The wait is over. Earlier this month, Celebrity Xcel arrived in Fort Lauderdale. Our latest groundbreaking ship introduces seven brand-new experiences that will take your next holiday to the next level. Next up: The Caribbean and Europe.

“Celebrity Xcel was thoughtfully designed with our guests in mind to be the happy place of travellers globally,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, President of Celebrity Cruises. "From seven new spaces to the innovative Dream Makers program, where our guests played a direct role in shaping the ship’s features, Celebrity Xcel lives up to her name in every way.”

Celebrity Xcel is now sailing its inaugural season from Fort Lauderdale, offering seven-night itineraries that alternate between The Bahamas, Mexico, and the Cayman Islands, and Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten. In May 2026, Xcel will set sail for its inaugural European season, where you can immerse yourself in the Mediterranean like never before on seven- to 11-night journeys out of Barcelona and Athens, including all-new overnight stays in Madeira, Portugal.

Relive all the festivities, and experience your new happy place in the video below.  

With Celebrity Xcel, we didn’t just build a ship. We built the Europe holiday you’ll always remember in the places you’ll never forget. The line between ship and shore is erased at The Bazaar, where four new festivals bring the sights, sounds, and flavours of the Mediterranean along for the ride. And that’s just the first of seven new spaces that make Celebrity Xcel one of Europe’s most popular landmarks, from Riviera-worthy relaxation at Celebrity Pool Club to an over-the-top brunch at Bora that would make even Mykonos jealous. All this and you haven’t even stepped ashore yet. From the romance of places like Florence and Palma de Mallorca to overnight stays that let you linger longer in Madeira, you get the best of Europe on the best ship there.   

Our new 2027/2028 season of sailings elevates everything in the Caribbean. The best way to experience paradise is with us, and we’ve got the islands covered. You’ll discover some of the best unspoiled beaches in the world with new stops in Grand Turk in Turks and Caicos. Unwind on Grand Cayman’s famous Seven Mile Beach or at St. Thomas’s Magens Bay. Take an unforgettable selfie with airplanes flying right overhead at St. Maarten’s Maho Beach. Or stroll through Curacao’s colorfully quaint capital city Willemstad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Whether you choose a quick getaway or an in-depth journey, we elevate every moment of your Caribbean holiday with ships that keep the island bliss going— between islands. Experience a daycation on your holiday at the Poolest Day Ever, now on every Caribbean sailing. Your newest happy place, Celebrity Xcel, erases the line between ship and every white-sand shore, bringing the sights, sounds, and flavours of the islands right along for the ride.

Want to check that transatlantic crossing off your travel list? We’ve got you covered with new fall sailings that visit incredible bucket list destinations and some of the best cities in Europe. You’ll enjoy more sea days to explore on board, relax, rejuvenate, and watch the stunning ocean scenery.

Our 2027/2028 Caribbean and fall transatlantic sailings are now open for booking.  

Do you have a story from a Celebrity sailing you’d like to share? Tell us about your special sailings, celebrations, excursions, and moments, and what made them unforgettable, and if selected, you’ll be featured in a future Captain’s Club newsletter. Just fill out the survey linked below and tell us what made your cruise the best. We can’t wait to read the responses.