Celebrity’s Newest Ship Passes Critical Sea Tria...

Key Points:

• Celeb Xcel has aced her sea trials within the Bay of Biscay and returned to the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard.
• Ending work on the ship will now proceed and he or she might be handed over to Celeb Cruises within the subsequent few weeks.
• Celeb Xcel will welcome her first visitors on a preview crusing on November 9, 2025, forward of her maiden voyage on November 18.

The forthcoming Celeb Xcel has sailed boldly via an necessary milestone. On Saturday, September 13, 2025, the brand new ship accomplished her sea trials.

These essential checks consider the ship’s technical techniques, together with navigation, propulsion, turns, emergency stops, and extra. This ensures the ship is in peak functioning situation earlier than she might be handed over to Celeb Cruises.

That is additionally the primary time Celeb Xcel has been out within the open ocean, really testing her resilience and performance underneath real-world situations.

Captain ‘Kirk’ Kyriakos Matragkas led the vessel for these maneuverability checks within the Bay of Biscay close to the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, the place the 141,400-gross-ton ship is underneath development.

Celeb Xcel has returned to the shipyard and additional steps in her ending work are already underway. That is particularly essential for the new spaces being introduced on this fifth Edge-class ship.

Of particular curiosity is the cruise line’s first-ever Celeb Flagship retailer that may mix interactive museum-quality reveals with branded retail that celebrates the cruise line’s wealthy and opulent historical past.

Additionally coming to Celeb Xcel would be the first-ever Hydra Room for the cruise line, a part of the Thermal Suite and that includes a heat therapeutic massage pool and heated lounge chairs. The ambient ambiance with water options and soothing decor will provide one of the best in immersive rest.

Retro arcade video games and neon lights will make a enjoyable and playful house at Attic at The Membership, a 24/7 lounge that invitations enjoyable and video games with darts, foosball, shuffleboard, and pool.

Now that the ship is technically sound, the ultimate element work on these and different new areas might be accomplished. Celeb Xcel is scheduled to debut in November 2025, with a special 4-night preview sailing departing Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Sunday, November 9, with a go to deliberate for Cozumel.

This preview crusing was solely added to the ship’s inaugural schedule a couple of months in the past, as development is forward of schedule and Celeb Xcel will have the ability to welcome her first visitors sooner than anticipated.

Cruising Aboard Celeb Xcel

Following the brand new preview crusing, Celeb Xcel‘s official maiden voyage is slated for November 18, 2025. That 5-night Bahamas and Mexico cruise will go to each Cozumel and Bimini and is bound to be crammed with superb occasions because the ship begins service.

Celeb Xcel‘s common itineraries might be 7-night itineraries, together with each Jap Caribbean and Western Caribbean routes.

Relying on the crusing date and actual itinerary, the brand new ship can even be calling on high locations comparable to Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and Grand Cayman.

E-book Now: Great Sailings Available Aboard Celebrity Xcel

On April 26, 2026, Celeb Xcel will depart Fort Lauderdale to return to Europe, providing departures from Barcelona and Piraeus (Athens) for a summer season spent within the Mediterranean and alongside the attractive French Riviera.

Of particular curiosity are the ship’s new in a single day stays in Madeira, Portugal, giving visitors further time to take pleasure in such a tremendous vacation spot. Different European ports of name embrace Good, Portofino, Civitavecchia (Rome), Naples, Santorini, Mykonos, Kusadasi, Lisbon, Cadiz, and rather more.

In November 2026, the brand new ship will return to her Caribbean routes however homeported from Miami as an alternative of Fort Lauderdale, and the summer season 2027 season will once more be spent within the Mediterranean.

Celebrity’s Newest Ship Passes Critical Sea Trials With Flying Colors

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