Boozy brunches & dance parties! Celebrity Cruises launches new couples’ experiences

Celebrity Xcel, Celebrity Cruises’ upcoming ship that joins the fleet in November 2025, is set to give date night a serious upgrade by offering more choice than ever before for Celebrity guest couples.

From the cruise line’s first-ever brunch menu at new al fresco restaurant, Bora, to the most expansive entertainment offering across Celebrity’s fleet that includes new theatre and club shows, dance parties, and even candlelight concert experiences, Celebrity Cruises is pulling out all the stops for couples getaways on the new ship. Here’s what to expect.

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With an impressive 32 globally inspired food and beverage venues, there is no shortage of options for the perfect date setting onboard. A top pick for couples? Celebrity Xcel’s lively new al fresco rooftop restaurant, Bora. Panoramic ocean views and a buzzy setting, combined with a “seafood-forward” menu, aim to transport guests to the vibrant Mediterranean coast. (Do not be misled by the potentially Polynesian-leaning name!)

Smooth transitions from day to night mean that either a jolly brunch or an intimate dinner are a great bet here. By day, Bora’s upbeat, boozy brunch will serve Mediterranean-inspired classics, like shakshuka eggs with coriander, avocado and sourdough toast, and a flavoursome croissant eggs benedict with lemony smoked salmon, ricotta spread and hollandaise sauce, alongside other brunch favourites like French toast or pancakes. Customisable Bloody Marys with flamboyant garnishes at “the best Bloody Mary bar at sea” will help you ease into a fun day at sea, as roving musicians play energetic tunes.

By night, Bora’s chef-led tableside cooking demos and dishes are designed to bring an air of theatrics to dinner. Fresh seafood like seared branzino and garlic aioli, fideos negros tostados with razor clams, carabinero prawns, and elevated spins on Mediterranean favourites like lamb tagine with saffron couscous will all be available under under the stars. And if you’re still not feeling the waves of romance washing over you, a backdrop of Greek ballads and Italian love songs will practically have Cupid himself swooning.

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After dinner, date night continues with a variety of venues to match the mood. Get your groove on at one of the multiple new dance parties from destination-inspired festivals, all out 80s extravaganzas, country music nights, or, for something a little more sedate but just as romantic – a beautiful candlelit concert.  ‘Shine the Night’ parties will return to Celebrity Xcel, for a fun evening dancing under the stars.

The ship will also set sail with the cruise line’s most expansive in an all-new entertainment offering, including three new theatre shows, spanning theatre, film, television and world-renowned artists’ concert tours.

Breathtaking performances by world-class singers, dancers, parkour artists, and speciality performers enhanced by state-of-the-art technology, including kinetic lighting, lasers, and a larger-than-life LED screen guarantee a fully immersive entertainment experience.

“Designed to create memorable moments of connection from morning to night, Celebrity Xcel will sail with our most expansive entertainment offering to date with over 75 resident performers” shared Lisa Lehr, vice president of entertainment of Celebrity Cruises. “The offering is brand-new at every turn, from unforgettable new theatre shows, new interactive shows in The Club and a variety of immersive parties and live music options; the choice is endless for guests to find their perfect match each and every night.”

Design your dream date…

Couples can actually decide how their perfect date night will come to life onboard Celebrity Xcel by joining Xcel ‘Dream Makers’. Open to all, Dream Makers is a global community of holiday makers who will test, try and vote on new experiences they would like to see onboard Xcel to finalise the cruise line’s newest ship. Dream Makers will make key decisions across culinary, interior design and entertainment,  including deciding the first headline performer in the theatre, as well as determining the finishing touches on new dance parties and shows.

To become a Dream Maker or to find out more, visit www.dreammakers.celebritycruises.com.

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