Celebrity Cruises presents 'The Bazaar,' a new multi-level, multi-sensory space unlike any other at sea. This new experience will introduce authentic experiences that extend guests' time ashore, allowing them to enjoy destinations in an unconventional way. Offering uninterrupted exploration, 'The Bazaar' invites guests to immerse themselves in the sights, sounds, flavors, and traditions of the places they visit, as well as the festivals that have made these destinations famous—all aboard the Celebrity Xcel.
A one-of-a-kind concept, no two days are the same at 'The Bazaar'. Each day, the three-story space transforms, introducing new ways for guests to immerse themselves in the destinations visited throughout their voyage. 'The Bazaar' comes alive to combine guests' onboard and in-port experiences across all journeys; from a market featuring local artisanal products and hands-on craft workshops, to festivals inspired by the specific destinations on each itinerary, regionally inspired culinary experiences, and unforgettable entertainment.
“'The Bazaar' is a space designed to seamlessly blend the ship and the shoreline, transforming the way guests experience destinations,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises. “Celebrity Xcel intentionally extends the onboard destination experience through an authentic, continuous offering between ports of call, allowing guests to take the destination with them,” she added.
Four unique festivals inspired by Caribbean destinations —each linked to a port of call—will immerse guests in the cultures of the ports they visit. Each festival will bring a destination to life in multiple ways, including local food and beverage offerings, artisan experiences, retail enrichment activities, destination-inspired cooking and dance classes, pop-up entertainment, performances by local musicians, and other Caribbean-inspired activities. When the Celebrity Xcel sets sail for Europe in 2026, 'The Bazaar' will be transformed to offer festivals, markets, and culinary experiences inspired by Mediterranean destinations.
On days at sea, Market at The Bazaar invites guests to take the cities they visit home with them. Guests can enjoy local artisans coming aboard to showcase their crafts, skills, and traditions, and even teach guests how to make their own local creations. At The Bazaar, the Market's offerings will change throughout the voyages to reflect each of the four festival themes. Depending on the festival theme, guests can expand their palates with activities including rum and chocolate pairings and tastings of local hot sauce, immerse themselves in the destination's culture with experiences such as live basket-weaving demonstrations, and find unique souvenirs from local vendors such as an authentic Caribbean mask shop, traditional Mexican leather hats, embroidery stations, and much more.
In addition, new destination-inspired dining options at 'The Bazaar' will delight palates with local cuisine. An open kitchen concept, Mosaic, will serve dishes inspired by the regions the Celebrity Xcel, enhancing guests' appreciation of the incredible places they've visited.
For something even more special, guests can indulge in a Chef's Table experience at Mosaic. The Chef's Table experience at Mosaic features a varied tasting menu of childhood favorites representing every continent, each perfectly paired with wines from Celebrity Cruises' award-winning selection.
Adventurous foodies can learn to cook regional delicacies at Chef's Studio at Mosaic, Celebrity's first destination-inspired cooking school. Throughout the voyage, the cooking school's repertoire will change to reflect the themes of the destination-inspired festivals.
For guests on the go, a new casual dining concept, Spice, will offer a daytime selection of rotating bites with specialty items inspired by the ports visited on the itinerary.
Travelers can have their say and determine how the experiences at 'The Bazaar' will come to life aboard Celebrity Xcel . Celebrity Cruises' Xcel " Dream Makers " offer cruisers a unique opportunity to vote on new experiences they'd like to see on board . For The Bazaar, the Dream Makers will shape the festivals, choose the entertainment and activities at Market at The Bazaar, select the menu items at Mosaic, and much more.
An enriched vacation experience continues for guests in port, as Celebrity shore excursions offer multiple unique ways to explore a region's culture, designed to cater to different travel styles. Experiences range from exploring culture through the senses on Chef's Market Discoveries, to Small Group Journeys led by local guides, to personalized and exclusive tours on Private Journeys. Guests seeking a unique Nassau beach experience can indulge in the new Royal Beach Club, offering an all-inclusive beach day. Guests on Celebrity Xcel will be among the first to experience what is sure to become Nassau's newest hotspot.
The Celebrity Xcel will sail its inaugural season from Fort Lauderdale, offering seven-night itineraries alternating between the Bahamas, Mexico, the Cayman Islands, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten. In the summer of 2026, the Celebrity Xcel will embark on its inaugural European season, where guests can immerse themselves in the Mediterranean like never before on seven- to eleven-night voyages from Barcelona and Athens, including new overnight stays in Madeira, Portugal.
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