Tag Archives: Edge-class

Celebrity Xcel to Enter Service Early

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Celebrity APEX photo credit Spacejunkie2 flickr

Celebrity Cruises’ next Edge-class ship, the Celebrity Xcel, will enter service earlier than initially planned.

According to a statement issued by the company, the 3,260-guest vessel will offer a short preview cruise ahead of its maiden voyage in November.

“We have an important update on the arrival of the Celebrity Xcel into Fort Lauderdale,” Celebrity said in a message to booked guests.

“Our teams have been working diligently on building our new ship, and the completion is now earlier than we had originally anticipated,” the company added.

As a result, the Xcel will sail from Port Everglades for a new four-night cruise to Cozumel, Mexico, on Nov. 9, 2025.

According to the company, the ship is entering service earlier. Inaugural festivities are still set to take place during the ship’s Nov. 18, 2025, sailing.

Passengers who booked the inaugural cruise are being offered a chance to change their reservations to the new preview sailing.

“We understand that for some guests, it’s important to be the first onboard, and for others, being part of the inaugural celebrations is what matters most,” Celebrity explained.

“With this added sailing, we wanted to give you an exclusive opportunity to be the first to join us for our new sailing, or have the option of switching, if that’s what you prefer,” the company continued.

Passengers who opt to change their reservation to the new preview cruise will sail in the same exact suite or like-for-like staterooms currently booked.

While suite guests will have the same booked suites held for them as a courtesy, the offers are on a first-come, first-served basis, Celebrity noted.

The cruise fare rate will be adjusted to the current prevailing rate, and guests will be refunded for the difference if there’s an overpayment.

Currently under construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France, the Celebrity Xcel is the fifth in Celebrity’s Edge-class series.

After its inaugural cruise, the 140,600-ton ship launches a series of seven-night cruises to the Caribbean departing from Fort Lauderdale.

Celebrity’s latest Edge-class offering, Celebrity Beyond, has been officially delivered

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The 3,200 passenger ship is 20 metres larger than any other ship in Celebrity’s fleet, with 179 more suites and staterooms than sister ships Apex or Edge.

Beyond also features 40% larger deck space, with 32 restaurants, bars and lounges – more than any other Celebrity ship.

New venues include the 50-seat speciality restaurant Le Voyage while Luminae has been redesigned. Meanwhile, all-inclusive restaurants include Cosmopolitan, which Celebrity describes as “the next evolution of our current main restaurants”; Italian eatery Tuscan; French restaurant Normandie; and Cyprus, which Celebrity said represented its Greek heritage.

Beyond also boasts two Iconic Suites, which are the largest in Celebrity’s fleet.

The ceremony saw Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, president and chief executive of Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean Group president and chief executive, Jason Liberty, and Beyond’s captain, Kate McCue, officially took ownership of the new vessel from the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.

They were joined by Beyond’s 1,400 crew members from more than 60 different countries.

“This incredible ship, on this long-awaited day, signifies our commitment to investing in the future of the travel industry, as well as the shipbuilding industry in Europe,” said Liberty.

“We are so grateful to the Chantiers de l’Atlantique team; our own Newbuild and Celebrity Cruises team; our loyal guests and trade partners, and everyone who has contributed their time, resources, creativity and loyalty.”