On October 23, we took delivery of our newest ship, Celebrity Xcel, and announced the name of our sixth Edge Series ship, Celebrity Xcite, as the first piece of steel was cut and construction commenced at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. 

Celebrity Xcite is expected to debut in 2028, and will elevate the way you vacation while redefining premium cruising. “With Celebrity Xcel now joining the fleet, and Celebrity Xcite on the horizon, we're continuing to set new standards for excellence and innovation,” said Royal Caribbean Group president and CEO Jason Liberty. 

Celebrity Xcel is currently on her way to South Florida, where she will begin welcoming guests aboard in a few weeks. “Celebrity Xcel has been designed with our guest as our north star, we even involved them in the design process through the Xcel Dream Makers program, so we know she will be the happy place of vacationers globally,” said Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge. With seven brand new spaces that erase the line between ship and shore like never before, Celebrity Xcel is changing the game yet again—and Celebrity Xcite promises to continue that trend. Stay in the know, and get all the latest news about our amazing ships right here, in your monthly Captain’s Club blog. Isn’t being an insider great?

Experience an over-the-top vacation in the Land Down Under with our 2027/2028 Australia and New Zealand sailings. Choose from two bucket-list worthy ships designed and newly redesigned—for a journey to remember. Nowhere other than Celebrity Edge can you soak up Sydney’s skyline from the Rooftop Garden, see New Zealand’s fjords from the Magic Carpet, and enjoy an Infinite Veranda that blurs the lines between ship and shore. On our Renewed Celebrity Solstice, you'll enjoy sky-high views from our top-deck spaces like Sunset Park and The Retreat Sundeck.

Discover the best of Australia and New Zealand—from the Great Barrier Reef and Bondi Beach to koalas and kangaroos, and the iconic Sydney Opera House. With overnight stays in Adelaide and Cairns, you’ll have time for vineyard dinners, golden sunsets, and even catamaran sailings to the world-famous beaches of The Whitsundays. On select itineraries, you can venture farther to the white-sand shores of New Caledonia and lush jungles of Vanuatu. Book your Australia and New Zealand vacation today and see why Nothing Comes Close to Celebrity Cruises.

Immerse yourself in the Aloha spirit of Hawaii with our 2027/2028 sailings. Choose from two of your favorite Happy places, each as stunning as the islands you’ll explore. Only on Celebrity Edge can you experience a trifecta of perfection: a Magic Carpet floating above the water, panoramic views from the Rooftop Garden, and Infinite Verandas that bring the Pacific Ocean breeze inside. On the Renewed Celebrity Solstice, you’ll enjoy redesigned rooms, new restaurants, and reimagined lounges.

Hawaii is one of the most amazing places on Earth to connect with nature and with each other. From Honolulu’s white sand Waikiki Beach and the waterfalls of Hilo to Kailua Kona’s famed coffee farms and the volcanic landscapes of Puna, you’ll discover unforgettable experiences. Nothing Comes Close to Celebrity Cruises. Book your Hawaii vacation today and see for yourself.

Stay tuned: Even more of your favorite sailings are opening next month.

If you’re already booked for this year’s President’s Cruise, there’s no better way to kick off the sailing of the year than to join us for an incredible evening in the shadow of the historic Acropolis. Join us for a night unlike any other at Dionysos Restaurant, and enjoy live music, fine dining, and mingling with Celebrity President Laura Hodges Bethge and our executive team. Seating is very limited—reserve your spot today.

We had an absolute blast making history with you and the rest of the Dream Makers. You helped us create your next happy place—Celebrity Xcel. And while Dream Makers has ended, the excitement is just beginning. Xcel is almost here, and soon you’ll be able to experience the ship your ideas helped shape. We can’t wait to show you around. 

It’s an exciting time to be a part of the Celebrity family. With so much more in store, be sure to sign up below to join us as we start dreaming about the next big thing at sea.

Joseph and Kaitlynn Vella have celebrated her birthday with us nearly every year since they were married. In this month’s Member Spotlight, discover why they come back to her happy place for every milestone. 

Let’s begin by taking it back to where it all began. “I heard about Celebrity Cruises from a travel agent in 2001,” Joseph told us. “I was reluctant to go on a cruise at first, but after a week on Celebrity Millennium, I was hooked.” 

Joseph and Kaitlynn are both psychologists in New Jersey, and own an agency that serves high-risk children and families in the state. “Going on a Celebrity vacation is an important part of our self-care routine, as it helps us decompress and refresh, given how challenging our line of work can be,” he shared, “People ask me if I go to therapy, and I always reply, ‘Absolutely.’ Sometimes three times a year, depending on where Celebrity is sailing.”

Kaitlynn's recent birthday cruise was a seven-night escape in the Western Caribbean aboard Celebrity Apex. The sailing was from March 1st to March 8th, with her birthday on the 5th perfectly placed in the middle. They celebrated throughout the week by dining at the Rooftop Grill, Eden, Fine Cut Steakhouse, and Kaitlynn's favorite restaurant, Raw on 5. “We enjoyed amazing spa treatments, wonderful entertainment, and everything The Retreat has to offer. Our butler Rhona decorated our suite with balloons and signs on Kaitlynn's birthday much to our delight. It was a perfect trip in every way.”  

When Joseph and Kaitlynn started dating 11 years ago, he was quick to share his love for cruising. And as a Captain’s Club member, he told her all about why a sailing with us was the perfect vacation—the amazing food, the incredible service and crew, the impeccable cleanliness, the comfort, luxury, and beauty of the ships, and the variety of activities on board. Kaitlynn was impressed and wanted to go on a cruise, but was a little anxious since it would be her first sailing. “We sailed for the first time together on Celebrity Equinox to the Caribbean.” She instantly fell in love with Celebrity, and the couple began cruising as often as they could. During one vacation, they were together on The Retreat Deck looking out over the ocean, and she turned to him and said, "This is my happiest place. It’s just so calm and peaceful." On her birthday cruise this year, the couple stayed in a Royal Suite. “We absolutely love The Retreat. We have stayed in other staterooms but for us, The Retreat experience is the pinnacle of luxury travel.” 

So, what’s next for Joseph and Kaitlynn? They have two upcoming cruises booked—a seven-night Caribbean cruise on Celebrity Xcel in January, and another seven-night sailing to Bermuda on Celebrity Silhouette in May. The Celebrity Xcel escape is their annual winter cruise, and the Bermuda getaway will be yet another birthday break. Since the Bermuda sailing disembarks from Cape Liberty in New Jersey, the couple will be joined by a group of family and friends, many of whom will be sailing for the first time.There’s only one way to end this, and that’s in Joseph’s own words: 

“I can’t express how much we enjoy cruising with Celebrity. We refer to the night before we sail as "Christmas Eve" because we feel like children again. I have been on 30 cruises and 16 with Kaitlynn, all with Celebrity. Nothing makes us happier than walking through our ship on embarkation day and reconnecting with staff and crew we had the opportunity to sail with in the past. Celebrity is not just Kaitlynn's happy place, it's mine, too. I’m honored to be in the Captain’s Club newsletter, and thank you for the opportunity to share our story.” 

What an incredible couple and a great story. Thank you both, we can’t wait to welcome you back on board very soon.

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.