Celebrity Cruises’ newest ship, Celebrity Xcel, has completed its first ocean sailing, marking a key step ahead of its inaugural cruises. The trial took place on Saturday, 13 September, near the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, where the ship has been under construction.
Captain ‘Kirk’ Kyriakos Matragkas led the ship through a series of maneuverability exercises designed to test its operational and functional capabilities.
Following the successful trials, Celebrity Xcel is now set to welcome passengers on its first cruises in November.
The ship is the fifth vessel in Celebrity Cruises’ Edge Series. While continuing the features of earlier ships in the series, Celebrity Xcel introduces seven new onboard spaces.
Celebrity Xcel will begin its inaugural season from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, offering seven-night itineraries that alternate between destinations including The Bahamas, Mexico, the Cayman Islands, and Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten.
In summer 2026, the ship will embark on its first European season. Passengers can explore the Mediterranean on journeys ranging from seven to 11 nights, departing from Barcelona and Athens. The itinerary will include new overnight stops in Madeira, Portugal.
