By
Alex Smith |
Celebrity Cruises has revealed four new venues that will debut on its upcoming ship, Celebrity Xcel.
An updated poolside area, an arcade lounge under neon lights, and a new spa experience will debut onboard the new ship, as well as the first-ever Celebrity Flagship store.
“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.”
The Celebrity Pool Club will feature a contemporary rooftop design for increased shading
The Celebrity Pool Club will feature a new pool valet, who will offer a poolside chilled towels, card games, sunscreen and storage for personal items. A contemporary rooftop design, meanwhile, will offer increased shading. Guests can also book a private cabana, which comes with dedicated service.
On the last sea day of each Caribbean itinerary, the Celebrity Pool Club will transform into the ‘Poolest Day Ever’. The all-day event will feature Caribbean inspired live music, pop-up shows and pool games. New poolside drinks will be exclusively served at Poolest Day Ever, from Paloma Fresca’s served in mini-Patron bottles to fresh coconuts with an optional splash of rum. In the evening, the ‘Shine the Night’ poolside party will offer snacks, drinks and music.
The adults-focused Attic at the Club will offer retro games like Pac-Man, NBA Showtime and Golden Tee
Celebrity Xcel will also introduce an all-day, all-night games room decorated with neon lights, Attic at The Club. The adults-focused lounge will offer retro games like Pac-Man, NBA Showtime, Golden Tee and more. Other activities will include pool, darts, table football and shuffleboard, while a private event space will be available for group activities including karaoke, golf simulation games and more.
Celebrity is also set to introduce its largest spa yet onboard Celebrity Xcel. The Spa will feature the cruise line’s first-ever Hydra Room, the newest of eight therapeutic experiences in the Thermal Suite. It includes a warm, bubbling pool with massaging jets and heated lounge chairs for muscle relaxation. Guests visiting the Thermal Suite can also visit the Spa’s new outdoor Vitamin D deck, which offers views from the front of the ship and complimentary non-alcoholic beverages.
In total, more than 120 treatments and therapies will be available in an expanded salon, featuring a new bubbles bar. An interactive shopping experience will allow guests to trial a range of products before they buy and includes a Skin Lab analysis with tailored recommendations for a skincare regime.
Celebrity Xcel’s Spa will feature the cruise line’s first-ever Hydra Room
Celebrity Cruises’ first-ever Celebrity Flagship store combines a retail experience with an interactive exhibit celebrating Celebrity. Guests can engage with the brand on interactive screens with trivia questions and insider facts or through historical artifacts and vintage collectibles. Guests can also create and take home a memento that reminds them of Celebrity Xcel. A range of customisable items can be engraved, embroidered or printed, such as water bottles, cocktail kits, keychains, caps and robes. The store will also stock exclusive Celebrity products only available on Celebrity Xcel.
Celebrity Xcel will sail its inaugural season from Fort Lauderdale, offering seven-night itineraries alternating between The Bahamas, Mexico, the Cayman Islands, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. In summer 2026, Celebrity Xcel will set sail on its inaugural European season with seven-to 11-night journeys out of Barcelona and Athens, including the cruise line’s first overnight stays in Madeira, Portugal.