By
Alex Smith |
Celebrity Cruises has taken delivery of its latest ship, Celebrity Xcel, and begun construction of its next Edge-series vessel, Celebrity Xcite, at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.
A handover ceremony was held at the shipyard to mark Celebrity Xcel’s delivery, attended by Royal Caribbean Group and Celebrity Cruises executives along with Captain Kyriakos Matragkas and more than 1,600 crew members. The event featured maritime traditions such as a formal signing ceremony, the symbolic changing of flags, and a celebratory toast in the ship’s Grand Plaza.
“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.”
The steel cutting for Celebrity Xcite marks the beginning of the ship’s construction
The ceremony also saw the first steel cut for the sixth Edge-series vessel, which was revealed to be named Celebrity Xcite. The steel cutting marks the official beginning of the ship’s construction. Celebrity Xcite is set to join the fleet in 2028.
“Celebrity Xcel and the entire Edge Series is the result of close collaboration between our teams,” said 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.”
Celebrity Xcel will debut in November, offering new venues and design enhancements across seven distinct spaces. The ship will sail seven-night itineraries from Fort Lauderdale to destinations including The Bahamas, Mexico, the Cayman Islands, and Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten.
In summer 2026, Celebrity Xcel will begin her first European season with seven- to 11-night Mediterranean itineraries from Barcelona and Athens, featuring new overnight stays in Madeira, Portugal.
“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 programme – so we know she will be the happy place of vacationers globally,” said 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.”