ITTN’s Katie Doyle had the most wonderful opportunity this week to go onboard the newest addition to the Celebrity Cruise fleet: Celebrity Xcel as she celebrated her Naming Ceremony in Miami, Florida.
Celebrity Xcel is a 1,074-foot-ship (nearly as long as the Eiffel Tower is high) with a cruising speed of 22 knots and a gross tonnage of 141,262 tonnes. The shiny new vessel hosts a wealth of dining options, with seven new spaces, an expansive spa and jaw-dropping entertainment- Katie was blown away by all that Celebrity Xcel has to offer. Captained by Captain Kirk himself (no joke), the ship sets sail for Caribbean this winter before going to the Mediterranean for its summer season.
Onboard, the magical Naming Ceremony saw key Celebrity spokespeople taking the stage including Chairman & CEO of the Royal Caribbean Group Jason Liberty and Laura Hodges Bethge, President of Celebrity Cruises who welcomed Janaína Torres, Godmother of the Celebrity Xcel. A celebrity in her own right, Chef Janaína Torres shares a passion with the Celebrity Way: connecting travellers with destinations through authentic regional recipes, local sourcing and elevate hospitality.
The rooms on the Xcel come in an abundance of levels to suit all travellers, from staterooms to suites, Retreat, Concierge and AquaClass. Each room comes with 100% cotton bathrobes and towels, an interactive smart TV alongside the standard amenities and Katie can attest- she did in fact have the best sleep of her life!
But there’s no time for sleeping onboard with seven new spaces to explore, each space offering enthralling immersions into different cultures, experiences, and even take you through time themselves into a world that’s far from the every day.
The Spa, which has been expanded to now cover 30 rooms and over 120 treatments, feels like a destination in itself. Guests can now enjoy a brand-new and first-ever Hydra Room, a therapeutic H20 experience in the Thermal Suite. They can soak up the sunshine on the Vitamin D Deck, enjoy hammams, salt rooms, heated loungers, and have treatments from Himalayan massages to Acupuncture, book dermatology treatments or hair and nail appointments (Prosecco included in the latter). Guests can even get an IV drip for refreshment, which will come in very handy in the mornings after a night out dancing!
There’s The Bazaar, offering a rotation of Carnival Festival to an experiential Waves theme, with activities and performances throughout the day. Before stepping into this world- which will be customized for each sailing, guests can enjoy a range of locally sourced products in the Market. Here, Celebrity demonstrates their commitment to sustainability and support of in-destination cultures, with 80% of products locally sourced from the stops along the way! The Bazaar also offers a new dining experience alongside an eclectic cocktail and bar menu: the Spice Café, where guests can enjoy excellent tastes of local culture- depending on the destination. Downstairs, there’s Mosaic restaurant where visionary chefs put their spin on destination’s signature dishes on a menu that changes daily. As said by the F&B Director Sidney, this restaurant was one of the most demanding, but ultimately most revered of the cheffing team.
Katie was lucky enough to try Bora- the brand new al-fresco Mediterranean-inspired restaurant located on Deck 15, that hosts its very own brunch menu, decked out with a dedicated Bloody Mary bar where guests can customize their drinks. In a romantic evening setting, the restaurant and open kitchen offers guests an eclectic menu that includes delicious gambas, fresh sea-bream, and a wonderful lamb tagine with a beautiful acoustic guitar lulling in the background.
The team of chefs onboard are a dedicated, passionate group that each bring something intriguing and unique to the kitchen team. From their very own olive oil sommelier to chefs that have backgrounds in the biggest on-land Michelin starred-restaurants- each is dedicated to expanding the ever-changing menus.
Speaking of the crew, from the unwavering passion and zeal of joint cruise directors Luigi De La Cruz and Shawna Hachey to the representatives in the luxury shops onboard, every crew member is a genuine, smiling and helpful addition to the cruise experience. Celebrity pride themselves on their elevated hospitality, with the fleet-wide crew bringing one message to life for guests: “We go above, and beyond.”
The festivities and entertainment on board the Xcel are world-class, with the world’s most successful rock vocal group bringing a high-energy show with hits from your favourite rock bands in Rebel: A Classic Rock Experience- to 254 West where groovy vibes await. The press entourage enjoyed Saloon dancing in the Club and a rocking DJ with dancing hits at the “Shine the Night party”- if they’re not enjoying one of the many restaurants on board, guests will be singing and dancing all night long!
Katie can attest that the product matches the marketing when it comes to Celebrity Xcel, knowing that- as the ship sets off on its first sailing this week- guests can expect incredible stories and experiences on curated land excursions designed by this exceptional team.
There’s more to say about the Xcel, about the art and the elegance, the goose-bump feeling of being part of a product launch that’s 800 days in the making- and of course- the very secret Secret: If You Know You Know- so stay tuned to our social media this week and next to find out more!
