This new ship has a secret space, BUT I can’t tell you anything more
A resort-style retreat at the Celebrity Pool Club on Celebrity Xcel.
The fifth Edge-class ship in the fleet, Celebrity Xcel, has a host of innovations and spaces. Most impressive, it is the first cruise ship to use Green Methanol, the maritime industry’s secret weapon in the fight against emissions, a technology Quentin Long has sworn an oath not to reveal.
Celebrity Xcel – our verdict
Celebrity Cruises’ newest ship introduces seven new spaces.
The Celebrity executives talk a lot about Celebrity Xcel being ‘elevated’. I would probably describe it as an enhanced evolution of what was a seminal class of innovative ships, which started with the launch of Celebrity Edge in December 2018. It is all that travellers love in an ocean cruise: well-designed spaces, extensive food offerings, and, in particular, really good entertainment. Like all great cruise ships, it has a lot of nooks and crannies for those who prefer quiet spaces.
Places I loved onboard Celebrity Xcel
Celebrity Xcel makes waves in the Caribbean.
I really loved a lot of the spaces. In particular…
The Secret Seventh Space
This is not a joke. There are seven new spaces and the most incredible of the seven is a secret. No photos. No videos. No name. Find it. It is worth it.
The Bazaar, including Mosaic Restaurant, The Market and Spice
The colourful feather-adorned performers at the Bazaar are a real spectacle.
The Bazaar is dedicated to bringing the destination experience on board. Huge arches and walls become the canvas for Carnivale one day, complete with feather-adorned performers. In Mosaic, my fillet steak was served with a thick, spice-led mole, a reflection of the Caribbean cuisine.
The Rooftop Garden, including Bora and the Sunset Bar
Deck 15 is the ultimate spot for sunset drinks. (Image: Quentin Long)
The aft section of the ship on Deck 15 features a lounge, edge-perched plunge pools and the ultimate spot for sunset drinks, while Bora is an all-day brunch spot that transforms into a Greek Taverna at night.
Oceanview Cafe
The airy and sunlit spacious buffet cafe meets any meal mood you have, including a midnight pizza slice.
The Thermal Suite
The private wellness lounge is accessible for a fee and features Turkish hammams, a steam room, sauna and thermal pools with heated tile loungers and an outdoor lounge.
Who does Celebrity Xcel suit?
Lounge poolside with a drink.
Celebrity Xcel suits those who want to travel in style, with a variety of good-quality food and drink, from high-end to comfort bar food.
The entertainment is outstanding, think modern dance.
The family market will be split. Xcel does cater to all ages with Camp at Sea for kids aged up to 12 years old and a dedicated teen area.
I would probably not take my teenage boys on board. It doesn’t have the sorts of amenities that we often associate with the floating resort for families – waterslides, rock climbing, wave pools, sky diving – a program of physical activities to exhaust them.
I do want to be mindful that some people who react badly to bright and flashing lights may actually find it overwhelming. There is a lot of LED, particularly in the theatre, the Club and the Bazaar.
Restaurants and bars
With 17 different restaurants (plus two for suite guests), there is an outlet to reflect any mood: casual, formal, upmarket, simple, healthy. There are 10 specialty (dine for a fee) and seven complimentary. The Celebrity literature says nine, but Craft Social Bar serves great American bar food menu.
Restaurants that caught my eye include:
Bora Deck, Specialty
Deck 15
Shakshuka served with a Bloody Mary cocktail.
An all-day al fresco space, Bora is a standout for med-inspired food. It starts with brunch and made-to-order Bloody Marys. The signature brunch dish is the French toast. It should probably come with a defibrillator and statins.
In the evening, it transforms into a blue, turquoise and white Greek Taverna. The salt-encrusted branzino, deboned and prepared at your table, is a light and simple produce-forward dish reflecting the evolving nature of dining on Celebrity cruises.
“Less is more. In the past, cruises were about buffets and lots and lots of food. Now the trend is definitely towards more honesty, more authenticity,” Jan Sorensen, VP of Food and Beverages Operations with Celebrity, tells me when asked about what has changed in ship dining since the launch of Celebrity Edge.
Mosaic, Specialty
Deck 5
Mosaic restaurant on Deck 5 offers a Chef’s Table experience.
Mosaic’s menu works hard to reflect the destination. On this Caribbean launch cruise, my steak was served with a thick, intense spice-led mole. Desserts even served up corn ice cream. That’s a lot different and local. A bit too local for my tastes, interesting nonetheless.
Raw on 5, Specialty
Deck 4
Indulge in a seafood tower. (Image: Quentin Long)
A fresh Asian and sushi-led menu with seafood towers. The lobster and shrimp wontons, chicken ginger gyoza and the signature Xcel roll (shrimp, avocado, cucumber and tuna) are the must-order dishes.
For something different, try the sparkling sake; light and zingy and probably too sweet for some people.
Spice, Complimentary
Deck 5
Spice is perfect for a more casual dining option.
My breakfast bolt hole. Order a breakfast toasty, empanada, or help yourself to a jar of mango chia. The cafe serves espresso coffees and sweet treats.
Oceanview Café, Complimentary
Deck 14
It’s a buffet; a spectacularly lovely, airy, high-ceiling space. Not overwhelming but a good mix of offerings to match whatever you may be fancying. I really enjoyed eating breakfast here as well as a cheeky pizza at midnight as I was heading off to bed. That’s what buffets are designed for, right?
Craft Social Bar, Specialty
Deck 4
Think American bar food. Grab a cocktail or a beer and a burger. I enjoyed the fried chicken sandwich.
Sweet treats on offer at Café il Bacio. (Image: Quentin Long)
Other restaurants include:
- Fine cut, the steakhouse
- Le Petit Chef, French with storytelling projected onto your plate
- Blu, the health and wellness lead diner for Aqua class guests
- Luminae, high-end dining, complimentary for suite guests
- Café il Bacio, espresso coffee and sweet treats
- Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud, find dining from a Michelin-starred chef
The Martini Bar
Deck 3
The Martini bar has a stunning chandelier that changes colours from day to night. (Image: Quentin Long)
There are 12 different bars and we’ve got to start with the martini bar, the social heartbeat of Celebrity Xcel. This is where the masters of mixology put on a ‘flair’ show – Tom Cruise in Cocktail. Great fun for both a pre-show / pre-dinner drink or a post-show late-night tete-a-tete.
The Sunset Bar
Deck 15
Always a winner and thank God they’ve been able to expand it.
Craft Social
Deck 4
Already mentioned it for food but a bar in its own right.
The mysterious 7th space
When Celebrity was promoting the Xcel, they referred to seven new spaces, but only listed six. As stated previously, there is an amazing 7th space and I cannot tell you more. When you get there, you will thank me. Sorry to be so opaque but a secret is a secret and I am a writer of my word.
Other bars you’d expect from a Celebrity experience are on board, including The Pool Bar, deck 14 and The World Class Bar, deck 5.
Entertainment
Theatrical shows dazzle.
The entertainment far exceeded expectations. There wasn’t much that I didn’t find myself singing along with or being enthralled by. Productions are performed in the theatre and more rambunctious performances in the Club.
Between Takes
A narrative-driven show staged between two takes of a movie scene, the show features toe-tapping hits from Roy Orbison, George Michael, The Police, Adele and Kenny Loggins as it tells several love stories. It is an all-singing, dancing 45-minute spectacular that traverses the Charleston to acrobatics, hip hop and anything in between.
Chapters
A scene from the musical Chapters. (Image: Quentin Long)
Visually stunning, featuring bangers for people of my vintage, think The Temper Trap, Stevie Wonder, Rhinanna, Phil Collins, the show is less narrative-driven but makes the ultimate use of the technically forward theatre. Laser etching on the 34-metre curved screen is just the beginning. The most awe-inspiring moment is when fake snow falls on the crowd at the crescendo of the show.
254 West
254 West is presented as a disco experience, but in reality, it’s disco with more bangers for people of my vintage. Staged in The Club, performers bring disco classics from The Bee Gees and Chic to life with a dance crew before venturing into the definitely not disco Bon Jovi, Madonna, Chapelle Roan and The Eurythmics, complemented by aerial performers and dancers.
Saddle Up Club
The most interactive of all the entertainment onboard, dance and sing-along to country and western greatest hits that we all love.
Accommodation
Wake up to sea views. (Image: Quentin Long)
In total, there are 1640 state rooms, of which 228 are suites. A quick note on how Celebrity distinguishes its state room types. Room types are not only designated by space and room design but also by amenities. The exact same room could be an Infinite Veranda, a Concierge Class or an Aqua Class. The difference is the amenities and services. Aqua is a wellness-led class with additional access to a specialty restaurant, while Concierge comes with elevated amenities including toiletries and services (the Aqua class includes the amenities of Concierge Class).
Infinite Veranda
The largest category of room onboard Xcel is made more spacious thanks to the floor-to-ceiling window that lowers on the press of a button to turn what was once a window into a balustrade. This means the traditional balcony space becomes part of the interior and ‘infinitely’ expands the spaciousness of the room. My Concierge Class Infinite Veranda’s enhanced amenities were CO Bigelow, a bottle of complimentary wine, daily snacks and a concierge to prioritise specialty dining bookings and other services.
Accessibility & Solo cabins
Celebrity Xcel has 29 wheelchair staterooms (including 2 suites) plus 32 solo cabins.
Suites and Villas
The suites and villas come in all shapes and sizes. The ultimate is the Iconic Suite with two bedrooms, living room, walk in wardrobe, private terrace with daybed, hot tub. The two-storey Edge Villa has a private balcony with hot tub.
Celebrity Xcel and sustainability
The Vitamin D Deck on Celebrity Xcel.
Celebrity Xcel is the first cruise ship in the world to have a tri-fuel engine capable of burning methanol. Green methanol is a carbon-neutral fuel that emits far less CO2, Nitrogen and Sulphur oxides and is considered the key energy source enabling the maritime industry to decarbonise.
Fast Facts
Total number of guests is 3276
1640 state rooms
- 228 suites
- 29 Wheelchair accessible, including two suites
- 32 solo cabins
32 Different culinary offerings
- 14 Cafés, Bars and Lounges
- Eight Specialty Restaurants
- Four Main Dining Restaurants
- Four Complimentary Casual Dining Venues
- Two Exclusive Restaurants
Seven new spaces
- The Bazaar
- Bora
- Attic at the club
- The flagship
- Celebrity pool club
- Spa hydro room
- The 7th secret space
LEAVE YOUR COMMENT