The Celebrity Xcel has completed its first set of sea trials at Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, Northern France.
Captain Kyriakos Matragkas helmed the 140,600-ton vessel through maneuverability tests in the Bay of Biscay to assess functional and operational capabilities.
As the fifth Edge class ship, the 3,260-guest Celebrity Xcel prepares for inaugural cruises in November from Fort Lauderdale with seven-night itineraries to the Bahamas, Mexico, Cayman Islands, Puerto Plata, St Thomas and St Maarten.
In summer 2026, the ship offers seven- to 11-night Mediterranean itineraries from Barcelona, Spain, and Piraeus, Greece, with overnight stays in Madeira, Portugal.
New features include seven redesigned public areas like multi-level lounge The Bazaar and casual dining venue Spice with rotating itinerary-inspired bites, as an LNG-powered vessel.
