Celebrity Cruises Marks Double Milestone: Celebrity Xcel Delivered, Celebrity Xcite Announced

Celebrity Cruises celebrated two major shipbuilding milestones in France this week, officially welcoming Celebrity Xcel to its award-winning Edge-class fleet and revealing the name of its next vessel — Celebrity Xcite.

Celebrity Xcel Joins the Fleet

The brand-new Celebrity Xcel was handed over to Celebrity Cruises at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, on October 23, 2025.

At 140,600 gross tons, the ship becomes the fifth vessel in the groundbreaking Edge class, accommodating up to 3,950 guests at full capacity.

Construction began in June 2024, and after successful sea trials in September 2025, Xcel is now officially part of the fleet — a year ahead of schedule.

Xciting times at Celebrity Cruises as steel cutting begins on the sixth Edge-class ship

A New Era with Celebrity Xcite

On the same day, Celebrity revealed that its sixth Edge-class ship will be named Celebrity Xcite. The announcement came during the steel-cutting ceremony for the new ship, marking the start of its physical construction at the same French shipyard. Xcite is slated to enter service in 2028.

Innovative Design, Elevated Experience

The Edge-class series has redefined modern cruising with signature features like:

• The Magic Carpet – a cantilevered platform that moves between decks for unique ocean views and entertainment.
• Infinite Veranda staterooms – transforming balconies into open-air extensions of the room.
• The Grand Plaza – a stunning three-deck social hub at the heart of the ship.

“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,” said Jason Liberty, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, Celebrity Cruises’ parent company.

Laurent Castaing, General Manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique, praised the partnership, saying:

“Celebrity Xcel and the entire Edge Series are the result of close collaboration between our teams. Our continued work together on Celebrity Xcite reflects our shared commitment to excellence and innovation.”

Launch Events and Crew Celebration

The handover ceremony brought together key figures from both the shipyard and the cruise line, including Laura Hodges Bethge, President of Celebrity Cruises, Captain Kyriakos Matragkas, and more than 1,600 crew members who will sail aboard the new vessel.

Itineraries: Caribbean Now, Mediterranean Next

Following her delivery, Celebrity Xcel will homeport in Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, for the 2025-26 Caribbean season.

The ship will debut earlier than planned, with a 4-night preview sailing on November 9, 2025, visiting Cozumel, Mexico, followed by her 5-night maiden voyage on November 18, which adds Bimini, Bahamas to the itinerary.

From then on, Celebrity Xcel will offer 7-night cruises to both the Eastern and Western Caribbean, including ports such as:

• Amber Cove (Dominican Republic)
• St. Thomas (USVI)
• Philipsburg (St. Maarten)

In April 2026, Xcel will reposition to Barcelona for summer sailings across the Western and Eastern Mediterranean, ranging from 7 to 11 nights. She’ll return to the U.S. that November, shifting to a new homeport at PortMiami for her second winter season.

Details about Celebrity Xcite’s future itineraries and homeport are yet to be revealed.