Celebrity Cruises’ newest Edge-class ship, Celebrity Xcel, just debuted in Florida for her inaugural season, but some are finding the new ship’s cabins are far from quiet.
Guests aboard Celebrity Xcel’s first preview sailings have taken to Facebook to report a recurring issue that’s become all too familiar on other Edge-class ships: persistent creaking, popping, and tapping noises in their cabins.
One guest wrote in the Celebrity Xcel Preview Cruise Facebook group:
“My cabin walls are creaking worse than on the Wonder! It’s snapping and creaking near the infinite balcony. We have to turn our TV up! I’m loving my trip, not complaining, just letting everyone know.”
Others chimed in to say they experienced similar noises, especially near the infinite veranda doors.
“It sounded like the room was falling apart,” one passenger said.
Another commented that maintenance staff “came and caulked the window,” which seemed to help temporarily.
Passengers in multiple threads from the preview sailing report hearing tapping, cracking, and squeaking sounds across various decks. Some described the noise as unbearable, while others said it varied by location.
A few lucky travelers on Deck 12 reported a peaceful night’s sleep without any unwanted noise, suggesting the issue might not affect all cabins equally.
This seems to be a known issue on the newest Edge class ships.
While the reports might surprise guests expecting a flawless new ship, experienced Celebrity cruisers weren’t shocked. In fact, similar complaints have surfaced online since the launch of Celebrity Beyond in 2022 and Celebrity Ascent in 2023.
On Reddit, one user shared a video of the noisy cabin titled “Edge ships have a big problem with creaking and banging”. The cruiser wrote:
“Just got off a 10-night cruise on Beyond and so many of my nights were interrupted by the loud banging and creaking on the cabin’s windows. I was in an Infinite Veranda room. Not sure if this makes a difference but my friends were in a suite on a higher deck and also had the same issues. Also experienced the same on Ascent.”
“Celebrity’s response seems to be issuing future credits for the inconvenience, but I personally won’t be booking another cruise with them until this is resolved. I left the ship feeling more exhausted than when I got on. A real bummer because I love the Edge ships.”
Another Redditor shared that the issue was widespread and not limited to one deck or cabin type, with even suite-class passengers complaining about sleepless nights.
One cruiser on the Celebrity Beyond Facebook page said, “There were creaking noises the entire trip. We had the head of engineering come by, nothing they can do. Very dangerous design flaw and they know it.”
Over on Facebook, guests on Beyond and Ascent echoed the same frustration. One frequent cruiser stated, “The creaking is unbearable. It doesn’t stop and it’s very loud. On Ascent last week it was less, but now on Beyond it’s constant. Maybe the real balcony makes the problem worse.”
Finally, one Cruise Critic user posted, “I am on Celebrity Beyond now. The rumors of creaking and popping and sounds like the cabin is falling apart are a TRUE: I read the reviews before booking this ship and ignored all the people complaining about the noises”
The cruiser continued, “There are other cruisers experiencing this also and the deck level doesn’t seem to matter. It is so bad, there is NO SLEEP to be had on this ship. I have been on 15+ cruises and realize this is a ship but no other ship has been like this. I will NEVER sail on this ship again. Celebrity has had 1-2 years to correct this problem and have ignored it.”
What would cause Celebrity Xcel to creak?
The Edge-class ships, including Edge, Apex, Beyond, Ascent, and now Xcel, are known for their cutting-edge design, but that innovation might come with quirks.
One commenter theorized that the plastic-style wall paneling used in the newer ships is to blame: “It’s an interior creak, pop of the plastic style wood. It’s the walls. Nothing to do with the framing of boat”
Others suspect the infinite veranda design, where balcony doors are integrated into the cabin’s outer wall, may amplify movement sounds during rough seas or strong winds. “I remember hearing a tapping sound from the infinite balcony door,” one Celebrity Xcel passenger said. “It felt like the structure was flexing.”
Even guests who experienced calmer conditions heard noises, suggesting it’s not just weather-related.
“Even when we were in nearly smooth seas, we heard creaking,” wrote a passenger who’s sailed on Beyond, Ascent, and now Xcel. “I think it’s just a design area for improvement.”
Some believe the issue worsened after Beyond was lengthened by about 20 meters compared to the original Edge design. “It’s interesting that these complaints seem more common on Beyond versus Edge,” one cruiser observed. “Maybe the longer hull has changed how the structure flexes.”
Combing through online reports from passengers, it seems the worst creaking occurs in Infinite Veranda cabins, especially on higher decks (9–12). The noise seems to be amplified in the ship’s forward or aft sections, as this is where there’s more flex and wind exposure.
Midship cabins, particularly on Decks 8–10, are reported as mostly quiet. The issue appears concentrated on the newer, lengthened Edge-class ships (Beyond, Ascent, Xcel), suggesting a design or material change affecting how those upper decks and balcony modules flex at sea.
Celebrity’s response to complaints
Despite the noise, many passengers complimented the crew’s quick response. On Xcel, one traveler shared: “We had it last night, called, and they offered a different sleeping room if we needed. Four guys came this morning and fixed it! Awesome customer service.”
Others said maintenance teams tightened bolts, added caulk around balcony windows, and even offered cabin changes or future cruise credits. This matches reports from Beyond passengers who received compensation or were moved to quieter staterooms after escalating to Guest Services.
To be fair, not all guests noticed an issue. Some said they “slept like babies” or “heard nothing unusual,” especially midship or on higher decks.
Creaking is common on ships due to structural flexing, but the sheer number of similar complaints across Edge-class vessels suggests a design consistency worth attention.
Should you worry about Edge class ships creaking?
Celebrity Cruises’ Edge-class ships are undeniable engineering marvels, but that doesn’t mean they are perfect. With Xcel now joining the fleet and already showing signs of the same creaking issues as Beyond and Ascent, Celebrity Cruises may need to take a closer look at its construction materials, balcony design, or soundproofing.
For now, frequent Edge-class travelers recommend a few practical fixes. This includes bringing earplugs or a portable white noise machine. In addition, ask Guest Services for maintenance assistance. You can also request a room change if the noise persists and continues to disrupt your vacation.
