Celebrity Cruises officially received and welcomed its newest ship, the Celebrity Xcel, and announced the name of its sixth Edge-Series ship: the Celebrity Xcite, whose first steel cutting marks the start of its construction at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. The Celebrity Xcite is scheduled to set sail in 2028, continuing the brand's legacy of redefining the premium cruise experience.
“Celebrity Xcel represents the next bold step in our journey to transform how the world experiences luxury travel,” said Jason Liberty, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group. “Each Edge-Series ship has redefined what’s possible at sea, with elevated designs and experiences that deepen the connection to the destinations visited. With the addition of Celebrity Xcel to the fleet and Celebrity Xcite on the horizon, we continue to set new standards of excellence and innovation alongside our trusted partners at Chantiers de l’Atlantique.”
“Celebrity Xcel has been designed with the guest as our guiding principle, and we even involved them in the design process through the Xcel Dream Makers program, so we know it will be a happy place for travelers from all over the world,” added Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises. “We are thrilled to welcome guests aboard next month and excited to further expand these experiences on Celebrity Xcite.”
Executives from Royal Caribbean Group and crew members from Celebrity Cruises gathered to celebrate the delivery of the Celebrity Xcel by the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard.
The ceremony was attended by Jason Liberty, Laura Hodges Bethge, Laurent Castaing and Captain Kyriakos Matragkas, commander of the Celebrity Xcel, along with more than 1,600 crew members of the new ship.
The milestone was celebrated with traditional maritime ceremonies, which included the official signing of the handover, the symbolic changing of the flags on board and a commemorative toast in the ship's spectacular, three-story Grand Plaza.
The Celebrity Xcel will set sail in November with seven new onboard spaces, designed to blur the line between the ship and the shore, and offer even more ways to relax, explore and enjoy during vacations.
Celebrity Cruises also marked the beginning of a new era of excellence by revealing the name of the Celebrity Xcel's sister ship: the Celebrity Xcite. The announcement was made during the steel-cutting ceremony, which symbolizes the official start of its construction. Executives from Royal Caribbean Group and the shipyard were present to commemorate this milestone.
The Celebrity Xcite, the sixth ship in the Edge series, will continue to elevate the guest experience, expanding on the innovative offerings of its predecessors to provide an unparalleled premium vacation.
Both Celebrity Xcel and Celebrity Xcite are designed to connect passengers with the beauty of the world around them like never before.
Starting in November 2025, the Celebrity Xcel will begin its inaugural season from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, offering seven-night itineraries alternating between The Bahamas, Mexico, the Cayman Islands and Puerto Plata, as well as St. Thomas and St. Maarten.
In the summer of 2026, the Celebrity Xcel will sail in Europe for the first time, with seven- to eleven-night itineraries from Barcelona and Athens, including new overnight stays in Madeira (Portugal), allowing travelers to immerse themselves in the essence of the Mediterranean like never before.
The Celebrity Xcite is scheduled to set sail in 2028.
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