The Celebrity Xcel Cruise Ship has arrived. Discover the seven cutting-edge experiences, including The Bazaar and Bora, that make this new vessel a next-generation floating resort.

The world of destination resorts just got a massive update! Stepping far beyond traditional cruising, the newest vessel from Celebrity Cruises, the Celebrity Xcel, has officially arrived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, bringing with it seven brand-new, cutting-edge experiences designed to create the “happy place of vacationers.” This fifth ship in the groundbreaking Edge Series was uniquely shaped by a global community of vacationers through the “Xcel Dream Makers” program, ensuring every element, from themed dining to immersive entertainment, delivers on guest expectations.

As Royal Caribbean Group Chairman and CEO Jason Liberty notes, “Celebrity Xcel‘s arrival sets a new standard for the industry,” and for good reason. The ship has been envisioned as a floating mega-resort with highly themed “lands” and unique attractions.

Celebrity Xcel Cruise Ship: Immersive “Lands” and Destination Dining

One of the most ambitious concepts is The Bazaar, a transformational, three-story space that boldly “erases the line between ship and shore.” Like a hub in a theme park, this area changes daily, immersing guests in the destinations the ship visits through food, activities, and live music. The Bazaar features two distinct, destination-inspired dining venues, Mosaic and Spice Cafe, and includes “The Market,” which showcases local artisan products, truly blending the onboard and in-port experiences.

For themed culinary adventures, the rooftop restaurant Bora will transport guests straight to the Mediterranean coast. Offering panoramic ocean views, this space transitions from a lively, boozy brunch with the “best Bloody Mary bar at sea” to an intimate, chef-led tableside dining experience at night, complete with Greek and Italian musical backdrops.

Celebrity Xcel Cruise Ship: Elevated Attractions for Day and Night

The poolside experience has been redefined at the Celebrity Pool Club. This isn’t just a pool; it’s a pampered VIP destination. New features include increased shading, a pool valet offering chilled towels and card games, and enhanced private cabanas with dedicated service—the ultimate day-use luxury attraction.

After dark, or any time of day, adults can step into Attic at The Club, an all-day, all-night vibrant games room. Glittered with neon lights, the vibe is pure nostalgia, featuring retro games like Pac-Man, NBA Showtime, Golden Tee, plus pool, darts, and foosball. Think of it as a premium, 24/7 adult arcade and social lounge.

The ship also boasts Celebrity Cruises’ first-ever Celebrity Flagship store, which doubles as part museum, part interactive retail experience. Visitors can test their knowledge with trivia screens and check out historical artifacts before customizing their own gear, making the retail element an attraction in itself.

Wellness and World-Class Entertainment

For guests seeking restoration, The Spa on the Celebrity Xcel Cruise Ship is the most expansive in the fleet, featuring the new Hydra Room—one of eight therapeutic experiences in the Thermal Suite. Furthermore, the new outdoor Vitamin D Deck offers sweeping forward-facing views and restorative ocean breezes from stylish seating, a unique wellness “viewing platform.”

Finally, the most expansive entertainment offering to date promises endless possibilities. Guests can look forward to three new unforgettable shows in The Theatre, two new interactive shows in The Club, immersive dance parties, and surprises that elevate the onboard experience to the level of world-class themed resorts.

Celebrity Xcel Cruise Ship is currently sailing her inaugural season from Fort Lauderdale, offering seven-night itineraries to The Bahamas, Mexico, and the Caribbean. It’s clear that with the arrival of this ship, the bar for the floating vacation experience has been raised to an unprecedented new height.

“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, Celebrity Xcel‘s arrival sets a new standard for the industry and adds to our collection of experiences that turn the vacation of a lifetime into a lifetime of vacations.”

“Celebrity Xcel was thoughtfully designed with our guests in mind to be the happy place of vacationers globally,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises. “From the seven new spaces guests will experience, to the innovative Xcel 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.”

On Celebrity Xcel, guests will find endless new ways to restore and explore:

Celebrity Xcel Cruise Ship

• Unlike anything at sea, a transformational experience that erases the line between ship and shore at The Bazaar. Each day, the three-story space will transform, introducing new ways for guests to immerse themselves in the destinations called on throughout their sailing. The Bazaar blends guests’ onboard and in-port experiences in an elevated, authentic and unique way through food, activities and live music. Guests will find two distinct, destination-inspired dining venues – Mosaic and Spice Cafe, The Market featuring local artisan products, four destination-inspired festivals specific to each itinerary, and unforgettable entertainment.
• With panoramic ocean views and a vibrant setting, Bora will transport guests to the Mediterranean coast. The rooftop restaurant will transition from day to night, offering the perfect setting for guests to enjoy a lively brunch or an intimate dinner. By day, Bora’s upbeat, boozy brunch will serve Mediterranean-inspired classics alongside brunch favorites, and customizable Bloody Marys with over-the-top garnishes at the best Bloody Mary bar at sea. At night, Bora’s chef-led tableside dining preparations and dishes designed to share set an intimate mood for dinner, as a backdrop of Greek ballads and Italian love songs round out an unforgettable evening.
• The Celebrity Pool Club sets a new standard for all-day, all-night poolside experiences. Guests will never want to leave their sunbed thanks to the new pool valet offering poolside chilled towels, card games, sunscreen and storage for personal items; and a contemporary rooftop design offering increased shading. Guests can also choose to go VIP for the day with enhanced private cabanas complete with dedicated service.
• An all-day, all-night vibrant games room glittered with neon lights, Attic at The Club is an adult-oriented games lounge. Open 24/7, guests will enjoy the nostalgia of retro games like Pac-Man, NBA Showtime, Golden Tee and more. Activities including pool, darts, foosball and shuffleboard will invite guests to make memories with friends, old and new.
• Celebrity Cruises’ first-ever Celebrity Flagship store is part museum, part interactive retail experience, while celebrating all things Celebrity. Guests will find interactive screens with trivia questions and insider facts, historical artifacts, and vintage collectibles. A wide range of customizable items can be engraved, embroidered or printed, such as water bottles, cocktail kits, keychains, caps, and robes. Plus, Celebrity Flagship will stock one-of-a-kind Celebrity products only available on Celebrity Xcel.
• Guests can unwind with more ways to restore than ever before at Celebrity’s most expansive spa yet. The Spa on Celebrity Xcel will feature Celebrity’s first-ever Hydra Room, the newest of eight therapeutic experiences in the Thermal Suite, which invites guests to indulge in a water-focused wellness experience, meticulously crafted to rejuvenate both body and mind. Spa goers can also soak up their daily dose of sunshine at The Spa’s new outdoor Vitamin D Deck, offering sweeping views from the front of the ship where guests can enjoy the restorative ocean breeze from stylish seating, while complimentary non-alcoholic beverages keep them cool and refreshed.
• Plus, Celebrity’s most expansive entertainment offering to date will offer more variety and more performers delivering endless entertainment options all day long. With three unforgettable new shows in The Theatre, two new interactive shows in The Club, immersive new dance parties, exciting new activities, live music and unexpected surprises throughout the day, guests will find entertainment options to match every mood.

All these new experiences were finalized by the Xcel Dream Makers, a global community of vacationers who tested, tried, and voted on the new experiences to feature onboard Xcel. Dream Makers made key decisions across culinary, interior design and entertainment.

The Celebrity Xcel Cruise Ship is sailing their inaugural season from Fort Lauderdale, offering seven-night itineraries alternating between The Bahamas, Mexico, Cayman Islands, and Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten. In Summer 2026, Celebrity Xcel Cruise Ship will set sail on her inaugural European season where guests can immerse themselves in the Mediterranean like never before on seven-to 11-night journeys out of Barcelona and Athens, including all-new overnight stays in Madeira, Portugal.

For more information and to book a sailing with Celebrity Cruises, visit www.celebrity.com, call Celebrity Cruises at 1-800-CELEBRITY, or contact a trusted travel advisor. Additionally, for more theme park-related news and information, visit MSM News.

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