Celebrity Cruises recently took delivery and welcomed its newest ship, Celebrity Xcel; and announced the name of its sixth Edge Series ship, Celebrity Xcite, at Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire.
“Celebrity Xcel represents the next bold step in our journey to transform the way the world experiences premium travel,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. “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 event honoring the handover of Celebrity Xcel from Chantiers de l’Atlantique saw Liberty; Laura Hodges Bethge, president, Celebrity Cruises; Laurent Castaing, general manager, Chantiers de l’Atlantique; and Captain Kyriakos Matragkas, captain, Celebrity Xcel in attendance, as well as more than 1,600 Celebrity Xcel crew members. Time-honored maritime traditions, including a formal signing ceremony, the symbolic changing of flags aboard the vessel and a celebratory toast in the ship’s three-story Grand Plaza, all took place.
Celebrity Xcel set sail this month with seven new spaces. Her inaugural season from Fort Lauderdale will offer seven-night itineraries alternating between The Bahamas, Mexico, Cayman Islands, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. Next summer, she sets sail on her inaugural European season.
“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 program, so we know she will be the happy place of vacationers globally,” said Hodges Bethge. “We’re thrilled to welcome guests aboard next month and are excited to further expand these offerings on Celebrity Xcite.”
Celebrity Xcite’s name was unveiled during a steel cutting ceremony to mark the official start of construction at Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard, with the ship expected to set sail in 2028.
“Celebrity Xcel and the entire Edge Series is the result of close collaboration between our teams,” shared Castaing. “Our continued partnership with Royal Caribbean Group on Celebrity Xcite reflects a shared commitment to excellence and innovation.”
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