Celebrity Cruises has taken delivery of its newest cruise ship, Celebrity Xcel, at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.
The cruise line also announced the name of Xcel's sister ship and its sixth Edge Series vessel, introducing Celebrity Xcite with a ceremonial steel cutting and construction launch this week.
Celebrity Xcel will set sail in November with seven brand new spaces and an inaugural season from Fort Lauderdale featuring seven-night itineraries alternating between The Bahamas, Mexico, Cayman Islands, and Puerto Plata, St. Thomas and St. Maarten.
In summer 2026, Celebrity Xcel will venture across the Atlantic Ocean to make her European debut with seven- to 11-night Mediterranean journeys out of Barcelona and Athens, including all-new overnight stays in Madeira, Portugal.
Meanwhile, Celebrity Xcite is scheduled to set sail in 2028.
"Celebrity Xcel represents the next bold step in our journey to transform the way the world experiences premium travel," Royal Caribbean Group president and CEO Jason Liberty said in a statement.
"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," Liberty added. "With Celebrity Xcel now joining the fleet and Celebrity Xcite on the horizon, we're continuing to set new standards for excellence and innovation alongside our trusted partners at Chantiers de l'Atlantique."
"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," added 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 and the entire Edge Series is the result of close collaboration between our teams," Laurent Castaing, general manager of Chantiers de l'Atlantique, said in a statement. "Our continued partnership with Royal Caribbean Group on Celebrity Xcite reflects a shared commitment to excellence and innovation."
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