Celebrity Xcel sets sail with a secret venue for maximum FOMO
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The Bazaar onboard Celebrity Xcel is a space that changes daily to immerse cruise passengers in the destinations they visit longer than their stay in port. Photo: Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Xcel is Royal Caribbean Group's latest bid to reinvent cruising as an experience — one that blurs the line between ship and shore.
Why it matters: Major cruise brands are in an arms race of new ships and destination experiences, pushing past traditional itineraries toward curated, immersive travel.
Zoom in: One of the new features Celebrity added for Xcel is The Bazaar, which offers rotating festivals that mix culture, food, performance and shopping.
Celebrity Xcel secret venue
The intrigue: You have to be on board to experience one of Xcel's most unique spaces — a phone-free secret venue where photos aren't allowed.
- Celebrity chief marketing and product officer Michael Scheiner told Axios the secrecy is intentional, meant to create a sense of FOMO.
- "There aren't many surprises anymore," he said. "Creating one is kind of a dream."
Celebrity river cruises
What's next: Celebrity's biggest swing may not be at sea — but on the rivers. Its upcoming fleet of river ships — whose first 2027 sailings sold out within minutes — will carry over the same design DNA as Xcel.
