Celebrity Xcel · CruiseFans

Category Scores

General / Balanced Young Family Luxury Traveler Mature Couple / Retired Solo Traveler Active / Adventure Adult Couples

Space & Comfort

69Top 37% of ships

Dining

88Top 12% of ships

Entertainment

80Top 18% of ships

Activities & Thrills

56Beats 34% of ships

Pools & Relaxation

69Top 49% of ships

Value / Cost

38Beats 32% of ships

Line shading shows where all scored ships land in each category · dot = this ship · scored for the traveller type selected above

What We Like

Strong Dining — scores 88/100

Strong Entertainment — scores 80/100

−

Worth Knowing

Value / Cost is a relative weak point at 38/100

Fewer crew per guest — about 2.8 guests to each crew member

Daily gratuities are expected on top of the fare

General

Cruise LineCelebrity Cruises

Ship NameCelebrity Xcel

Maiden voyage18 November 2025

Physical

Year Built2025

BuilderChantiers de l'Atlantique

Gross Tonnage

ⓘ

A measure of a ship's enclosed volume, not its weight. Higher usually means more decks, space and amenities.

141,420 tons

Length

ⓘ

Overall length of the hull from bow to stern.

326.5 m

Width/Beam

ⓘ

The ship's width at its widest point. A wider hull is steadier but limits which ports and canals it can use.

39.5 m

Ship Within a ShipThe Retreat (suite-class complex with private sundeck, pool, hot tubs, restaurant Luminae, and dedicated lounge)

Total decks

ⓘ

Total number of decks, including crew-only and service decks.

Passenger Decks10

Speed

ⓘ

Cruising speed in knots (nautical miles per hour). One knot is about 1.15 mph.

22.6 knots

Passengers and Crew

Crew1,400

Passenger to Crew Ratio

ⓘ

Guests per crew member. Lower means more staff per passenger, which usually means more attentive service.

2.8

Total Cabins1,646

Single Occupancy Cabins

ⓘ

Whether the ship has cabins built for solo travellers (often without a single supplement).

Yes

Wheelchair-Accessible Cabins25

Passenger Capacity

ⓘ

The maximum number of guests the ship can carry at full occupancy.

3,260

Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger)

ⓘ

Gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity — a rough 'spaciousness' gauge. Higher means more room per guest.

Amenities

RestaurantsMain dining rooms: Cosmopolitan, Cyprus, Normandie, Tuscan; buffet Oceanview Cafe; specialty: Fine Cut Steakhouse, Raw on 5, Mosaic at The Bazaar, Bora, Qsine, Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud, Murano, Lawn Club Grill, Luminae (Retreat), Blu (AquaClass)

Restaurants - Paid6

Restaurants - Included9

Onboard Currency

ⓘ

The currency used for onboard purchases and billing.

US Dollar

Total Pools3

- Pools - General Access1

- Pools - Adults Only1

- Pools - Exclusive1

Water Playground/Splash ParkNo

Total Hot Tubs6

- Hot Tubs - General Access6

- Hot Tubs - Adults Only2

- Hot Tubs - Exclusive2

WiFiYes

Cell Phone ServiceYes

Bars/Lounges13

Beauty Salon/Barber ShopYes

CasinoYes

ChapelNo

Night ClubYes

Laundromats (self service)No

Laundry/Dry CleaningYes

LibraryYes

Movie TheatreYes

Onboard WeddingsYes

SpaYes

Video ArcadeYes

Basketball CourtNo

Tennis CourtNo

Fitness CenterYes

Ice Skating RinkNo

Jogging TrackYes

Mini-Golf CourseNo

Rock Climbing WallNo

Water SlideNo

24-Hour Room ServiceYes

BabysittingYes

Children's PlayroomYes

Supervised Youth ProgramYes

Teen CenterYes

Kosher MealsYes

Adult Only Relaxation AreaThe Solarium

Special AmenitiesMagic Carpet (cantilevered glass-roofed panoramic platform, capacity 90); The Retreat suite complex; Grand Plaza atrium; Resort Deck with 23m/75ft lap pool

Costs and Gratuities

Base Daily Gratuities*(Per Person Per Day)

ⓘ

The standard service charge automatically added per guest, per day, on top of the fare.

$18.00

Tip added to drinks & services

ⓘ

The automatic gratuity percentage added to bar tabs and paid services.

20%

Tipping Expected?Yes

Registry & Identifiers

Call sign

ⓘ

The ship's unique radio identifier used in maritime communications.

9HA6265

IMO number

ⓘ

A permanent 7-digit ID assigned to the hull for life, even if the ship is later renamed or sold.

9884136

MMSI number

ⓘ

A 9-digit radio ID broadcast by the ship's transponder for tracking and communications.

249457000

Port of registry

ⓘ

The ship's legal home port and country of registration — its 'flag'.

Valletta, Malta