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January 30, 2025

Get ready to channel your inner designer, foodie, and entertainment aficionado, because Celebrity Cruises is giving you the reins to craft your dream vacation aboard their newest ship, Celebrity Xcel.

Through their exciting new initiative, Xcel ‘Dream MakersSM,’ vacationers around the globe are invited to weigh in on what will make Celebrity Xcel truly extraordinary. The best part? The experiences chosen by this community will debut when the ship launches in November 2025, elevating this fifth addition to the award-winning Edge Series into a category all its own.

“We want to ensure our guests love our products and experiences, so involving them in the process to perfect Celebrity Xcel was a great way to achieve this,” says Michael Scheiner, chief marketing and product officer of Celebrity Cruises. “Celebrity Cruises is known for ground-breaking innovation in ship design and experiences unlike any other at sea. When Xcel launches, guests won’t have just found their happy place—they’ll have helped us build it.”

In a first-of-its-kind move for the cruise industry, the Dream Makers community will have the final say on key elements of the Celebrity Xcel vacation experience. Whether it’s through online polls or exclusive in-person events, the public will help shape the ship’s design, dining options, and entertainment lineup. Think of it as a VIP backstage pass to the creative process.

Here’s how Dream Makers will leave their mark on Celebrity Xcel:

– Interior Design: From textiles to service concepts, you’ll play a hand in creating the ship’s unique style and vibe.

– Dining Decisions: Curate menus, select table settings, and shape entirely new dining concepts to suit your taste buds.

– Entertainment Excellence: Vote on headline shows, pick props and costumes, select playlists, and even help choose key entertainment roles onboard.

With the Dream Makers’ input, Celebrity Xcel is set to redefine what leisure travel can be. The ship already hit a major milestone on January 18 when it floated out of dry dock at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. This marked the completion of the ship’s exterior, bringing it one step closer to welcoming guests. But Celebrity Xcel isn’t just about pushing boundaries in luxury travel—it’s also leading the way in sustainability.

Featuring the industry’s first tri-fuel capable engine, the ship is a significant step forward in Royal Caribbean Group’s Destination Net Zero plan, with a goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Celebrity Xcel’s inaugural season kicks off from Fort Lauderdale with seven-night itineraries exploring the Bahamas, Mexico, the Cayman Islands, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten. By Summer 2026, the ship will head to Europe for its Mediterranean debut, offering seven- to 11-night journeys departing from Barcelona and Athens. And for the first time, Celebrity will offer overnight stays in Madeira, Portugal, promising even more unforgettable experiences.

So, are you ready to turn your vacation dreams into reality? Join the Xcel ‘Dream Makers’ community today and help shape the future of cruising. Learn more at www.celebritycruises.com/xceldreammakers.

Don’t miss more updates, news and reviews about Celebrity Cruises on Cruising Journal.

Monte Mathews

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