Celebrity Cruises wants the public to decide on the finishing touches for Celebrity Xcel when it debuts in November 2025. “Xcel Dream Makers” is open for anyone to test, try and vote on the things they want to see and enjoy on board.
Michael Scheiner, chief marketing and product officer of Celebrity Cruises, said, “We want to ensure our guests love our products and experiences, so involving them in the process to perfect Celebrity Xcel was a great way to achieve this. Celebrity Cruises is known for ground-breaking innovation in ship design and experiences unlike any other at sea, when Xcel launches guests won’t have just found their happy place, they’ll have helped us build it.”
Travelers will be able to choose key elements of Celebrity Xcel through online polls and “one-of-a-kind experiential in-person events.” Elements include the ship’s design as well as its culinary and entertainment offerings.
Dream Makers will specifically vote on the following:
- Choosing textiles, managing interior design elements and curating service offerings;
- Picking their favorite dishes and beverages, choosing table settings and shaping dining concepts; and
- Providing input on headline shows, curating props and costumes, selecting playlists and partaking in selections to appoint pivotal entertainment positions onboard.
Celebrity Xcel reached a major construction milestone on January 18, 2025, when she was floated out of dry dock at the Chantiers de L’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. The float out is monumental in that it marks the completion of the ship’s exterior and the beginning of the next phase of construction.
Celebrity Xcel will debut from Fort Lauderdale in November. She will offer 7-night alternating itineraries between the Bahamas, Mexico, Cayman Islands, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas and St. Maarten.Summer 2026, following her Caribbean season, Celebrity Xcel will sail the Mediterranean for her inaugural European season. She will offer 7- to 11-night itineraries from Barcelona and Athens, with overnight stays in Madeira, Portugal.