Celebrity Xcel

What's included in your fare

Your base fare covers accommodations, most main dining venues, a large selection of casual eateries, standard onboard entertainment, and access to the ship’s pools and fitness areas. Celebrity’s Edge Series ships also put a lot of value into open-air spaces — so simply being on the ship is part of the experience, whether that’s the resort-style pool deck by day or live music in the Grand Plaza at night.

Like most contemporary-premium cruise lines, Xcel’s pricing is modular: specialty dining, alcoholic beverages, specialty coffees, Wi‑Fi, and many shore excursions are typically add-ons unless you book a fare bundle or a promotion that includes them.

Dining options

Celebrity Xcel is built for people who treat dining as part of the vacation’s headline act. The ship carries forward Edge Series favorites — most notably the four themed main dining rooms (each with its own style and menu emphasis) and a broad collection of casual options for breakfast and lunch.

Where Xcel aims to stand apart is with new concepts that tie food more directly to the destinations. Celebrity’s new multi-level space, The Bazaar, is designed to host rotating destination-inspired markets, tastings, and food experiences that change as the itinerary changes — an intentional attempt to “bring the port on board” on sea days and evenings.

Specialty dining remains a major pillar of the Celebrity experience. Expect an upmarket steakhouse, modern Italian, elevated global concepts, and chef-driven venues that function more like destination restaurants than traditional cruise-ship ‘specialty’ rooms. For loyal Celebrity guests, the appeal is less about sheer quantity and more about consistently strong execution — service pacing, plating, and ingredient quality.

Two practical tips: First, book key specialty restaurants early when sailings coincide with holidays or school breaks. Second, if you’re traveling with dietary needs, Celebrity is generally well-equipped to accommodate them, but you’ll have the smoothest experience if you flag requirements in advance and confirm with the dining team once on board.

Staterooms

Xcel’s accommodations follow the Edge Series playbook: a wide range of balcony and suite categories, anchored by the signature Infinite Veranda concept — staterooms that blur the line between indoor space and open-air balcony by using a full-height window system that can open to the sea.

For travelers who use the cabin primarily for sleep and a quick reset, inside and ocean-view categories can be a smart value on a ship where the public spaces are a key part of the experience. For couples and families who like downtime in the room, a veranda or Infinite Veranda generally feels worth it — especially on itineraries with more sea days.

Suite guests have access to The Retreat, Celebrity’s premium enclave-within-the-ship offering that bundles upgraded accommodations with a higher-touch service model and dedicated spaces. If you want the mega-ship range of venues but a quieter home base, The Retreat is one of Xcel’s most compelling upsells.

Activities on board

On a ship this size, the activity roster is deliberately layered: pool-deck events and games for daytime energy, wellness programming for a slower pace, and a steady run of pop-up moments in the ship’s central social spaces. Celebrity has emphasized the Celebrity Pool Club as a day-to-night venue — sun by day, then a more DJ-and-party atmosphere after dark.

If your idea of a perfect sea day is equal parts movement and recovery, the fitness and spa offerings are designed to support that rhythm. Expect a full gym, group classes, and a spa complex that functions like a stand-alone facility rather than a side feature; Celebrity has also marketed upgraded thermal experiences and ocean-view relaxation areas on Xcel.

The Bazaar is also positioned as an activity hub rather than a static atrium. Depending on the sailing, it can host craft experiences, cooking demos, tastings, and mini-festivals tied to the ports you’re visiting — useful if you want destination immersion without leaving the ship on every port day.

For shoppers, Celebrity is introducing a new flagship retail concept aboard Xcel. Whether that matters to you depends on your travel style, but on sea days it can be a surprisingly good way to fill an hour — especially when paired with a café stop or a pre-dinner cocktail.

Entertainment

Celebrity’s Edge Series entertainment style typically blends theatre productions with live music across multiple venues — think headline shows in the main theatre, smaller-scale performances in lounges, and late-night sets that keep the ship feeling active without turning it into a nightclub at every corner.

Xcel adds new nightlife and ‘date night’ framing to the mix, with Celebrity promoting spaces like The Attic at The Club as a dedicated hangout for games and late-night energy. The result is a ship that can feel both resort-like and adult-oriented: There’s always something happening, but you can still find calmer corners when you want them.

If you’re traveling as a couple, it’s worth planning at least one evening around the ship’s signature spaces — Grand Plaza for the core Celebrity vibe, and then a second venue for a contrast (a theatre show, a late lounge set, or a more intimate bar). 

Dress code

Celebrity’s dress code is best described as “smart casual with optional glam.” Most nights, resort wear and neat casual clothing are perfectly acceptable in casual venues and main dining, while specialty restaurants and evening entertainment encourage a more polished look.

If you enjoy dressing up, you’ll have opportunities to do so — especially on formal-photo nights and in the ship’s higher-end venues. If you don’t, you won’t feel out of place. The prevailing onboard vibe is modern and relaxed, with style that tends to evoke contemporary upscale.

What costs extra

As with most big-ship cruises, the most common add-on costs are specialty dining, beverage packages, Wi‑Fi, spa treatments, casino play, professional photography, and shore excursions beyond any included basics. Premium suite categories can bundle more inclusions and priority services, but you’ll want to compare total trip costs rather than base fare alone.

Tip: if you plan to use Wi‑Fi heavily, enjoy cocktails, and want a few specialty meals, booking a bundled fare or package can be simpler than buying à la carte onboard — just be sure the bundle aligns with how you actually travel.

Bottom line

Celebrity Xcel is for travelers who want the scale and variety of a true megaship, but with a premium, design-led aesthetic and a dining program that aims above the mainstream. If you like lively public spaces, strong nightlife options, and plenty of choice on sea days, it’s an easy match.

If, instead, you prioritize small-ship intimacy, quiet evenings, and minimal lines, Xcel may feel like too much ship. But for many cruisers, that’s exactly the point: a floating, upscale resort that turns sea days into part of the vacation’s main event.

Interested in a cruise on this ship?

If you're interested in a cruise on Celebrity Xcel, contact a Cruiseable travel consultant at 1-877-322-3773 or by email. You'll get a better deal than you can get by contacting the cruise line directly.

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