Don’t you just love that new ship smell? Cabins that haven’t hosted a single night’s sleep, pool chairs not lounged on, and bars whose blenders have yet to whip up the first rounds of piña coladas and margaritas for sun-hungry vacationers. For those of us among the first to recently embark on brand-new Celebrity Xcel, as soon as we crossed the gangway, we reveled in the brand-newness of the line’s latest vessel.

Theater © Kelly Magyarics

The fifth ship in the Edge Series, Xcel was imagined in part through Celebrity’s Dream Makers program, which solicits global input from loyal vacationers to create the most aesthetic (and user-friendly) spaces on board. While she has some things in common with her sister ships, Xcel also boasts a handful of enticing updated tweaks. We set off from Fort Lauderdale on a two-day naming cruise to nowhere, during which Xcel was christened by Janaína Torres, the Brazilian top toque lauded by World’s 50 Best as World’s Best Female Chef 2024.

For sure, bestowing Torres with the role of Xcel’s godmother speaks to the cruise line’s focus on innovative culinary programs — there are an impressive 32 dining and bar options onboard. And newbies like me, as well as seasoned devotees to the cruise line, will be tickled to find several dining options not found on previous Edge ships.

Bora © Kelly Magyarics

Bora, the rooftop Mediterranean resto, is one of the most striking. During the day, a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar kicks off a brunch menu touting options like delicate lobster medallions in beurre blanc, croissant eggs benedict, Greek salad and shakshuka; in the evenings, the kitchen turns out dishes like lamb tagine with saffron couscous and seared branzino with garlic aioli, all accompanied by live music. If you do dine during the day, don’t forget your hat and sunscreen in your stateroom; while the tables are topped by filtered shades, the sun is still quite intense. Bora is adjacent to the Rooftop Garden, which could have done without the installation of a pickleball court; avoiding getting hit with a stray serve (and having to put up with the constant ping of the balls hitting the racquets) quickly obliterates any Zen.

Like a handful of specialty restaurants, Bora incurs an additional fee, which can be frustrating for passengers expecting an all-inclusive experience. Tucking into sushi and seafood towers at Raw on Five and a tomahawk at Fine Cut Steakhouse will cost you, as well as Voyage, a collaboration with famed celebrity chef Daniel Boulud and Mosaic at The Bazaar. A mixed-use hub spanning decks 4, 5 and 6 at the aft of the ship, which replaces Eden, The Bazaar is accessible via a dramatic tunneled walkway of LED displays that change daily (our sailing included tropical foliage and underwater marine life.) The new space hosts four themed festivals per sailing, all tied to ports of call (as are dishes at Mosaic), with activities, live music and handmade products from local artisans brought onboard. Here, passengers will also find the included concept Spice Cafe, which serves sandwiches, rotating menu items like quesadillas and carved salmon and Southwestern bowls jokingly compared to an elevated version of a ubiquitous fast casual bowl chain.

Bazaar © Kelly Magyarics

Xcel gets into the water-fueled wellness game with the line’s first-ever Hydra Room, with built-in jetted loungers. Nearby, a large sauna with expansive windows offers incredible sea views, and a Vitamin D deck outside lets spa-goers soak up those healthful rays in moderation. In addition to three new production shows, several fun gaming and entertainment areas encourage competition and the chance to cut a rug. You can shoot pool, throw darts or play video games (all free) at Attic at the Club, or head downstairs to Saddle Up Saloon for a country line dance lesson to old school Shania. Loyalists can also flock to Celebrity Flagship, a part-museum, part-gift shop displaying a model of the ship and vintage menus and itineraries, and tons of branded merch.

While not new, The Retreat, Celebrity’s private enclave, continues to evolve and appeal to discerning passengers seeking that exclusive ship-within-a-ship feel. Our suite category gave us access to Luminae, a private, sit-down restaurant for Retreat guests serving an ever-changing menu at breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with elevated wines and cocktails. (Tops were the shrimp ceviche and steak tartare.) We also had use of a separate pool deck and lounge featuring conversation seating and work areas, all-day bites and drinks, and expedited boarding and check-in. While being one of the first onboard already gave our short sailing a rarefied air, retreating to our sumptuous digs added an indulgent exhale to each day.

Celebrity Xcel is currently sailing her inaugural season with seven-night Caribbean itineraries embarking from Fort Lauderdale, with a European season launching summer 2026.