New ship

Celebrity Cruises Confirms Sixth Edge Class Ship – launching in 2028

Celebrity Cruises has announced a sixth ship in their Edge Class series, arriving in 2028. Here is what we know so far.

Celebrity Cruises Edge Class series is expanding once more, as the cruise line announced today that a new ship, ‘Xcel 2’, will join the fleet in 2028.

Company owners Royal Caribbean Group confirmed the signing of an agreement with Chantiers de l’Atlantique, one of the world’s largest shipbuilders, based in France.

Edge 6 or ‘Xcel 2’ will be the sister ship to Celebrity Xcel, which is preparing to take its inaugural sail later this year. Other Edge Series ships include Celebrity Ascent, Celebrity Beyond, Celebrity Apex, and Celebrity Edge – the first ship in the series, which set sail in 2018.

– READ MORE: Full list of new ships setting sail in 2025 –

Celebrity Cruises Excel Class ships - Magic Carpet

Celebrity Cruises’ Edge Class ships are designed to bring guests closer to destinations with state-of-the-art features. These include the iconic Magic Carpet [pictured above] – the world’s first cantilevered, floating platform at sea – that offers a unique way to dine, drink, view destinations and take in the dramatic local landscapes.

Other innovations introduced by Celebrity’s Edge Series ships include Infinite Veranda staterooms, which are said to erase the boundaries between ship and shore. The sixth ship in the lineup will incorporate the series’ key features, while also making room for new, yet-to-be-announced innovations. Watch this space.

Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group said: “Celebrity’s Edge Series redefined premium travel at sea, blending groundbreaking design and unforgettable guest experiences. Each ship in this award-winning series has set a new standard for the industry, and Celebrity Xcel, sailing later this year, is no exception.”

“Celebrity Xcel will be the happy place of vacationers globally when she launches in November and we’re thrilled to be making this commitment to bring her a sister ship in Edge 6,” added Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises.

“Celebrity Xcel will take forward the best of Edge Series ships coupled with seven new experiences, all perfected with the help of our recently announced Xcel Dream Makers – an industry-first program enlisting the power of cruisers to make final decisions across culinary, interior design and entertainment.”

– READ MORE: These are the best Celebrity Cruises to the Galapagos Islands –

Celebrity Cruises Edge Class Entertainment

In an exciting industry first, cruisers will help make key decisions across culinary, entertainment and interior design to finalise Celebrity Xcel, the cruise line’s soon-to-be newest sailing billion-dollar ship, setting off on her maiden voyage in November 2025.

Open to all who would like to to join, this global community will test, try and vote on new experiences to appear on the ship. Winning selections will launch on Celebrity Xcel in November 2025 for guests to enjoy. Decisions will be made through online polls and unique experiential in-person events, as the public will perfect the ship’s design, culinary and entertainment offerings.

Areas Dream Makers will make their mark on include the ship’s seven yet-to-be-revealed experiences. However, we do know so far that they’ll have a say in:

Choosing textiles, managing interior design elements and curating service offerings
Picking favourite dishes and beverages, choosing table settings and shaping dining concepts
Providing input on headline shows, curating props and costumes, selecting playlists and taking part in selections to appoint key entertainment positions onboard!

Royal Caribbean Group’s newbuild pipeline currently includes a total of eight ships on order. This year, the company will welcome two new ships including Royal Caribbean International’s Star of the Seas and Celebrity Xcel.

For more information on the Dream Makers programme, visit: www.celebritycruises.com/xceldreammakers.

– READ MORE: What is Celebrity Cruises Concierge Class? –

Author

Finn Thompson

Finn has always loved travel and feels fortunate to have visited some truly extraordinary places. As a passionate animal lover, safaris stand out among her favourite travel memories – there’s nothing quite like being up close to a magnificent creature such as a leopard or elephant. She believes cruising opens up endless opportunities for exploration, allowing travellers to visit multiple destinations in one trip and reach places that aren’t accessible by plane or train. A Mediterranean cruise around the smaller Greek islands, with time to immerse herself in the local cuisine and culture, is high on her wish list.

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