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January 26, 2026

In recent years, the concept of cruising has changed profoundly. It is no longer just about moving from one port to another, but about living a continuous experience that extends the journey far beyond the time spent on land.

This is exactly the direction taken by Celebrity Xcel, the new ship from Celebrity Cruises, which, starting in summer 2026, will bring a completely new idea of cultural immersion to the Mediterranean through The Bazaar—an innovative space designed to erase the boundary between ship and destination.

During the presentation of the new onboard experiences, it became clear that Celebrity Xcel represents a tangible evolution in the way we experience cruising: no longer just a floating base for excursions, but a natural extension of the destinations visited, capable of conveying their essence through food, music, traditions, craftsmanship, and entertainment. The Mediterranean, with its cultural richness and layered identity, thus becomes a protagonist even during days at sea.

The Bazaar was conceived as a transformative space, designed to evolve day by day and adapt to the ship’s itineraries. It is not simply a themed area, but a fully immersive environment that changes its appearance, atmosphere, and content according to the destinations visited. The goal is clear: to allow guests to continue exploring the Mediterranean even when the ship has left port.

The strength of this concept lies in its ability to seamlessly and coherently blend onboard and onshore experiences. Markets inspired by the cities visited, hands-on activities, shows, cooking and dance classes, regional culinary offerings, and local craftsmanship coexist in a dynamic space supported by cutting-edge technological scenography. Immersive LED screens across three levels help transform the environment, making each day different from the last. Every day offers new stimuli, new experiences, and new opportunities to connect with Mediterranean cultures, creating a narrative continuity between what is experienced onshore and what is experienced onboard.

At the heart of The Bazaar experience are four festivals inspired by some of the most iconic areas of the Mediterranean. Each is designed to celebrate specific traditions, flavors, and atmospheres, offering guests a fully sensory immersion.

The Opa Festival is dedicated to Greece and its contagious energy. During the day, Hellenic culture is showcased through traditional cuisine, with specialties such as baklava and moussaka, alongside creative activities like making jewelry inspired by the “Mati,” the famous protective eye charm. As evening falls, the atmosphere transforms: live music takes center stage, engaging guests in dancing, singing, and shared moments that capture the spirit of Greece’s most authentic celebrations.

The Dolce Vita Festival celebrates Italy, focusing on elegance, taste, and romance. During the day, guests can take part in hands-on activities connected to Italian culinary traditions, such as making fresh pasta and tiramisu, complemented by tastings of limoncello and other iconic products. In the evening, the experience becomes a tribute to Italian beauty, with atmospheres inspired by Venice and an idea of timeless refinement.

The Salud Festival brings the vibrant soul of Spain onboard. Color, rhythm, and passion take center stage in this experience, which during the day features sangria, local dishes, and creative activities such as making fans and flamenco roses. In the evening, the scene comes alive with flamenco dancers and performances that celebrate the intensity of Spanish culture.

Finally, the Silk & Spice Festival takes guests on a sensory journey inspired by the cultures of Morocco and Turkey. Spices, aromatic teas, traditional sweets, and hypnotic music create an experience that evolves from day to night, culminating in dance and music performances that evoke enchanting and immersive Eastern atmospheres.

One of the central elements of the onboard experience on Celebrity Xcel is dining, understood not merely as a service, but as a tool for cultural storytelling. Through The Bazaar, food becomes a universal language capable of conveying territories, traditions, and identity.

The Mosaic concept, with its open kitchen, offers refined reinterpretations of dishes inspired by the Mediterranean’s most iconic cities, such as Naples, Mykonos, and Lisbon. Each dish is designed to provide an authentic yet contemporary experience, in line with Celebrity Cruises’ signature style. Alongside Mosaic, Spice represents the more casual side of The Bazaar. This relaxed dining space offers a rotating selection of small plates that change with each port of call, allowing guests to discover new flavors even during days at sea. Large ocean-facing windows add a scenic element, making the experience even more immersive.

During days at sea, The Bazaar also hosts the Market, a space designed to showcase local craftsmanship from the destinations visited. Here, guests can explore authentic products from Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Portugal, and Morocco, including olive oil, Italian scarves, and hand-painted tiles. The Market is not just a place to shop, but an opportunity to connect and discover. Through these items, destinations continue to live onboard, becoming part of each traveler’s personal experience.

For those who love to explore culture through cuisine, Celebrity Xcel introduces Chef’s Studio at Mosaic, Celebrity’s first destination-inspired culinary school. Here, guests can take part in hands-on classes, learning to prepare traditional dishes from the places they visit. The course schedule evolves throughout the cruise, following the themes of the festivals and destinations. In this way, every culinary experience becomes a tangible memory to take home, enriching not only the palate but also the cultural depth of the journey.

With Celebrity Xcel, Celebrity Cruises takes a bold step toward a new vision of cruising, where the destination is no longer limited to the time spent ashore but becomes an integral part of the daily onboard experience. The Bazaar embodies this vision perfectly: a vibrant, dynamic, and ever-evolving space capable of showcasing the Mediterranean in all its richness and diversity.

Through themed festivals, curated culinary offerings, hands-on experiences, and a strong connection to local cultures, Celebrity Xcel offers guests a deeper, more immersive way to travel. It’s not just about visiting iconic locations, but about understanding, tasting, and truly experiencing them—even while at sea. Summer 2026 will mark the beginning of a new era for Celebrity Cruises in the Mediterranean, where cruising becomes a continuous story, seamlessly connecting ship and destination into one extraordinary travel experience.

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Giorgia Lombardo

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