If you’ve sailed a Celebrity Edge-class ship before, you already know that when it comes to sleek, contemporary cruising, Celebrity Cruises has it down. But with the brand-new Celebrity Xcel, they’ve taken everything guests love about the Edge class and elevated it into something even more innovative, immersive, and destination-driven than ever before. This ship isn’t just a “new version” of the Edge experience — it’s a thoughtful evolution of it.
Let’s talk about the feature that everyone is buzzing about: The Bazaar. This multi-deck venue is unlike anything you’ve seen on a Celebrity ship. Traditionally, most cruise lines keep the ship and the destinations separate — you explore the ports by day, and the ship becomes your floating hotel by night. But The Bazaar flips that idea on its head. Here, the ship becomes part of the destination.
The Bazaar celebrates the cultures, flavors, and sounds of the places you’re visiting. In the Caribbean, that means savoring tres leches cakes and tostones, listening to the rhythm of steel drums, and stepping into spaces filled with tropical color and local energy. It’s a beautiful blend of onboard comfort and shoreside discovery — and it makes your vacation feel meaningful from the moment you step onboard.
Think markets, artisan stalls, hands-on craft workshops, live cooking moments, and pop-up entertainment that shifts throughout the day. One moment you’re making a keepsake craft inspired by the islands, and the next, you’re wandering into a festival filled with regional music, dancers, and bites straight from the destination. It’s immersive cruising at its best.
During my time on the ship, we experienced two of these festivals inside The Bazaar: Carnival on the first day and Aqua on the second. The entire ambiance transformed — from vibrant pinks and purples to calming ocean blues — and even the scent in the LED-lit tunnel changed with each theme. I’m still thinking about that fresh, breezy Aqua scent from Day 2!
With innovative spaces, destination-inspired experiences, and fresh culinary concepts, Celebrity Xcel truly takes Edge-Class cruising to the next level. This is modern vacationing at its best — reimagined and reinvented.
Ready to experience Celebrity Xcel for yourself? Reach out to Marvelous Mouse Travels and we’ll help you plan every detail.
