits, and a variety of suites, which have access to a private lounge, sun deck, and restaurant.
Most have kingsize beds with cashmere mattresses and a pleasing pale and woody décor, with televisions that offer films, news channels, sports and information about the ship’s daily programme. For families, there are connecting rooms and many staterooms have a sofa bed.
But of the 1,640 staterooms, 608 are Veranda or Infinite Veranda cabins, the latter featuring a balcony space within the cabin and an exterior glass wall that drops to waist height at the touch of a button to let in sea breezes and views.
AquaClass has spa-style facilities within the staterooms and unlimited access to the SEA Thermal Suite, preferential rates on spa packages, free fitness passes and a clean-cuisine private restaurant, Blu.
As for Suites, there are several sizes and all come with a butler, complimentary minibar, access to The Retreat – a lovely private lounge bar and sundeck with pool – and unlimited use of the Luminae private restaurant.
Dining
One of Xcel’s new additions is Bora, a splendid Mediterranean restaurant – part conservatory-style, part al fresco – set among the Rooftop Garden’s greenery. On offer (both extra charge) are brunch, with an extravagant Bloody Mary trolley doing the rounds, and dinner (when sunset and twilight make it magical). Dinner is $65.
The Bazaar, another new arrival, not only serves little treats (savoury and sweet) during the day but is also home to Mosaic, a specialty restaurant ($95) which in the Caribbean focuses on island cuisine but in Europe will have a Mediterranean flavour.
In all, there are eight specialty restaurants. Patisserie Le Grand Bistro is casual by day and becomes Le Petit Chef in the evening for French cuisine. Raw on 5 has sushi, as well as other Asian dishes (fried calamari, truffled tuna), chargeable by item. There’s also the Spice coffee and snack bar in The Bazaar, while Fine Cut has a lengthy steak, fish and seafood menu ($65).
The ship’s gourmet heart is Le Voyage By Daniel Boulud, a showcase for the Michelin-starred French chef’s creations, but it is $129 for the meal (almost £100) and, like all specialty restaurants, incurs a 20 per cent service charge.
The four main complimentary restaurants are all classy with décor to match their cuisine: Cosmopolitan with an international menu, Tuscan (Italian), Normandie (French) and Cyprus (Mediterranean).
The buffet, Oceanview Café, offers a world of options, from curry to roast turkey and trimmings, and every evening it has a special focus such as Mexican or other cuisines. Also available – and free – during the day are burgers and hot dogs from the Mast Grill near the pool.
Celebrity Xcel’s has a serious buffet game (Image: Celebrity Xcel)
Entertainment
The Theatre is a striking, state-of-the-art venue with an interactive backdrop and a stage trap door that allows performers to appear from nowhere. Shows are dramatic events such as Between Takes, an eye-opening recreation of 1920s Hollywood with high-flying stunts, and Rebel: A Classic Rock Experience, which is a pot-pourri of big rock numbers.
The Club, a hangar-like space, has more musical events such as 254 West, which recreates an imagined, riotous closing party of New York’s Studio 54 nightclub, and Saddle Up Saloon – all Stetsons, line-dancing and country music. A DJ puts each night to bed.
New arrival is The Attic At The Club, a 24-hour grown-ups’ playroom on a balcony overlooking the venue space with table football, darts and a golf simulator in a room that can be hired for karaoke.
Elsewhere, there are musicians in the Grand Plaza at varied times, day and night, with the Martini Bar at its centre for live bands and dancing. Around the Pool Club there are afternoon DJs and sailaway parties with early-evening singer-guitarists at the on-deck Sunset Bar. Open-air movies are screened in the Rooftop Garden.
One more thing (and new on Xcel) is a secret space that’s discovered by word of mouth or accident. It’s referred to as IYKYK (If You Know You Know), and once you know you’ll be there every evening. Be sure to take a selfie!
Book it
Celebrity Xcel is sailing Caribbean itineraries from Florida’s Fort Lauderdale until April 2026, then sailing to Europe (returning for summer 2027) for cruises from Barcelona and Athens (Piraeus) around the Med. Its 11-night Spain, Portugal & Morocco cruise is available on a number of dates from April to October, and costs from £1,709pp, two sharing, calling at Cadiz (Spain), Lisbon (Portugal), Funchal (Madeira), Tangier (Morocco) and Palma (Mallorca).
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