Celebrity Xcel - Aruba, Bonaire & Curacao from Miami
For her first Miami winter season, Celebrity's newest ship Xcel runs this 8-night deep-south loop that hits all three ABC islands back-to-back, including a 15-hour call in Aruba that lasts until 11pm. Two sea days each way put the ship's new open-air Horizon at the Edge district to work.
Price Range
$$
Mid-Range
*Prices vary by cabin type, sailing date, and availability. Confirm rates with Celebrity Cruises before booking.
Ship Details — Celebrity Xcel
View full Celebrity Xcel detailsYear Built
2025
Tonnage
140,600 GT
Passengers
3,260
Crew
1,400
Decks
17
Class
Edge
Itinerary & Route Map
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Onboard Amenities
Cruise Highlights
About the Ship
What Travelers Say About Celebrity Xcel
Reviews of the ship itself — the same for every Celebrity Xcel sailing. Based on 900 discussions.
Celebrity Xcel is the newest member of Celebrity Cruises' Edge class, debuting in November 2025 with a maiden voyage out of Port Everglades before heading to the Mediterranean in 2026. Because it is so new, the verdict is still forming: it carries a respectable 4.6/5 on U.S. News, but that is drawn from a small and rapidly growing pool of reviews, and several detailed independent reviewers landed considerably lower, around 3.7/5. The headline pitch is seven new venues, anchored by The Bazaar, a three-story reimagining of the old Eden space that transforms throughout the day into a destination-themed festival, market, and entertainment hub. The vibe is modern, design-forward, and energetic, leaning into lively activation more than the serene elegance some Edge loyalists expected.
What People Love
- The Bazaar is an ambitious three-story space with rotating destination-themed festivals that nothing else in the fleet matches
- Service is a standout, with a hand-picked all-star launch crew rated near the top of the experience
- Entertainment punches above typical cruise standards, with a concert-venue-style main theatre and polished included production shows
Common Complaints
- Data is thin and volatile, with a small review base and scores diverging sharply (4.6 on U.S. News versus 3.7 from at least one detailed independent reviewer)
- The marketed new venues are mostly rebrands or redesigns rather than truly new builds; Xcel shares the same hull and layout as Beyond and Ascent
- Infinite Veranda cabins remain controversial, with no true step-out balcony, A/C that cuts off when the window opens, and a sometimes-noisy window mechanism