Celebrity Cruises took delivery of Celebrity Xcel at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, and announced the name of its sixth Edge Series ship–Celebrity Xcite–during her steel–cutting ceremony.
The exclusive event was attended by executives from Royal Caribbean and the shipyard, as well as Captain Kyriakos Matragkas, captain of Celebrity Xcel. Also joining in on the celebration was more than 1,600 Celebrity Xcel crew members. The celebration included time-honored maritime traditions of a formal signing ceremony, the changing of flags, and a celebratory toast in the vessel’s Grand Plaza.
Royal Caribbean Group president and CEO Jason Liberty said, “Celebrity Xcel represents the next bold step in our journey to transform the way the world experiences premium travel. Each ship in the Edge Series has reimagined what’s possible at sea through elevated design and experiences that deepen the connection to the destinations being visited. With Celebrity Xcel now joining the fleet and Celebrity Xcite on the horizon, we’re continuing to set new standards for excellence and innovation alongside our trusted partners at Chantiers de l’Atlantique.”
Celebrity Xcel will begin sailing in November from Fort Lauderdale, Florida showcasing seven brand new spaces. Her first sailing will be a 4-night preview cruise that departs on November 9, 2025, to call on Cozumel, Mexico. She will sail a 5-night maiden voyage on November 18, 2025, which will call on Cozumel and Bimini Island, Bahamas. She will then sail 7-night voyages to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. Celebrity Xcel will sail her inaugural European season in April 2026, and return to North America to sail from PortMiami in November 2026.
While her homeport and itineraries are not known, the sixth Edge Series ship, Celebrity Xcite, will set sail in 2028.