Celebrity Xcel Pool Club Cabanas
Celebrity Xcel Pool Club CabanasPhoto Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Xcel Debuts Exclusive Onboard Experiences Redefining Modern Luxury at Sea

With a Flagship Retail Concept, Neon-Lit Game Lounge, Hydrotherapy Spa, and Reimagined Poolside Service, Celebrity Cruises Unveils the Future of Upscale Leisure Aboard Its Newest Ship, Sailing From Fort Lauderdale This Fall

Source: Celebrity Cruises

Reported By: Matthew Kennedy

All Eyes on Xcel: Celebrity Cruises Introduces Four New Escapes at Sea

July 11th, 2025 – Luxury isn’t always about where you’re going—it’s how you get there. And with the debut of four newly revealed onboard venues aboard Celebrity Xcel, the latest ship from Celebrity Cruises, the journey is set to be every bit as indulgent and engaging as the destination. Launching this November from Fort Lauderdale, Celebrity Xcel’s inaugural Caribbean season offers travelers a new class of elevated seafaring, with innovative additions designed to entertain, restore, and inspire at every turn.

Shopping and Ship Style at the Celebrity Flagship Boutique
Shopping and Ship Style at the Celebrity Flagship BoutiquePhoto Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

“These new elevated experiences invite guests to escape their daily routine and make memories that will last a lifetime. With so much innovation at every turn, the journey will be just as fun as the destinations themselves.”

Laura Hodges Bethge, President of Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Xcel, the fifth ship in the brand’s award-winning Edge® Series, will soon make waves not just for its ports of call but for what awaits on deck. Here's what travelers can expect aboard this next-generation luxury cruise ship.

The Celebrity Pool Club: A Day-to-Night Coastal Sanctuary

Modern Pool Club With VIP Cabanas and Valet Service
Modern Pool Club With VIP Cabanas and Valet ServicePhoto Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

On Celebrity Xcel, the pool deck is reimagined as a full-day oasis—and a lively nighttime destination. The Celebrity Pool Club introduces a fresh standard for outdoor lounging with:

  • A pool valet offering chilled towels, sunscreen, storage for personal items, and even card games

  • Sleek new cabanas with dedicated VIP service

  • A contemporary rooftop design offering enhanced shade and ocean views

The real scene-stealer, though, is the Poolest Day Ever℠, a full-day themed experience held on the final sea day of each Caribbean sailing. Think island rhythms, DJ sets, and pop-up pool games—all anchored by exclusive cocktails like the Paloma Fresca served in mini Patrón bottles and fresh coconuts with an optional splash of rum. As dusk falls, the deck transforms for Shine the Night, an evening pool party featuring elevated bites, craft cocktails, and open-air celebration under the stars.

Attic at The Club: Neon Nights and Arcade Nostalgia

Late-Night Gaming Lounge With Neon-Lit Vibes
Late-Night Gaming Lounge With Neon-Lit VibesPhoto Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

A first-of-its-kind lounge concept for Celebrity, Attic at The Club offers a retro-meets-modern playground for adults. Open 24/7, the neon-lit arcade-style venue features vintage favorites like Pac-Man, NBA Showtime, and Golden Tee, along with crowd-pleasers like foosball, darts, shuffleboard, and pool.

Private groups can reserve the lounge for themed events, karaoke sessions, or immersive golf simulations. Designed to spark connection and casual fun, Attic at The Club is poised to become a social hub for late-night entertainment.

Retro Arcade Lounge With Golf Simulators and Karaoke
Retro Arcade Lounge With Golf Simulators and KaraokePhoto Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Xcel Pool Club Cabanas
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The Spa on Celebrity Xcel: A Sanctuary of Renewal

Hydra Room’s Therapeutic Pool and Massage Jets
Hydra Room’s Therapeutic Pool and Massage JetsPhoto Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Wellness takes center stage with Celebrity’s most expansive spa yet, featuring eight therapeutic zones in its signature Thermal Suite. Leading the lineup is the new Hydra Room℠, a water-based experience with:

  • A bubbling warm pool

  • Massaging water jets

  • Heated loungers designed to relax tired muscles

Oceanfront Vitamin D Deck for Open-Air Relaxation
Oceanfront Vitamin D Deck for Open-Air RelaxationPhoto Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Complementing this aquatic retreat is the Vitamin D Deck℠, an ocean-facing outdoor extension of the spa exclusive to Thermal Suite guests. Here, visitors can recline in luxury seating, enjoy fresh air and sweeping views, and sip on complimentary non-alcoholic beverages crafted for hydration and restoration.

More than 120 treatments and therapies are available through the spa and salon, which now includes a new Bubbles Bar and an interactive skincare shopping experience, complete with high-tech Skin Lab analysis and personalized product recommendations.

Bubbles Bar Offers Champagne With Spa Treatments
Bubbles Bar Offers Champagne With Spa TreatmentsPhoto Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

The Celebrity Flagship Store: Retail Meets Storytelling

More than a boutique, the Celebrity Flagship Store doubles as a gallery of brand storytelling. Guests can browse a rotating collection of historical memorabilia, play interactive trivia games, and even co-create personalized souvenirs such as embroidered robes, engraved cocktail kits, and monogrammed caps.

This is the first-ever flagship retail space by Celebrity Cruises—and many of the items available will be exclusive to Celebrity Xcel.

Custom Embroidery and Concierge Retail at Sea
Custom Embroidery and Concierge Retail at SeaPhoto Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Elevating the Cruise Experience, Onboard and Beyond

These new venues join a series of additional debut spaces aboard Celebrity Xcel, including:

  • Bora, a Mediterranean al fresco dining concept

  • The Bazaar, a hybrid destination and lifestyle marketplace

  • Celebrity’s most expansive entertainment offering to date

Cruise enthusiasts also have the opportunity to help shape the ship’s offerings by joining the Xcel Dream Makers, a global community of travelers invited to test and vote on new ideas—from lounge games to retail merchandise.

Celebrity’s First Flagship Boutique With Custom Souvenirs
Celebrity’s First Flagship Boutique With Custom SouvenirsPhoto Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Setting Sail Soon

Beginning in November 2025, Celebrity Xcel will operate seven-night Caribbean itineraries from Fort Lauderdale, with stops including The Bahamas, Mexico, the Cayman Islands, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten. In summer 2026, the ship heads to Europe for its inaugural Mediterranean season, sailing from Barcelona and Athens and featuring new overnight stays in Madeira, Portugal.

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