Here’s what happens when you let 140,000 passengers help design a ship
SOURCE:Sydney Morning Herald|BY:Fiona Carruthers
From a hidden 1920s speakeasy to a high-tech theatre and expanded suites, Celebrity Cruises’ fifth Edge-class ship has arrived.
January 1, 2026 — 5:00am
Ship: Celebrity Xcel
The cruise four-day float out from Miami’s Fort Lauderdale
Launched November 2025
Passengers 3276
Crew 1400
Passenger decks 16 in total, 10 of which have passenger cabins
Length 327 metres
Celebrity Xcel, the newest Edge-class ship.
Celebrity Xcel is the line’s fifth Edge-class ship since Celebrity Edge debuted in 2017, and all have the distinctive tangerine-orange Magic Carpet – basically, a lounge and bar the size of a tennis court – cantilevered off the side of the pool deck.
As the brand suggests, Celebrity Cruises likes to bag the big names. The line has worked with American interior designers of the ilk of Kelly Hoppen and Nate Berkus, and with Gwyneth Paltrow in 2022 on wellness. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai is also in the fold as godmother of Edge.
The Pool Club.
Xcel takes entertainment next level with the help of heavy hitters such as British director and choreographer (including the Rocketman movie) Adam Murray and Canadian Lukas McFarlane, a past winner of the UK’s Got to Dance. At their disposal is what must be among (if not the best) live entertainment space at sea – a two-storey auditorium with a vast stage backed by a 33.5-metre long curved LED wall that’s six metres tall, and can be used as a light show screen and a cinema.
Celebrity Edge also sought input from its loyal guests in creating Xcel – more than 140,000 “Dream Makers” (read: past passengers) answered a series of questionnaires on what they would like to see onboard. Virtually everyone on the four-day soft launch was unanimous that Xcel was the best Edge-class ship.
So what’s new on this ship?
Pure nostalgia … neon-lit games lounge Attic at The Club.
There are more suites and staterooms than other Edge ships, and many of the public outdoor spaces have been expanded – for example, the sundeck at the exclusive-access Retreat is 40 per cent larger.
Xcel leans more fully into Celebrity Edge’s well-known partying vibe. The most exciting addition is a hidden speakeasy that’s like something out of a Woody Allen film. It’s purposefully hard to locate – but so worth it, as the interiors and vibe effortlessly dial up the 1920s.
Yee-haw! “Saddle Up Saloon” parties have everyone line dancing.
Owned by Royal Caribbean since 1997, Celebrity Edge was founded by the Greek Chandris Group in 1988, and some guests still like to party as if they’re on Mykonos.
Revellers will warmly welcome The Attic – a new area within The Club that goes 24/7, modelled on a retro gaming lounge. Think Thunderbirds are Go while playing Pac-Man. Meanwhile, the country-and-western “Saddle Up Saloon” parties have everyone line dancing.
Boarding
Celebrity Edge hosts the assembled media at the Marriott AC Hotel Fort Lauderdale Beach the night before. We meet at 9.30am in the lobby for the 40-minute bus ride to the port, where porters whisk away the large suitcases to deliver straight to our staterooms, and we board with only carry-on.
My cabin key card is sitting by the door of my Sky Suite when I board, and I have immediate access to the room. (Note that on any cruise ship, you might not have access to your room immediately. On most ships, full room readiness is typically from about 1pm.) Celebrity Edge has a “Get on board” FAQs tab on its website.
The design
Take brunch at Bora, the new al fresco dining venue.
The original vision set by Celebrity Edge’s lead interior designer, Kelly Hoppen, is continued throughout Xcel. New restaurant offerings, notably Mosaic and Bora, are beautifully fitted out with strong attention to detail.
Look out for the LED-lit arches on deck 5, located next to the new Bazaar space – where local manufacturers and artisans host pop-up stalls to bring more of each destination on board.
The spaces
The ship can feel big and a little rowdy at times – not to mention being time-consuming to navigate. But the benefit is in the variety: catch the latest big soccer game at the Rooftop Garden, or in the cosy Craft Social Bar. Then move to Raw on Five for a health-fix meal with the ship’s gym fiends.
Join the party crowd assembling from about 5pm at Martini Bar, the heart of the ship, ahead of dinner and a show. Lose them – only to find them again on the Magic Carpet, or by the pool deck for the late-night Shine the Night parties, and boogie under the stars.
If you choose to be in bed by 11pm (why is everyone looking at me?), that’s fine, too.
Late revellers and early risers come together from 6am when hunting down the best coffee at Cafe Al Bacio on deck 3 off the Grand Plaza.
The room
A Sky Suite cabin on a Celebrity Xcel.
I’m in a Sky Suite, deck 10, midship, near the stairs and elevators – handy for moving around. Most Sky Suites measure about 29.6 square meters inside, with generous balconies beyond the sliding glass door. The decor is “grey meets beige” calming tones – with bold artworks, red cushions and a patterned carpet for visual pops. The spacious lounging and desk areas, and the king bed with a cashmere mattress, add a plush feel, as do the fluffy towels and bathrobes.
But the real wow is in the large marble bathroom with sliding panels above the double wash basin – so you can open up and look out. No need to miss the views while brushing your teeth, nor while taking a shower, which doubles as a small bathtub with jets.
Sky Suite guests have access to The Retreat, for suite guests only – a VIP-style area spread across decks 15, 16 and 17. It includes a 24-hour lounge, plus a sundeck, splash pool, heated whirlpools and exclusive Luminae, the highest-rated restaurant in the fleet.
Which room type is best for me?
Sky Suites include butler service and access to The Retreat.
From the entry-level Interior Staterooms (no windows), through to the lavish Iconic and Penthouse Suites, and the two-storey Edge Villas, Celebrity Edge offers plenty of choice.
Xcel has 1640 staterooms, of which 228 are suites. There are about nine suite categories and six stateroom categories and classes from which to choose. Buying into Concierge Class bolsters the stateroom experience by offering perks like priority check-in and dining reservations.
Old hands vote the Sky Suite as the sweet spot for the discerning, price-sensitive traveller. The room is longer and wider than an Infinite Veranda Stateroom, and includes a true veranda. Plus you get access to The Retreat.
Larger, one-bedroom suites start with the 16 Celebrity Suites onboard, moving up to the seriously impressive Royal Suites. Once you hit Royal and above, all speciality dining venues are included – worth considering for longer itineraries.
The food
Build your own Bloody Mary.
In a nutshell, there are 32 restaurants, bars and lounges, from casual options to extra-charge speciality fine dining such as Le Petit Chef, and Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud, who operates several Michelin-starred restaurants.
Bora is the most noteworthy new food offering on Xcel – a brilliant alfresco rooftop restaurant with Mediterranean bites on deck 15, just before the Sunset Bar. An over-the-top assemble-your-own Bloody Mary cart adds an extra fun vibe. Bora is perfect for either date night, or a rowdy meal with new shipboard friends.
Mosaic Restaurant.
Also worth writing home about is Mosaic, which replaces what was Eden restaurant at the back of other Edge-class ships. Adjacent to the multi-level Mosaic is a charming new “Spice Cafe”, with healthy poke bowls.
The many specialty restaurants like Le Voyage come with an extra charge, and can be tricky to secure bookings due to popularity. But the ship’s all-access Main Restaurant, Oceanview Cafe and a handful of others included in basic pricing will keep you well-fed. A drinks package is worth exploring given only non-alcoholic beverages tend to be included, and a decent glass of wine starts from about $US10 ($15.30).
Wellness
Hydra Pool.Michel Verdure
Celebrity’s SEA Thermal Suite in The Spa is the stuff of maritime legend. Casual passes are pricey – book an AquaClass stateroom for unlimited access to the SEA Thermal Suite and complimentary fitness classes, or purchase a separate SEA Thermal Suite pass. Xcel’s spa has a new Hydra Room, and an outdoor “Vitamin D” lounger area to catch a safe amount of sun, with your SPF slathered on.
Entertainment
Acrobatic performance in The Theatre.
The theatre auditorium is state-of-the-art, and big name directors and producers are being enlisted to create shows you could expect to see on Broadway. Light lasers, aerial artists and casts of up to 75 singers, dancers and musicians create memorable evenings.
The crew
A class act. This crew goes above and beyond. So many – from the performers to the chefs and cocktail mixers – are masters of their field.
The verdict
A fantastic option for design lovers and foodies – and for the younger cruiser, along with the young at heart. Bring dancing shoes.
Our rating out of five
★★★★½
Swell
The fast and generally reliable Starlink Wi-Fi.
Not so swell
There are no self-service laundromats on board. All laundry must be paid for unless it’s included in a package.
