Celebrity Cruises Takes Delivery of Xcel, Announces Xcite

Celebrity Cruises has taken delivery of its fifth Edge-class ship, Celebrity Xcel. At the same time, the first piece of steel was cut for the line’s sixth Edge-class ship, which will be called Celebrity Xcite.

Both the delivery ceremony for Xcel and the steel cutting of Xcite took place at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. 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,” said Royal Caribbean Group president and CEO Jason Liberty. “Each ship in theEdge Serieshas reimagined what’s possible at sea through elevated design and experiences that deepen the connection to the destinations being visited.”

“Celebrity Xcelhas 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.”  

Liberty and Hodges Bethge were joined by Celebrity Xcel’s captain, Kyriakos Matragkas, as well as Laurent Castaing, general manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique, for the handover ceremony. The milestone was marked with time-honored maritime traditions, including a formal signing ceremony, the symbolic changing of flags aboard the vessel, and a celebratory toast in the ship’s three-story Grand Plaza.   

Celebrity Xcel will set sail in November with seven brand new spaces, including the new Bazaar, which replaces Eden.