With just four months to go before Celebrity Xcel enters service, the fifth Edge-class ship from Celebrity Cruises revealed more details about spaces and experiences guests can look forward to, such as pool parties and retro games. 

The 3,260-guest new-build is under construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France and will sail her first voyage, a 4-night preview cruise from Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades, on November 9, 2025.

The preview voyage was added in April 2025, when the line announced that construction was ahead of schedule and the vessel would debut earlier than originally planned.

The new onboard experiences detailed by the line on July 8, 2025 reflect an eclectic mix of activities, from playing darts, shuffleboard, and Pac-Man in a new lounge, to innovative relaxation areas in the ship’s spa, and a luxury-level pool club featuring chilled towels and a VIP option.

Also, the cruise line’s first Celebrity Flagship retail store will be the place where guests can find branded souvenirs of their vacation at sea.

“Celebrity Xcel will set sail with seven new elevated experiences that invite guests to escape their daily routine and make memories that will last a lifetime,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises. 

“With so much innovation at every turn, the journey will be just as fun as the destinations themselves,” added Hodges Bethge.

The cruise line earlier this year disclosed other newly envisioned spaces the ship will offer, including The Bazaar, a three-story area focused on local cultures that the ship’s itineraries will feature, and an open-kitchen restaurant called Mosaic.

New Relaxation Spaces, Poolside Galas Set to Debut

Let’s take a look at the new relaxation space guests can enjoy in The Spa aboard Celebrity Xcel.

The Hydra Room will be among several therapeutic areas in the facility, featuring a hot tub, heated lounge chairs, and a quiet, soothing atmosphere.

An outdoor deck, Vitamin D, will be accessible only to Thermal Suite guests and offer ocean views beyond the ship’s bow and a choice of complimentary non-alcoholic beverages.

A fundamental element of most cruises is the poolside ambience, and Celebrity Xcel is on track to deliver big time with its new Celebrity Pool Club. Comfy sun-beds and a pool valet who delivers chilled towels will lend a luxurious aspect to the club.

Read Also: Celebrity Cruises Dining: 14 Must-Try Venues

A VIP package will add a private cabana and dedicated wait staff service. (Prices have not been revealed.) The pool area will come alive on the final at-sea day of each voyage, with Caribbean-inspired music and drinks, plus pop-up shows and various pool games. 

The event is called the Poolest Day Ever, and wraps up with a Shine the Night poolside party that will likely go into the wee hours.

Guests can step back in time at the new space called Attic at The Club, a lounge geared to adults who enjoy games such as Pac-Man — the video game from the 1980s, plus pool, foosball, shuffleboard, and darts.

The ship’s Celebrity Flagship store is being designed as a retail space but it also will have interactive screens that ask trivia questions. Souvenirs for sale will include clothing, water bottles, keychains, and lots of items that can be engraved.

Following Celebrity Xcel’s preview cruise, she will sail her maiden voyage on November 18, 2025, a 5-night cruise roundtrip from Port Everglades to Bimini, Bahamas, and Cozumel, Mexico.

The 140,600-gross-ton ship will offer 7-night Caribbean and Bahamas voyages until May 2026, when she repositions to Europe for a series of Western Mediterranean summer cruises roundtrip from Barcelona and between Barcelona and Athens.

The ship will return to North America in October 2026, when she will homeport in Miami and sail a winter series of Caribbean cruises.

Celebrity Xcel Cruise Ship to Feature Four New Spaces