Celebrity Cruises celebrated a major milestone this week as it officially took delivery of Celebrity Xcel while simultaneously announcing its next Edge Series vessel, Celebrity Xcite.
Both moments unfolded at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, signaling yet another evolution in the brand’s ongoing mission to redefine premium cruising.
The delivery of Celebrity Xcel and the steel-cutting ceremony for Celebrity Xcite brought together Royal Caribbean Group executives, shipyard leaders, and more than 1,600 crew members to celebrate.
The milestone was marked with long-standing maritime traditions, including the signing of official documents, a symbolic flag exchange, and a celebratory toast inside the ship’s stunning three-story Grand Plaza.
With Celebrity Xcel officially joining the fleet, the 141,000-ton vessel represents the fifth in Celebrity’s acclaimed Edge Series. The award-winning Edge class ships are renowned for pushing the boundaries of design, luxury, and connection to the sea.
The next sister ship, Celebrity Xcite, is now under construction and expected to debut in 2028.
“Celebrity Xcel represents the next bold step in our journey to transform the way the world experiences premium travel,” said Jason Liberty, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group.
“Each ship in the Edge Series has reimagined what’s possible at sea through elevated design and experiences that deepen the connection to the destinations being visited. With Celebrity Xcel now joining the fleet and Celebrity Xcite on the horizon, we’re continuing to set new standards for excellence and innovation.”
Celebrity Xcel was designed by guests for guests
What truly distinguishes Celebrity Xcel from her predecessors is the innovative Dream Makers Program.
This is a first-of-its-kind initiative that invited Celebrity Cruises’ most loyal travelers to shape aspects of the ship’s design. The program asked guests to share their ideas for a “dream vacation,” influencing onboard spaces and features that emphasize restoration, exploration, and connection to the sea.
“Celebrity Xcel has been designed with our guest as our north star. We even involved them in the design process through the Xcel Dream Makers program, so we know she will be the happy place of vacationers globally,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, President of Celebrity Cruises.
“We’re thrilled to welcome guests aboard next month and are excited to further expand these offerings on Celebrity Xcite.”
Celebrity Xcel will sail itineraries that inspire
Celebrity Xcel will make her highly anticipated debut to guests in November 2025, sailing seven-night Caribbean itineraries from Fort Lauderdale. The alternating routes include tropical favorites such as The Bahamas, Mexico, Grand Cayman, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten.
In summer 2026, Celebrity Xcel will reposition to Europe for her inaugural Mediterranean season, offering 7- to 11-night voyages from Barcelona and Athens. Guests can look forward to a mix of new destinations and longer port stays, including an all-new overnight in Madeira, Portugal, a first for the brand.
With seven newly designed spaces onboard, the cruise line promises that Celebrity Xcel will blur the line between ship and shore — a design ethos that has become a signature of the Edge Series since Celebrity Edge debuted in 2018.
Celebrity Xcite will set sail in 2028
Alongside Xcel’s debut, Celebrity Cruises also revealed the name of its sixth Edge Series ship will be Celebrity Xcite. The steel-cutting ceremony took place during the same event in Saint-Nazaire. This maritime tradition marks the beginning of a ship’s construction.
“Celebrity Xcel and the entire Edge Series are the result of close collaboration between our teams,” said Laurent Castaing, General Manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique.
“Our continued partnership with Royal Caribbean Group on Celebrity Xcite reflects a shared commitment to excellence and innovation.”
Expected to launch in 2028, Celebrity Xcite will carry forward the brand’s design evolution. The next Edge class ship will embodhy the same resort-at-sea feel of Edge, Apex, and Beyond with the expanded, guest-inspired spaces introduced on Ascent and Xcel.
Celebrity Cruises’ legacy of innovation
Celebrity Cruises’ Edge Series ships have reshaped the premium cruise market by merging cutting-edge architecture with resort-style sophistication.
From the Magic Carpet, the cantilevered platform that glides between decks, to the Infinite Veranda staterooms that invite the ocean inside, these ships have consistently blurred boundaries between indoor and outdoor living.
Celebrity Xcel promises to elevate that design language even further with new venues (still under wraps), expanded wellness concepts, and immersive dining that connects travelers more deeply with the destinations they visit.
And for fans of the Edge Series, the reveal of Celebrity Xcite signals that the brand’s momentum isn’t slowing down. In fact, the cruise line’s accelerating toward a new decade of design and guest-driven cruising.
