Celebrity Cruises Invites Guests to Shape the Future of Travel With ‘Dream Makers’ on Celebrity Xcel
Thank you to Monte Mathews for this article
Photos courtesy of Celebrity Cruises
MIAMI (January 21, 2025) – Imagine stepping onto a cruise ship and knowing that you helped design it. That the flavors on your plate, the shows on stage, and even the luxurious touches in the staterooms were shaped by your own preferences. Celebrity Cruises is making that dream a reality with their new initiative, Xcel Dream MakersSM, where travelers get to weigh in on what will make their newest ship, Celebrity Xcel®, truly exceptional.
The best part? This isn’t just a marketing gimmick. The ideas chosen by the community will come to life when the ship sets sail in November 2025, making Celebrity Xcel more than just the latest addition to the award-winning Edge® Series—it will be a ship unlike any other, co-created by the very people who will experience it.
“We want our guests to not only love what we offer but to feel like they had a hand in crafting it,” says Michael Scheiner, Celebrity Cruises’ chief marketing and product officer. “Innovation has always been at the heart of what we do, but this takes it a step further. When Celebrity Xcel launches, our guests won’t just be stepping aboard a ship—they’ll be stepping into something they helped create.”
This is the first time in the cruise industry that guests will have direct influence over key elements of a ship’s experience. Through online polls and exclusive in-person events, the Dream Makers community will help determine details like the ship’s aesthetic, the dining concepts, and even the entertainment lineup. Picture it: weighing in on everything from the mood-setting textiles in the staterooms to the menu at an all-new specialty restaurant. Ever dreamed of curating a Broadway-style production at sea? You might just get the chance.
Celebrity Xcel is already making waves—literally. On January 18, the ship floated out of dry dock at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, a major milestone that marked the completion of its exterior. And while the ship is designed to redefine modern cruising, it’s also leading the charge in sustainability. Celebrity Xcel is the first in the industry to feature a tri-fuel capable engine, an important step in Royal Caribbean Group’s Destination Net Zero initiative, which aims for net-zero emissions by 2050.
When the ship launches from Fort Lauderdale, it will embark on seven-night Caribbean itineraries, taking guests to sun-soaked destinations like the Bahamas, Mexico, the Cayman Islands, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten. By summer 2026, Celebrity Xcel will make its European debut, sailing Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona and Athens, with itineraries ranging from seven to eleven nights. And for the first time ever, Celebrity Cruises will offer overnight stays in Madeira, Portugal, giving travelers even more time to soak in the magic of this enchanting island.
So, if you’ve ever wanted to help design the ultimate vacation, this is your chance. Join the Xcel Dream Makers community today and play a part in shaping the future of cruising. After all, the best vacations are the ones built just for you.
You’ll want to experience Xcel for yourself. Hurry because bookings open on February 4th 2025.
Thank you to Monte Mathews for this article
Photos courtesy of Celebrity Cruises
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