Celebrity Cruises takes delivery of Celebrity Xcel, cuts steel for Celebrity Xcite

Celebrity Cruises has taken delivery of Celebrity Xcel at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, while also marking the start of construction on its next Edge Series vessel, Celebrity Xcite. 

The twin milestones signal continued expansion of the Edge class series for the Royal Caribbean Group-owned brand as it evolves its premium cruise offering.

The handover ceremony for Celebrity Xcel took place on October 23rd, attended by Royal Caribbean Group president and CEO Jason Liberty, Celebrity Cruises president Laura Hodges Bethge, Chantiers de l’Atlantique general manager Laurent Castaing, and Celebrity Xcel’s captain, Kyriakos Matragkas. 

More than 1,600 crew members also joined the event, which featured traditional maritime rituals including a formal signing, the symbolic changing of flags, and a celebratory toast in the ship’s Grand Plaza.

Built at the same French yard that has delivered all five previous Edge Series ships, Celebrity Xcel continues the class’s emphasis on advanced design and passenger connectivity to the sea. 

The ship introduces seven new venues designed to further blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces and enhance guest immersion in destinations visited.

Jason Liberty described the ship as “the next bold step in our journey to transform the way the world experiences premium travel,” noting that every Edge Series ship “has reimagined what’s possible at sea through elevated design and experiences that deepen the connection to the destinations being visited.”

Laura Hodges Bethge said that guest input had played a direct role in shaping the ship’s design through the “Xcel Dream Makers” programme, adding that the new ship “will be the happy place of vacationers globally.”

The Edge Series, launched with Celebrity Edge in 2018, represents a major design shift for Celebrity Cruises, introducing features such as the outward-facing Infinite Veranda staterooms, the Magic Carpet platform and open-air lounges integrated into the ship’s profile. 

Celebrity Xcel is the fifth vessel in the series, following Edge, Apex, Beyond, and Ascent, and will enter service in 2025 ahead of Celebrity Xcite in 2028.

Construction of Celebrity Xcite began with a steel-cutting ceremony also held at Chantiers de l’Atlantique, marking the official start of the build. The shipyard’s general manager Laurent Castaing described the ongoing partnership with Royal Caribbean Group as “a reflection of shared commitment to excellence and innovation.”

Celebrity Xcel will begin service in November with alternating seven-night Caribbean itineraries from Fort Lauderdale, visiting destinations such as The Bahamas, Mexico, the Cayman Islands, and Puerto Plata, before repositioning to Europe for her first Mediterranean season in summer 2026. The ship will sail seven- to 11-night voyages from Barcelona and Athens, including overnight calls in Madeira.

Celebrity Xcite, the sixth Edge Series ship, is scheduled to enter service in 2028.