Experience Luxury at Sea: Celebrity Cruises’ Newest Ship Xcel Unveils Enhanced Dining and Entertainment Options

Celebrity Cruises has announced the upcoming launch of its latest ship, Celebrity Xcel, which is set to debut in November 2025. This new vessel of the Edge series aims to enhance onboard experiences, particularly for couples and leisure travelers, with plans for 7-night Caribbean itineraries from Fort Lauderdale before transitioning to European waters during the summer of 2026.

Celebrity Xcel will be the cruise line’s most spacious high-end offering to date, featuring an array of new dining venues and entertainment options designed to elevate passenger engagement. A highlight of the ship will be Bora, an al fresco rooftop restaurant that offers breathtaking sea views. Bora’s menu will focus on Mediterranean coastal cuisine, with daytime dishes like shakshuka eggs and salmon gravlax croissant benedict, as well as customizable Bloody Marys. In the evening, the restaurant will transform into an intimate dining setting with chef-led service and a menu rich in seafood and regional specialties, all enhanced by Mediterranean-inspired live music.

The ship will also boast 32 unique food and beverage outlets that serve globally inspired menus, catering to a variety of tastes and dining experiences.

In terms of entertainment, Celebrity Xcel promises the largest schedule in the brand’s history, featuring new mainstage productions, interactive performances, and themed dance parties. These events will be supported by a team of over 75 resident performers and enhanced by cutting-edge technology, including kinetic lighting systems and large-scale LED displays.

Michael Scheiner, Chief Marketing and Product Officer, emphasized that Celebrity Xcel’s design is a response to the desire for shared experiences among guests. The ship’s offerings will allow for memorable activities throughout the day, promoting social interactions.

Lisa Lehr, Vice President of Entertainment, highlighted that the ship’s entertainment portfolio includes three newly produced theater shows alongside immersive options across various venues, such as interactive events in The Club and themed parties reflecting regional music styles and iconic decades.

Additionally, Celebrity Cruises will introduce the Xcel Dream Makers program to engage guests in pre-launch testing of new onboard features, enabling them to influence show selections, performer line-ups, and culinary programming.

After its Caribbean debut, Celebrity Xcel will move to European services in summer 2026, offering extended voyages from Barcelona and Athens, including new overnight stops in Madeira, Portugal.

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