The delivery ceremony for Celebrity Xcel brought together executives from Royal Caribbean Group, Celebrity Cruises, and Chantiers de l’Atlantique. Attending were Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group; Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises; Laurent Castaing, general manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique; and Captain Kyriakos Matragkas, along with over 1,600 crew members.
“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 the Edge Series has reimagined what’s possible at sea through elevated design and experiences that deepen the connection to the destinations being visited. With Celebrity Xcel now joining the fleet and Celebrity Xcite on the horizon, we’re continuing to set new standards for excellence and innovation alongside our trusted partners at Chantiers de l’Atlantique.”
“Celebrity Xcel has 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,” continued 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.”
“Celebrity Xcel and the entire Edge Series is the result of close collaboration between our teams,” shared Laurent Castaing, General Manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique. “Our continued partnership with Royal Caribbean Group on Celebrity Xcite reflects a shared commitment to excellence and innovation.”
The event featured traditional maritime rituals, including the signing ceremony, changing of flags, and a celebratory toast in the ship’s Grand Plaza. Celebrity Xcel officially becomes the fifth vessel in the line’s Edge Series, continuing the company’s focus on design, sustainability, and guest experience innovation.
In parallel, Celebrity Cruises revealed the name of its sixth Edge Series ship – Celebrity Xcite. The announcement took place during a steel-cutting ceremony, marking the official start of construction. Executives from Royal Caribbean Group and Chantiers de l’Atlantique emphasized their long-standing collaboration and shared commitment to advancing maritime innovation.
Celebrity Xcel will begin her inaugural season in November, homeporting in Fort Lauderdale. The ship will operate seven-night Caribbean itineraries alternating between The Bahamas, Mexico, the Cayman Islands, and Puerto Plata, as well as routes including St. Thomas and St. Maarten. In summer 2026, Celebrity Xcel will reposition to Europe for her first Mediterranean season, offering seven- to 11-night sailings from Barcelona and Athens with new overnight stays in Madeira, Portugal.
The upcoming Celebrity Xcite, joining the fleet in 2028, will continue the Edge Series’ emphasis on redefining premium cruising through design and guest-focused experiences. Both ships will further strengthen Celebrity Cruises’ fleet development strategy and its collaboration with the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard, a partnership that has spanned multiple groundbreaking builds over the past decade.
Tags: Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean Group, Celebrity Cruises, Celebrity Xcite
