Take An Inside Look as Celebrity Xcel Makes a Splash

by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 11:00 AM ET, Sat August 22, 2026

This article originally appeared in the August issue of AGENTatHOME magazine. Subscribe here to receive your free copy each month.

There’s a certain buzz that comes with a brand-new ship — and Celebrity Xcel delivers it from the moment guests step onboard. Helmed by captain Kyriakos "Kirk" Matragkas, the 3,260-guest vessel is the fifth ship in Celebrity Cruises’ Edge Series, building off the success of sister ships Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Ascent.

When Xcel debuted in November 2025, it introduced fresh spaces, experiences, dining venues and entertainment offerings — the culmination of a years-long effort to take the Edge Series to new heights.

"We’re insatiable at the Royal Caribbean Group for innovation — we can’t help ourselves," said Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises. "For the last few years, my team has been really immersed in, how do we take the Edge Series to the next level? The Edge Series took the brand to the next level, and so we were using this platform with Xcel to do just that."

I recently had the opportunity to sail onboard Xcel — here’s what clients can expect onboard.

Accommodations

The ship offers 1,640 total staterooms, including 228 suites, 194 Aqua Class cabins, 278 Concierge Class cabins, 608 Verandas and Infinite Verandas, 157 Ocean View cabins and 175 Inside Staterooms. Xcel also features The Retreat, the line’s ship-withina-ship concept featuring butler and concierge service, a dedicated restaurant and a private sundeck and pool.

Public Areas

Xcel showcases several new thoughtfully designed spaces that redefine onboard life. The headliner is The Bazaar, a multisensory, three-story space that combines entertainment, activities and culinary experiences. The Bazaar transforms throughout each voyage, rotating through four destination-inspired festivals. Travelers can shop for products made by local artisans, snack on local food and beverage offerings, participate in hands-on crafting activities, join cooking and dance classes, and enjoy live pop-up entertainment.

Also new is the Celebrity Pool Club, an enhanced poolside space offering chilled towels, card games, sunscreen, storage, shade and private cabanas with dedicated service. Additionally, Xcel has Attic at The Club, an adults-oriented arcade lounge, plus the brand’s largest spa yet.

Travelers can also explore Celebrity Cruises’ first-ever Celebrity Flagship store. Part retail experience, part exhibit, the space celebrates the brand’s history, complete with trivia questions, insider facts, historical artifacts and vintage collectibles.

Onboard Dining

With a fresh wave of dining concepts, Xcel is designed to surprise and delight at every turn.

The Bazaar brings two new eateries to the ship: Mosaic, an open-kitchen dining concept that replaces Eden on the line’s other Edge ships, and Spice, a casual dining concept open for breakfast and lunch.

Elsewhere on the ship, clients will find Bora, a new alfresco restaurant. The breezy eatery is open for brunch and dinner, featuring a bloody mary bar and Mediterranean-inspired fare such as saltcrusted whole branzino, gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp), sea bream "a la espalda" and Moroccan lamb tagine.

One space guests won’t see much information about online is IYKYK (short for "if you know, you know"). To explore this new speakeasy concept, clients visit the photo booth in The Club and snap three photos. Afterward, a secret door slides open to reveal a dimly lit, Prohibition-era club with craft cocktails and pop-up performances.

Overall, the ship has 18 restaurants, as well as 14 bars and lounges.

Celebrity Xcel has a new country music dance party called Saddle Up Saloon

Entertainment

Xcel showcases more than 75 resident performers, from singers and dancers to parkour artists and aerialists.

New production "Mainstage" is inspired by the world’s most iconic music festivals, featuring hits from top artists across the decades. "Between Takes," also new, is set in a 1920s Hollywood backlot and features vocals, high-flying stunts and choreography. "Chapters," meanwhile, is a "poetic and visually stunning journey through nature, transformation and self-discovery," according to the cruise line.

In The Club, guests can enjoy two new interactive shows: "254 West," featuring 1980s club vibes — complete with an after-party — and "Hotel," a comedic musical mystery.

The ship also features new games, including High Stakes, an elimination game show; Brain Spin, a game show that combines spinning a wheel with strategic thinking; and an escape roomstyle game that challenges guests to bring a robot to life.

Itineraries

Xcel is wrapping up its first season in Europe, visiting destinations across Italy, Spain, France, Greece, Malta and Turkey. In October, the ship will return to South Florida to offer a slate of Caribbean sailings from Miami, visiting destinations in the Bahamas, Mexico, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Grand Cayman, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Antigua, Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao.

Xcel will depart for its second European season on April 11, 2027, sailing a 15-night transatlantic repositioning cruise from Miami to Barcelona.

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