Celebrity Xcel

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Celebrity Xcel'
Celebrity Xcel at Port Everglades 2025-11-05.jpg
Celebrity Xcel at Fort Lauderdale, 2025
History
NameCelebrity Xcel
Operator Celebrity Cruises
Port of registry Valletta, Civil Ensign of Malta.svg
Builder Chantiers de l'Atlantique
Yard numberN34
Laid down13 June 2024
Launched18 January 2025
Sponsored byJanaína Torres (Chef)
Christened16 November 2025
Completed23 October 2025
In service9 November 2025
Identification
StatusIn active service
General characteristics
Class & type Edge-class cruise ship
Tonnage141,420  GT [1]
Length326.5 m (1,071 ft 2 in) [1]
Beam39.5 m (129 ft 7 in) [1]
Height57.9 m (190 ft 0 in) (New Panamax)
Draught8.5 m (27 ft 11 in) [1]
Decks21
Installed power
  • 2 × Wärtsilä W12V46F
  • 2 × Wärtsilä W8L46F
  • 1 × Wärtsilä W12V32
Propulsion2 × ABB azipod 4 x tunnel thruster
Speed22.6 knots (41.9 km/h; 26.0 mph)
Capacity
  • 3,260 passengers (double occupancy)
  • 3,937 passengers (maximum)
Crew1,416

Celebrity Xcel is the fifth Edge-class cruise ship built by Celebrity Cruises. She is sister ship of Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Beyond, and Celebrity Ascent. The ship was constructed at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard and delivered in October 2025.

Contents

Design and construction

The ship was ordered in April 2019, and was originally intended to be the fifth and final Edge-class ship. [2] On 7 November 2023, construction began with the first steel cut at Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard. [3] At the steel cutting ceremony the name of the ship was announced as Celebrity Xcel. [4]

On 13 June 2024 the keel was laid, with the first 739-ton steel block for the new ship was lowered into the dry dock. This event was attended by Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty, Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge and Laurent Castaing, GM of Chantiers de l'Atlantique. [5] As per maritime tradition, newly minted coins were welded to the first piece of steel for good luck, with the coin design featuring NASA's Saturn V rocket. [5]

On 18 January 2025, the ship was floated out from the dry dock, with sea trials completed on 15 September 2025. [6] On 23 October 2025 Celebrity took delivery of the ship from Chantiers de l'Atlantique. [7]

Tri-fuel-capable engine

Celebrity Xcel is the first in the Celebrity fleet to have a tri-fuel-capable engine. [8] Wärtsilä provided two converted 8-cylinder Wärtsilä 46F engines to allow the ship to utilize three fuel sources, including methanol. [9] Utilizing methanol as a fuel option, local emission like sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter are significantly reduced from the ship's exhaust. [8] To accommodate this future fuel option a new exhaust funnel was added between the "X" main funnel.

New design features

The cruise ship reintroduced the "X" logo to the side of the funnel in a new orange color scheme and incorporating the ship's name, along with an enlarged hull name similar convention to ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet. Onboard the ship many venues have been evolved from the previous Edge-class ship: [10]

Service history

The Celebrity Xcel arrived at Fort Lauderdale in November 2025, with preview sailings beginning on 9 November 2025. A naming ceremony will be held on 16 November 2025, at Port Everglades with Brazilian chef Janaína Torres acting as godmother. [11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Celebrity Ascent (39736)". Vessel Register for DNV. DNV . Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  2. ↑ "Celebrity Cruises orders fifth Edge ship". www.travelweekly.com. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  3. ↑ "Steel is cut for fifth Edge-class ship, Celebrity Xcel". Archived from the original on 13 February 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  4. ↑ "Celebrity Cruises Reveals Name of Next Edge Series Ship". Celebrity Cruises Press Center.
  5. 1 2 "Chantiers de l'Atlantique lays Celebrity Xcel's keel". Archived from the original on 8 November 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  6. ↑ "Celebrity Xcel Successfully Completes Sea Trials - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News". Cruise Industry News. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  7. ↑ "Celebrity Xcel delivered, Xcite construction begins". Seatrade Cruise News. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  8. 1 2 "New Wärtsilä engine enables methanol for Celebrity's fifth Edge ship". Archived from the original on 16 February 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  9. ↑ "Celebrity Cruises' Next Edge-Series Ship Brings New Flex Fuel Engine to Industry". Celebrity Cruises Press Center. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  10. ↑ "Celebrity Xcel: Our Newest Cruise Ship". Celebrity Cruises. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  11. ↑ "Introducing Celebrity Xcel Godmother: Janaína Torres | Celebrity Xcel". Celebrity Cruises. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
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