by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 10:50 AM ET, Tue February 4, 2025
Celebrity Cruises is debuting a new multi-sensory space on Celebrity Xcel.
Called the Bazaar, the three-story area combines entertainment, activities, culinary experiences and more, inspired by the destinations the ship will visit. Guests will also be able to shop local artisan products and participate in hands-on experiences.
Celebrity Xcel is slated to debut in November, sailing 7-night itineraries from Fort Lauderdale. The new ship will visit destinations in the Bahamas, Mexico, Cayman Islands, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. Then, in the summer of 2026, Celebrity Xcel will head to Europe and offer 7- to 11-night journeys through the Mediterranean.
“The Bazaar is a truly one-of-a-kind space designed to seamlessly blend ship and shore and transform the way guests experience destinations,” says Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises. “Celebrity Xcel intentionally extends the destination experience onboard through a continued authentic offering between ports of call, allowing guests to take the destination with them.”
Members of the newly announced “Dream Makers” community can help shape The Bazaar by selecting festival entertainment, market activities, menu items and more.
The Bazaar will change throughout each sailing, with offerings inspired by four unique Caribbean festivals. Each festival will include local snacks and drinks, crafting experiences, cooking and dance classes, entertainment and musical performances. When Celebrity Xcel sails to Europe in 2026, the Bazaar will transition to feature festivals, markets and culinary experiences inspired by Mediterranean destinations.
On sea days, the Bazaar will welcome local artisans and transform into an immersive shopping experience, complete with basket-weaving and craft demonstrations and products like Caribbean masks and traditional leather hats. Guests can also participate in activities like rum and chocolate pairings, and local hot sauce tastings and more.
The Bazaar will also feature a new, open-kitchen dining concept serving dishes from the destinations visited. Called Mosaic, the eatery will also offer a specialty Chef’s Table experience and will be home to Chef’s Studio, Celebrity’s first destination-inspired cooking school.
In addition, guests can enjoy a new casual dining concept, called Spice, featuring rotating bites inspired by the itinerary. Located inside a café on the water’s edge, Spice will have floor-to-ceiling windows.
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