Celebrity Xcel Review: What’s New on Celebrity Cruises’ Newest Flagship (2026)
Celebrity Cruises has officially entered a new era with Celebrity Xcel — the fifth and newest ship in the revolutionary Edge Class fleet. After spending 15 nights onboard during the inaugural transatlantic crossing from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona, we can confidently say this ship feels like much more than a simple refresh.
Celebrity took what already worked on Edge, Apex, Beyond, and Ascent and layered in immersive entertainment, destination-inspired festivals, elevated dining concepts, and one of the most impactful redesigns we’ve ever seen at sea.
From hidden speakeasies and Greek festivals to rooftop brunches, incredible production shows, and our surprisingly spacious inside cabin, this sailing completely exceeded our expectations.
If you’re wondering whether Celebrity Xcel is worth booking — especially compared to the other Edge Class ships — here’s our full review.
Celebrity took what already worked on Edge, Apex, Beyond, and Ascent and layered in immersive entertainment, destination-inspired festivals, elevated dining concepts, and one of the most impactful redesigns we’ve ever seen at sea.
From hidden speakeasies and Greek festivals to rooftop brunches, incredible production shows, and our surprisingly spacious inside cabin, this sailing completely exceeded our expectations.
If you’re wondering whether Celebrity Xcel is worth booking — especially compared to the other Edge Class ships — here’s our full review.
Celebrity Xcel Quick Facts
- Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises
- Ship Class: Edge Class
- Launch Year: 2025
- Gross Tonnage: Approx. 141,000 GT
- Passenger Capacity: Approx. 3,260 guests
- Length: 1,073 feet
- Inaugural Sailing: 2025
- Specialty: Immersive destination-inspired experiences and next-generation entertainment
Fun fact: the “X” in Celebrity Cruises’ logo comes from the Greek letter Chi — symbolizing the elevated experiences and innovation Celebrity is known for.
First Impressions of Celebrity Xcel
Walking onboard Celebrity Xcel immediately feels familiar — but noticeably more energetic and immersive than previous Edge Class ships.
The ship still has the sleek, modern design language Celebrity fans love, but the atmosphere feels livelier and more interactive throughout the day. There’s more music, more entertainment, and more spaces designed to connect guests with the destinations they’re visiting.
Even with thousands of passengers onboard, the ship rarely felt crowded outside of the biggest performances and sea-day festivals.
And speaking of festivals…
The Bazaar: Celebrity Xcel’s Biggest New Feature
The most dramatic change onboard Celebrity Xcel is unquestionably The Bazaar.
If you’ve sailed Edge Class before, this was formerly Eden — but the entire concept has been completely reimagined into a multi-level destination-inspired experience that evolves throughout your voyage.
The experience begins walking through immersive LED archways known as the Bazaar Tunnel. Massive screens transport you into the next destination while music, visuals, and lighting shift depending on the itinerary.
During our crossing, we literally watched the ship transition from Caribbean sailings into Europe as the merchandise, food, and performances evolved in real time.
Inside The Bazaar, you’ll find:
- Spice café and lounge
- Destination-inspired markets
- Massive LED performance screens
- Mosaic restaurant
- Rotating all-day festivals
- Interactive classes and tastings
- Live music and dance performances
It genuinely feels like Celebrity brought the destination onboard.
Opa! Festival (Greece) & Salud Festival (Spain)
One of our absolute highlights was OPA — the all-new Greek festival experience onboard.
We initially thought it would be a short show. Instead, it became an all-day immersive celebration complete with:
- Greek dancers and drummers
- Live singers
- Painting workshops
- Bracelet making
- Food tastings
- Liquor tastings
- Interactive performances every 20–30 minutes
The energy was incredible.
Later in the voyage, the ship transitioned into “Salud,” a Spain-inspired festival with equally impressive performances and entertainment.
Honestly, this might be one of the smartest entertainment additions Celebrity has ever introduced.
Mosaic Restaurant
Located within The Bazaar, Mosaic became one of our favorite specialty dining venues onboard.
The atmosphere here is gorgeous — especially at night when the lighting, ocean views, and live entertainment all come together.
What we loved most about Mosaic is how integrated it feels into the overall experience. Instead of dining feeling isolated from the entertainment, everything flows naturally together.
This entire area finally feels alive from morning through late night.
Bora: Mediterranean Rooftop Brunch Done Right
Another standout addition onboard Celebrity Xcel is Bora.
This new Mediterranean-inspired rooftop dining experience combines live music, cocktails, and elevated brunch dishes into one of the best specialty dining experiences we’ve had at sea recently.
The experience begins in the Rooftop Garden with:
- Customized Bloody Marys
- Live Mediterranean music
- A welcome social experience
- Professional photography
Once seated, we upgraded to limoncello spritzes with champagne and enjoyed some genuinely excellent dishes.
Our favorites included:
- Chicken and waffles
- Avocado toast
- Lobster medallions
At $45 per person, Bora felt completely worth it — especially during long sea days on a transatlantic crossing.
Our Deluxe Inside Stateroom Review
For this 15-night crossing, we booked a Deluxe Inside Stateroom — and honestly, Celebrity continues to have some of the best inside cabins at sea.
The room felt:
- Bright
- Spacious
- Modern
- Surprisingly luxurious
Storage onboard Xcel is phenomenal. Between the divided drawers, large closet, hidden shoe storage, desk space, and additional cabinets, we had more than enough room for two people during a long crossing.
Other highlights included:
- Comfortable bed
- Plush bedding
- Elevated bathroom design
- Curved shower door for more space
- Nightly turndown service
- Excellent lighting controls
- Tons of charging options
One small miss? Outlets only on one side of the bed.
Still, we genuinely love the Edge Class inside cabins and think they offer exceptional value.
Celebrity's Infinite Veranda: Game-Changer or Gimmick?
One of the most talked-about features of Celebrity's Edge Class ships—including Celebrity Xcel, Ascent, Beyond, Apex, and Edge—is the Infinite Veranda.
Rather than a traditional balcony separated by a sliding glass door, Celebrity integrates the balcony space directly into the stateroom. With the push of a button, the floor-to-ceiling window lowers, transforming part of your cabin into an open-air space overlooking the ocean.
Love it or hate it, the Infinite Veranda definitely feels larger than many traditional balcony cabins. At approximately 243 square feet, the room offers noticeably more usable living space than many veranda staterooms on older ships. We particularly enjoy the additional seating area, larger overall footprint, and the ability to enjoy ocean views even during bad weather.
That said, the Infinite Veranda isn't perfect. Because the veranda is technically part of the room, opening the window automatically turns off the air conditioning. Privacy can also be a challenge since the folding divider doesn't completely block light if one person wants to enjoy the view while the other sleeps. We also noticed occasional window creaking during rough seas on some sailings.
For us, the pros outweigh the cons. While some cruisers still prefer a traditional balcony, we appreciate the extra living space and modern design.
Want a closer look? We've sailed in Infinite Veranda staterooms multiple times on Celebrity Apex and break down everything we love—and a few things we don't—in our full room tour linked above on YouTube.
The Pool Club Feels Like a Luxury Resort
Celebrity has fully leaned into the “resort at sea” vibe with Xcel’s upgraded pool experience.
The all-new Celebrity Pool Club introduces:
- Pool valets
- Sunscreen and games
- Lockers for valuables
- Elevated cabana experiences
Compared to older Celebrity ships, the pool deck feels much brighter, more luxurious, and more intentional.
The oversized umbrellas alone are a massive improvement.
Entertainment on Celebrity Xcel is Outstanding
Celebrity Cruises continues to have some of the best entertainment at sea — and Xcel raises the bar even higher.
Between Takes
This may honestly be Celebrity’s best production show ever.
Set in a chaotic 1920s Hollywood film studio, Between Takes combines:
- Aerial stunts
- Massive sets
- Incredible choreography
- Jaw-dropping vocals
- High-energy storytelling
The aerial portion alone is unforgettable.
Other Standout Shows
Other entertainment highlights included:
- Chapters
- Mainstage
- 254 West
- Hotel interactive murder mystery experience
- Candlelight performances in The Bazaar
- Martini Bar nightly shows
The talent level onboard was genuinely exceptional.
Celebrity’s commitment to live entertainment remains one of the biggest reasons we continue sailing with them year after year.
IYKYK: Celebrity Xcel’s Hidden Speakeasy
One of the most talked-about additions onboard is IYKYK — the hidden speakeasy onboard Celebrity Xcel.
And yes… it absolutely lives up to the hype.
We won’t spoil too much here because discovering it is part of the experience, but this became our favorite late-night cocktail spot onboard.
Moody lighting, creative drinks, immersive design, and a hidden entrance make this one of the coolest bar concepts Celebrity has ever introduced.
We spent far too many nights here.
Spa & Fitness Center
Celebrity Xcel’s spa is massive — and genuinely luxurious.
New additions include:
- The Hydra Room
- Expanded thermal suite
- Outdoor Vitamin D Deck
- Huge salon spaces
- Wellness-focused AquaClass upgrades
But honestly, the fitness center might be the best we’ve ever seen at sea.
Modern equipment, tons of natural light, ocean views, and plenty of space made this feel more like a luxury gym than a cruise ship fitness center.
What’s Missing on Celebrity Xcel?
As much as we loved Xcel, there were a couple surprising omissions.
No Spa Café
This was our biggest disappointment.
Spa Café has always been one of our favorite healthy lunch spots on Celebrity ships, especially for smoothies, wraps, and lighter options.
Now, healthier grab-and-go food has been moved into Spice within The Bazaar.
The offerings are still good — especially the yogurt bowls and sandwiches — but we definitely miss Spa Café.
Limited Bedside Charging
We also wish there were charging outlets on both sides of the bed.
Small detail… but important on longer sailings.
LGBTQ+ Experience on Celebrity Xcel
Celebrity continues to be one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly mainstream cruise lines.
On this sailing:
- LGBTQ+ happy hour was well attended
- Sunset Bar hosted the official gatherings
- Martini Bar remained the unofficial gay hub onboard
- The atmosphere throughout the ship felt welcoming and inclusive
Celebrity consistently attracts a fun, social, and diverse crowd — especially on longer sailings like transatlantics.
Celebrity Xcel Pricing & Value
For our 15-night transatlantic crossing, we paid:
- Cruise Fare: $1,545 per person
- Premium Drinks + Wi-Fi Package: Approx. $900 per person
- Gratuities: Additional
Considering the quality of:
- Entertainment
- Dining
- Accommodations
- Transportation
- Service
…we still think Celebrity offers excellent value in the premium cruise market.
🌟 Pro tip – If you want to know exactly how we found and booked this incredible deal, plus all our behind-the-scenes, head over to our Patreon.
Final Thoughts: Is Celebrity Xcel Worth Booking?
Absolutely.
Celebrity Xcel doesn’t reinvent the Edge Class formula — it evolves it.
The ship feels:
- More immersive
- More social
- More destination-connected
- More entertaining
- More alive
The Bazaar is a huge success. Bora is excellent. The hidden speakeasy is unforgettable. And the entertainment is some of the best we’ve seen anywhere at sea.
For us, Celebrity Xcel may now be our favorite Celebrity ship overall.
If you love modern luxury cruising with incredible entertainment, elevated dining, and LGBTQ+ friendly vibes, this ship absolutely deserves a spot on your travel list.
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