by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 11:15 AM ET, Fri January 16, 2026
Celebrity Cruises is sharing more details about the festivals it plans to unveil in the Bazaar aboard Celebrity Xcel when the ship heads to Europe this summer.
The Bazaar is an immersive, multi-sensory three-story space aboard the vessel, which debuted in November. The venue, which combines entertainment, activities and culinary experiences, is designed to bring the destination experience onboard, with festivals, markets and food and drinks inspired by the ports the ship visits.
The Bazaar transforms throughout each voyage, rotating through four destination-inspired festivals. During Celebrity Xcel’s inaugural season in the Caribbean, those festivals bring the beauty of The Bahamas, Mexico, the Cayman Islands and the Dominican Republic to life. And when the ship heads to Europe next year, the space will feature festivals, markets and culinary experiences inspired by Mediterranean destinations.
“The Bazaar has revolutionized destination immersion, keeping guests enveloped in the culture of destinations well beyond their time in port,” says Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises. “Sea days have been transformed with spatial design extending the authentic food, beverage and entertainment delivered into a cohesive singular experience. From morning to night, and from day to day, the one-of-a-kind experience has captivated guests, and we’re excited to transform the experience yet again to bring the heartbeat of the Mediterranean on board throughout every Europe sailing.”
In Europe, The Bazaar will feature:
- Opa Festival, which immerses guests in the traditions of Greece, with iconic dishes like baklava and moussaka, hands-on activities like "Mati" evil eye jewelry crafts and live musicians.
- La Dolce Vita Festival, centered around the flavors, beauty, and romance of Italy, with limoncello, hands-on experiences like the art of making pastas and tiramisu, and Venetian-themed evening activations.
- Salud Festival, celebrating Spain with sangria, activities like building custom flamenco roses and Spanish fans, and performances by flamenco dancers and matadors.
- Silk & Spice Festival, a journey inspired by the cultures of Morocco and Turkey, featuring fragrant teas, Turkish delight, hands-on activities and engaging performances by dancers.
Mosaic, the open-kitchen dining concept in The Bazaar, will serve dishes inspired by the flavors of cities like Naples, Mykonos and Lisbon. Chef's Studio at Mosaic will also offer destination-inspired cooking classes, featuring dishes from the destinations the ship visits. The Bazaar’s casual dining concept, Spice, will offer a daytime selection of rotating bites with special items inspired by the ports visited on each itinerary.
On sea days, Market at The Bazaar will offer products from iconic cities they visit across Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Portugal and Morocco, such as olive oil, Italian scarves and handmade painted tiles.
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