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October 23, 2025

With the debut of Celebrity Xcel, Celebrity Cruises is redefining the very concept of onboard entertainment, creating an unprecedented platform for live performances in the cruise industry.

The company has announced an exceptional investment in live entertainment, merging the creative expertise of professionals who have designed tours for artists such as Bad Bunny and Dua Lipa with a resident cast of over seventy-five performers and an international, theater-grade production budget.

All of this comes together aboard a single ship — conceived as a floating festival where the show never stops. Celebrity Xcel will offer a radically new experience compared to traditional cruise entertainment — not just shows, but immersive, multidimensional productions crafted to Broadway standards, supported by world-class stage technology.

The program includes five original productions, two interactive performances in the ship’s clubs, themed parties, cultural festivals, and experiential games running from morning until late at night. Every detail has been designed to transform the ship into a creative ecosystem where music, theater, and technology merge to evoke continuous emotion.

At the heart of the lineup are three new productions in The Theatre, the pulsating core of onboard entertainment. Inspired by grand stage productions on land, these performances combine live action, dynamic set design, and cutting-edge technology.

The stage, featuring a curved LED screen more than thirty meters long, will be enhanced by an intricate system of projections, kinetic lights, visual mapping, and pyrotechnics — all designed to immerse the audience completely. With the largest cast ever assembled by Celebrity Cruises — including singers, dancers, acrobats, parkour artists, and aerial performers — these productions will stand as true international theatrical events.

Among the titles, Mainstage will be a musical journey across the world’s greatest festivals — from Rock in Rio to Glastonbury to Coachella — celebrating decades of culture and collective energy. Between Takes will transport guests to 1920s Hollywood, into the chaos and glamour of a film set, blending acrobatic choreography, moving scenery, and powerful vocal numbers. Chapters, meanwhile, will stand out for its poetic and visual tone, offering a symbolic reflection on nature, transformation, and personal rediscovery through refined and evocative imagery.

The Theatre, however, will only be part of the entertainment mosaic that Celebrity Xcel brings to the sea. In the lively venue The Club, guests will be immersed in two interactive productions where the line between audience and stage is deliberately blurred.

254 West will recreate the atmosphere of a legendary 1980s club during its final, electrifying night of celebration, where music and collective participation take center stage. HOTEL, on the other hand, will transport the audience into a cabaret-style musical comedy filled with humor and mystery, where a murder to solve becomes the pretext for a playful narrative enriched with musical numbers and unexpected twists.

In addition to theatrical productions, Celebrity Xcel will offer a broad musical calendar. Live performances will alternate with themed parties, providing ever-changing evening atmospheres.

The Candlelight Classic Rock Concert will celebrate rock legends — from Queen to Led Zeppelin — in an intimate, candlelit setting where the power of iconic anthems meets a refined, emotional aesthetic. For country music lovers, Saddle Up Saloon will turn the ship into a star-spangled dance floor, featuring live bands and an authentically festive vibe.

Also on board will be Bora, an experience paying tribute to the charm of the Mediterranean with Greek and Italian melodies, while the iconic Shine the Night returns in a refreshed version, inviting guests to dance under the stars in a luminous, joyous atmosphere.

Cultural entertainment will find its fullest expression in The Bazaar, a dynamic space where the ship continues to celebrate the cultures of the destinations it visits even after leaving port. Four thematic festivals — Carnival, Aqua, Viva, and Flora — will bring aboard the vibrant spirit of the Caribbean and Latin America, from the Bahamas to Mexico, from the Cayman Islands to the Dominican Republic.

Traditional music, regional costumes, and roaming performances will alternate with hands-on experiences and sensory workshops, such as creating salt scrubs or sampling local delicacies. Each day will offer something new, ensuring that every visit to The Bazaar feels unique.

Innovation aboard Celebrity Xcel extends to the world of gaming and interactive entertainment. The ship’s playful dimension will be enriched with new competitions designed to foster teamwork and fun. Games like High Stakes and Brain Spin will test intuition and strategy, turning participation into a collective experience filled with suspense and laughter.

Guests can also enjoy themed escape rooms, build electronic circuits, or solve puzzles inspired by exotic destinations — all the way to Game On at The Club, a modern take on classic arcades where body movement replaces traditional joysticks.

Younger travelers will also be engaged thanks to Camp at Sea, which introduces a digital interactive wall featuring over fifty new games, combining learning and fun in a safe, innovative environment.

One of the most original aspects of the project lies in guest participation in shaping the ship’s entertainment offerings. Through the Xcel Dream Makers program, Celebrity Cruises invited future passengers to contribute directly to the ship’s artistic direction.

Participants voted on costume designs for theatrical productions, selected party themes, and even chose the first headline performer to inaugurate the theatre’s calendar. This collaborative approach has made Celebrity Xcel a shared creation — one built not only by the company but also by those who will sail aboard her.

After her Caribbean inaugural season, featuring seven-night itineraries visiting the Bahamas, Mexico, the Cayman Islands, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten, Celebrity Xcel will launch her first European season in summer 2026, with voyages ranging from seven to eleven nights across the Mediterranean. Departures will take place from Barcelona and Athens, including overnight stays in Madeira, Portugal — designed to give guests a deeper immersion in local cultures.

With this new ship, Celebrity Cruises takes a decisive step in the evolution of modern cruising. Entertainment is no longer a secondary aspect of the voyage but its beating heart — a global experience that merges music, art, technology, and participation into one continuous narrative.

In this sense, Celebrity Xcel embodies the very essence of the brand’s philosophy: always exceeding guest expectations and redefining the standards of hospitality at sea. More than a ship, Celebrity Xcel is a moving stage — a place where every space becomes a moment of discovery and every day a complete sensory experience.

With its blend of creativity, innovation, and engagement, it promises to usher in a new era of contemporary cruising, transforming travel into a truly artistic experience.

Stay tuned for news, updates, and exclusive offers from Celebrity Cruises on our website, Cruising Journal.

Mara Di Dio

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