Cruise on the Modern Ship Celebrity XCEL
♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA
Introduction
Celebrity XCEL is the new ship from Celebrity Cruises. It was launched in Florida in November 2025 and is the fifth in the recommended Edge Class series, very similar to its sisters (see articles on Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Ascent) but with several interesting and recommended changes and innovations.
I boarded her about a month after her official launch cruise from Florida for a week-long cruise (too short...) in the Eastern Caribbean. The 141,000-ton ship has about 1,650 rooms with 3,260 passengers at double occupancy (there are also single rooms) and up to 3,900 passengers at maximum occupancy, with 3 and 4 passengers in rooms that allow it. The ship has about 1,400 employees, meaning a ratio of about one employee for every 2.3 passengers.
Many areas and zones on the ship are identical or very similar to its sisters in the series, especially Beyond and Ascent, but there are 7 innovations unique to the XCEL. The place that underwent the most significant change was called "Eden" in previous ships in the series and is now called "Bazaar."
Additionally, on this ship, two specialty restaurants (for an extra fee) have been replaced with recommended ones.
And in the Club area, a large and recommended gaming zone and another surprise have been added, and there is also a change in the main pool deck (details on all changes follow).
Entertainment on the Ship
The Theater
The central theater in the Edge Class series of Celebrity Cruises is the most impressive and innovative among all cruise ships, so naturally, on the newest ship in the series, Celebrity XCEL, it is the absolute best... You can see well from every seat, there are no poles or light fixtures blocking the view (unlike other ships from other companies), it is large and spacious with comfortable seats and, most importantly—the most advanced screens and a host of effects and inventions that allow for spectacular and highly impressive productions. There is no comparison between the shows on the XCEL and shows in other Celebrity series or other companies (only Royal Caribbean matches the production level).
The ship has two entertainment troupes: one in the Bazaar and the main one performs primarily in the main theater but also in the Club, including four singers, about ten dancers, and additional acrobats. During a one-week cruise, three unique productions exclusive to the XCEL were held in the main theater (each show performed twice a day), each one more impressive and special than the last. A combination of a talented crew with effects, lasers, films, and of course, in our era: AI. The shows in previous ships in the series were also high-level, but on the XCEL, they definitely surpassed themselves. In one word: WOW! Unique productions were also held in the Club, but there each show took place only once.
In the Bazaar, three different and colorful shows by the Bazaar crew were held, each performed twice that same day.
Performance by the Captain
Captains on Celebrity ships are mostly Greek, and their presence is prominent throughout the cruise. Unlike other companies where you see them at most twice a cruise from afar and hear them over the loudspeakers in a short, dry daily announcement, in Celebrity most are very accessible and friendly, participating in many events and sometimes standing or walking around at the theater entrance or the central hall. Above all stands the captain of Celebrity XCEL, Captain Kirk. Friendly, amusing, and charming, I saw him at least once a day on the cruise up close. On the cruise with us, his family, wife, and children sailed, which did not prevent him from standing together with them and many other officers in various public areas and chatting with anyone who approached him. Of course, he was pleasant and amusing in the main theater when he introduced all the department heads at the beginning of the cruise,
at the party for repeat passengers and at the party with officers for "Elite" status and above held in the Club with delicious snacks and, of course, live music. His daily announcements on the ship's position and weather were amusing.
But the highlight without a doubt was his rock show, where he sings and plays electric guitar and even plays the drums in one of the songs.
while the lovely Cruise Director, Luigi (one of the best in the field), sings.
A very musical captain who goes down to the audience and sings with them, who talks to the crowd between songs at eye level, who excites and sweats and gives encore after encore. There is no other captain like him!
The Bazaar
In the Bazaar, which underwent a significant change compared to the sister ships in the series (where the area was called "Eden"), various shows are held, and throughout the day musicians perform there, from a piano player who sings and plays songs by request to guitar players and singers. A vibrant place full of activities and surprises. I highly recommend visiting it as much as possible!
On the first sea day, the theme in the Bazaar was Carnival. With carnival music, a vibrant carnival show, Caribbean food tasting stalls, and craft stations for making various handicrafts (some without extra charge and some with) etc.
On the next sea day, the theme was Aquarium and Water, and on the last day of the cruise in the Bazaar, it was a day with a Mexican atmosphere and decor. From the arches at the entrance passage to the entire complex, through the shows and decorations, handicrafts, and of course, the market.
You can spend long hours in the Bazaar every day and not be bored for a moment! Even in the printed daily program, there is a special page for Bazaar activities. A colorful and vibrant place and most importantly—diverse and changing. They think about every detail and pay great attention to every picture or statue. The decorations and display items on each of the colorful walls are replaced according to the theme and country.
On that day, there was also an impressive performance by dancers and singers in the Bazaar dressed in colorful traditional Mexican clothing. There are other additional sets, all according to the destinations reached. Each one more beautiful and Instagrammable than the last.
Juggling Bartenders at the Martini Bar
The Martini Bar is the largest and most central bar on Celebrity ships, especially in the Edge series and of course on the newest ship, Celebrity XCEL. The bartenders there are the best and most professional, and they are also literal jugglers. Several times a day, they perform juggling shows with bottles and glasses while pouring into a host of glasses accompanied by music and lighting from the giant chandelier in the central three-story space where the Martini Bar is located on the lowest floor (Deck 3).
The space is designed like an Italian piazza and surrounded by several restaurants and cafes influenced by different countries in the world: from France to Japan and, of course, America.
Innovations on the Celebrity XCEL Compared to Other Ships in the Series
The Bazaar
The place that underwent the most significant change was called "Eden" in previous ships and is now called "Bazaar." The change is visible even in the transition room to the aft area on Deck 5, which was once a dark room with scents, sounds, and metallic sculptures and has become a colorful passage that changes daily thanks to arch-shaped walls covered in screens displaying colorful photos and different films each day. Sometimes it's a coral reef with fish, sometimes a forest of colorful ferns or a forest with giant birds, and so on.
After the amazing arch room, you reach the market, which is basically a series of stalls where the merchandise changes daily according to the cruise destination. It's a place designed very beautifully according to the destination. From it, you pass through red doors to the central area of the Bazaar where there are non-stop events. There are also screens there that change according to the shows and the destination.
In the Bazaar, there is also a new luxury chef's restaurant called Mosaic for an extra fee, where booking is required long in advance, and a self-service restaurant with breakfast and lunch (at no extra charge) called "Spice," and of course, a large and designed bar. There are also plenty of comfortable seating areas, some facing the sea view from the ship's aft. Finally: an interesting fact that testifies to the level and quality of the Bazaar: there are more pixels in the screens in the Bazaar (the arches, the walls) than in the "Sphere" in Las Vegas!
New Restaurants
On Celebrity XCEL, there are two new restaurants that replaced previous restaurants in the same location. The first is the Mosaic restaurant in the Bazaar complex, and the second is "Bora" on the top open deck in place of the grill restaurant found on other ships.
The Restaurant in the Bazaar
In the new Bazaar, there is a new chef's restaurant called "Mosaic," whose motto is artistic and elaborate chef dishes from around the world.
You can order a "regular" meal for an extra fee where you choose a starter, first course, main course, and dessert (plus tasty bread and a bonus palate cleanser), but for a higher fee, you can choose the chef's menu. In this option, eight people sit at a special table and receive personal golden menus with the diner's name printed on them, detailing every dish and which countries they are from, and before each course, the chef comes and explains in great detail about the dish, the ingredients, influences, etc.
This is a ten-course menu, some small and some medium-sized, in addition to which you receive a tasty opening bread (resembling sweet challah) with colorful butters resembling candies and also two palate cleansers.
The menu features dishes from Spain, Italy, Costa Rica, Japan, India, Brazil, the United States, and Greece, all very photogenic and also delicious. The meal is long and lasts about three hours, during which singers come and sing specifically for the chef's table diners. Before the meal, there is a reception in the Bazaar where champagne is served, and at the end of the meal, there are reserved seats for the diners in the best location in the Bazaar to watch the impressive Bazaar show up close. The service is amazing and extremely pampering. In addition to the dedicated chefs, there are two waiters for the table accompanied by several assistants so that the dishes are served simultaneously to everyone, along with a dedicated sommelier. For a substantial additional price, you can order alcoholic beverage pairings for each course, or just stick to your beverage package and choose what you prefer. The menu included Wagyu Picanha steak, scallops, tartare, and many complex dishes that even after reading the menu, hearing the chef's explanation, and eating them, I'm still not entirely sure what was in all of them...
What matters is that it was tasty and varied, and the main thing for me was that there were two stunning desserts accompanied by "petit fours." A bit fancy but definitely experiential and upgrades the meal. Once a cruise, it's recommended to pamper yourself here, especially on a sea day or if celebrating an event.
Bora Restaurant
Bora restaurant is one of the recommended innovations on Celebrity XCEL. It is located at the aft of the top deck on the Rooftop, in place of the recommended grill restaurant found on previous Edge-class ships.
This is a high-quality Mediterranean restaurant for an extra fee that offers brunch and dinner meals with a rich and varied menu, extremely high-quality service, large and delicious portions, and a romantic atmosphere: a guitar player performing beautiful songs throughout most of the restaurant's operating hours, sunset, stars, fresh air (it's less suitable on cold or very windy days). .
Highly recommended main courses: Lamb with saffron couscous in a tagine and lobster slices in lemon butter.
Games in the Club
One of the new areas added to the new ship Celebrity XCEL is the gaming zone in "The Club."
On the second floor of the club, which also exists in other Edge-class ships, they added many games from billiards to darts,
a sports simulator, Pac-Man, and a host of other lovely games from electronic backgammon and chess to mazes, drawing and coloring boards, and many other options.
Additionally, every day competitive digital games are held on the floor of the first level, Deck 4 of the club,
where there is also a Photo Booth where you can go in and take pictures in various poses. Sometimes there's a very special and secret surprise for those who enter. Worth a try!
The Pool Area
Another recommended innovation on Celebrity XCEL is in the pool area, which changed its name to: Poolest Day Ever, where they added many umbrellas (including in the jacuzzis),
shooting targets, and the most significant innovation is the Pool Valet: a booth with lockers, sunscreen and aloe vera gel, cold water, and a wealth of board games for loan.
Very useful and convenient, and of course, with a dedicated employee at the booth who takes care of all needs and wishes. The pools themselves have not changed. There is a large and beautiful pool and two spacious "goblet" jacuzzis, two photogenic "splash pools," and also an indoor pool and jacuzzi.
Overlooking the pool deck are particularly recommended walking and running tracks that go up and down between two decks, and while exercising, you can look out at the ocean view, various ports, and sunsets, as well as the "Magic Carpet"—the orange elevator over the side of the ship, which is the symbol of the Edge series. In each of the Edge series ships, there is a giant and photogenic statue at the edge of the pool. On the XCEL, it's a statue of two monkeys where you can sit and be photographed on the large monkey's palm. There are plenty of lounge chairs and it's really not crowded even on a sunny sea day, and of course, there are bars in all directions.
Celebrity Flagship
A third new and unique area only for Celebrity XCEL is "Celebrity Flagship," located on the fifth floor at the aft, before the entrance to the Bazaar.
On-site is a large and impressive model of the ship,
next to a screen on which videos and photos of the company's various ships in different destinations and itineraries are projected, with information and tips. You can choose which video you want to see: for example, various stages in the construction of the ship XCEL, or locations of the different ships, and so on. There are many historical exhibits from the company's first ships and various collectibles related to Celebrity, flags, models, and various accessories. Much visual information about the company and, of course, a large merchandise shop selling mugs, shirts, magnets, a model of the ship, and more and more. On the first day of the cruise, the captain signed products for everyone who bought while he was there.
Guided Ship Tours
Celebrity Cruises offers various paid tours on its ships, from a tour of the entire ship to more focused tours following the art and architecture on the ship, to culinary tours or activities such as a tour of the kitchen and food storage that includes a special meal at the end, or a sushi-making workshop or wine pairings with food.
There are also free tours, especially for repeat passengers, such as a behind-the-scenes tour of the theater or a wine tasting. After many diverse tours I took on its previous sisters, I chose two tours on the Celebrity XCEL this time: an art and architecture tour and a kitchen and warehouse tour accompanied by a chef's meal. The art and architecture tour started at "Celebrity Flagship" near the ship model and passed through all the dining rooms, the Bazaar, the reception and the corridor leading to it, the central hall, and also the upper decks. You learn a lot about the ship's design and the special artworks within it, from information about the various artists to how each work was acquired, how it was assembled on the ship, and its meaning. Fascinating information that includes various surprises you'd unlikely discover without the tour.
The kitchen tour included a short talk with one of the four executive sous chefs and then a comprehensive guided tour (no photography allowed) through one of the kitchens and later in the warehouse and refrigerator area, including entering one of the dry food warehouses with explanations on products and operations. At the end of the tour, there was a lunch specifically for the 16 people on the tour with a unique and highly recommended menu.
The tours are held on sea days, in small groups, and are highly recommended! It is worthwhile to book the tours in advance during one of the holiday sales because you can then get them at significant discounts of 20-40 percent, and additionally, many of them run out of spots if you don't book well in advance.
Cruise Summary
I arrived at the cruise with very high expectations after hearing glowing reviews about her. Happily, I was not disappointed and she met most of my expectations. All her innovations: from the amazing Bazaar complex that has no equal, to the interactive gaming zone in the Club, the "Photo Booth" and its surprise, the pool deck upgrade, the Flagship area, and the two new restaurants: "Mosaic" and "Bora"—all were highly recommended! The theater, the central "Piazza," the dining rooms, the Club, the coffee shop, the "Sunset" bar area, the pools, the jacuzzis, the walking and running deck, the rooms—are identical to the previous ships in the series and very comfortable, pampering, and photogenic.
The service is wonderful. They brought the best employees to this ship: from the friendly rockstar captain, Captain Kirk, through the number one Cruise Director: Luigi, to the most professional waiters and bartenders. And the shows? The best I've seen on Celebrity so far, elaborate and amazing. 16 unique ship productions presented in the theater, Bazaar, and Club, in addition to high-level guest entertainers.
A drawback they need to overcome (a similar issue existed in other ships in the series): it's very crowded at shows in the Bazaar (the Eden complex in previous ones) and in the Club. You need to arrive to catch seats an hour before the show starts, and during the show, crowds are standing and it's very packed. In the large theater where two identical shows are held occasionally—there is no such issue at all. In the Club, every show that is very special and worthwhile is held only once in a place suitable for only a few hundred people. They should present every show there and in the Bazaar several times over several days, and it's advisable to organize a pre-booking system for tickets that would prevent the crowding. Aside from this crowding—it wasn't busy and there were no lines anywhere. Not at the entrance to the dining rooms or the coffee shop or the buffet, and not even at the pools and decks, even though the ship was completely at full capacity. This is a spacious ship with enough room for everyone. The ship is beautiful and full of artworks, with her symbol being, of course, the monkeys by the pool, which every passenger has photographed themselves sitting on the large monkey's hands. A small note nonetheless—previous ships in the series had more impressive statues and more artworks than on the XCEL. Another thing that's a pity they replaced are the colorful rocking chairs in Eden and the armchairs at the entrance to Eden. They were replaced with regular chairs or removed for the Bazaar stalls. This diminished the comfort a bit and also narrowed the passage on the way to the Bazaar. The stalls are very beautiful and colorful but like everything sold on the ship—very expensive. The spa and casino have grown, giving the feeling that everything from which more money can be made—is prioritized. Alcohol prices also went up (climbing all the time) but the amount for which alcohol can be obtained as part of the standard package—has not risen, only 12 dollars, and therefore there is a rather limited selection of drinks that can be obtained without an addition for those who purchased a package. Even for a "Stella" beer, you need to add a dollar—petty. The basic internet (included in the package) is blocked for many important activities. You cannot make WhatsApp calls or download photos or videos from WhatsApp. If you upgrade it—the block is immediately lifted and the satellite internet is excellent. It allows conducting conference calls, watching videos, and browsing freely. The packages do not include tips, which were included until a year ago, and therefore the conclusion is that today with limited internet, limited drinks, and no tips or specialty meals—the packages are not attractive. Specialty chef meals for an extra fee are very recommended but they too have become significantly more expensive. It is worth booking them in advance as part of a Black Friday, Labor Day, etc. sale where there are online discounts of 10-40 percent. You can also try to eat at them on the first day of the cruise when there's occasionally a 30 percent discount (check at the restaurants themselves or at the restaurant booking stall at the entrance of one of the dining rooms). On this ship, as on all its sisters, since there are four different dining rooms, it is advisable to choose a flexible dining time and try a different dining room each day. My favorite—Cyprus. It's worth knowing that in any of the dining rooms, you can request dishes from all four. Additionally, you can order (at least a day in advance) special dishes not on the menu. It's recommended to book one of the ship tours in advance online during one of the sales. Worthwhile and educational! It's wonderful to do a cruise in the month of December; everything is beautifully decorated for both Christmas and Hanukkah. On our cruise, there was a Hanukkah candle lighting by a rabbi, accompanied by Hanukkah songs and, of course, jelly donuts and latkes. There were hundreds of Jews on the ship, many of whom came to the candle lighting, but we didn't encounter any Israelis. There were long-time Israelis from Miami and other US destinations. Bottom line: The XCEL is a recommended and highly recommended ship, the best of all premium ships, innovative, and makes one want to return to her again soon... Take into account that she is very popular, booking must be done long in advance, and she is usually more expensive compared to other premium ships. Speaking of comparison, I also recently sailed on the newest ship of the Princess line, the "Star Princess" and conducted a comparison between the newest Princess and Celebrity ships. Read and decide what suits you better. The XCEL will sail in her first years of operation during the winter on week-long routes in the Caribbean and in the summer on various routes in the Mediterranean, including two "transatlantic" cruises: in late April from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Barcelona, and in late October in the opposite direction.
Entertainment and Tours in Ports on the Sailing Route
St. Thomas Port
A very recommended tour from the island of St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands is to the neighboring island: St. John, an amazing green island where over 60% is a national park, with some of the most beautiful beaches in the world: turquoise water, white sand, and snorkeling from the shore. The most popular beach, ideal for both swimming and leisure and snorkeling, is "Trunk Bay," which is located within the St. John National Park and features a marked underwater snorkeling trail with signs under the water. This beach is featured on every postcard and poster of the island.
This is a much calmer and less touristy island than the other US Virgin Islands because it has no airport and no cruise port, so it's reached only by ferries or private boats from St. Thomas. You can sail to it on 20-45 minute ferries or private boats. We chose a boat through the cruise line that departed from the marina adjacent to the cruise port, which saved a half-hour drive to the ferry pier and, additionally, sailing to another island independently is a bit stressful in case of delays (you don't want to be late for the ship; it doesn't wait for late passengers except those on ship-organized tours). Various tours on the island could be chosen, but we chose: St. John Island for a self-guided tour. That is, the boat ride to the island was through the ship and under its responsibility, but the stay on the island was independent. We drove about ten minutes in a shuttle (there are large taxis costing nine dollars per person each way) to the beautiful beach and then spent a pleasant time at the beach. The boat ride between the islands took about half an hour and was scenic and recommended. We sailed along the entire length of St. Thomas, saw beaches, hills, villas, hotels, marinas, and arrived at the small port of St. John in Cruz Bay. We continued with a ten-minute drive in an open-air taxi through green, forested scenery and beautiful beaches until Trunk Bay. The entrance to the beach is for a modest fee. It is a well-maintained beach with changing rooms and plenty of shade from the many trees. Chairs for rent are available for a fee. Usually, the water is completely calm, but on this day, due to northerly winds, it had waves, so they warned not to snorkel. For swimming, it was excellent. Summer-like, wonderful weather and clear turquoise water despite the waves. After a bit more than two hours at the beautiful beach, we returned by open-air taxi to the port and sailed back to the St. Thomas cruise port and our beautiful ship, the perfect Celebrity XCEL.
Puerto Plata Port
For the third time in the same month (and the fourth overall), I arrived with a ship (a different ship each time) at Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. This time with Celebrity XCEL. To diversify, we went this time to the best resort in the area, only about a quarter-hour from the cruise port: Senator Puerto Plata Spa Resort A wonderful all-inclusive resort located on the most recommended beach in the area, with pools and sports facilities, a cafe, ice cream parlor, and a variety of restaurants.
and a wonderful view of the coastline and also the adjacent port (where Carnival corporation ships arrive). We took a tour through the ship that included round-trip transportation from the cruise port, free food and drinks, lounge chairs and umbrellas, and use of the pools and other hotel facilities. Four and a half net hours of vacation in the most recommended spot in Puerto Plata.
The Island of St. Maarten
The third and final port on our Celebrity XCEL cruise was Philipsburg on the island of St. Maarten / Saint Martin. The only island in the Caribbean where two nations live in peace and harmony: an island that is part Dutch and part French.
The island is known for its beautiful beaches. The most recommended of all is "Orient Bay" on the French side of the island, a long beach with white sand, plenty of lounge chairs and umbrellas for rent, restaurants, and also water sports and recreation; it also has a nudist area, for those interested.
The drive to it from the port, located on the Dutch side, is about 20 minutes, about 10 kilometers north. There are large shared taxis at the port where the one-way cost per person to this beach (there are also to other beaches) is 9 dollars. Private taxis can be caught outside the port, but the price is ultimately quite similar. The water at the beach is usually calm and pleasant, but on the day we arrived at the island there were winds and it was quite cloudy and the sea was not completely calm but definitely comfortable and good for swimming. For those arriving for the first time at the island, it is recommended before spending time at the sea to take a private guided tour around both parts of the island.