Published on
January 18, 2026
Celebrity Xcel, the newest luxurious vessel from Celebrity Cruises, brings a revolutionary onboard experience that changes the whole Mediterranean travel scenario. Via The Bazaar, a cultural integration space that is multifunctional, tourists will have a better and closer interaction with the Mediterranean societies they come to visit. The ship’s European trip starts and The Bazaar showcases local customs, food, and entertainment, providing an exhilarating and lively manner of reaching Europe for cruisers apart from the land.
A New Approach to Destination Immersion
Since its introduction aboard Celebrity Xcel in November 2025, The Bazaar has reshaped the way cultural programming is delivered at sea. The concept aims to extend the destination experience even while cruising, offering a holistic cultural journey that seamlessly integrates food, entertainment, and hands-on activities into the daily life aboard the ship.
The Bazaar blurs the line between ship and shore with its rotating festivals, artisan markets, regional dining, and live entertainment. Each festival will reflect the diverse cultural landscapes of the Mediterranean, from Greece to Italy, Spain, and Morocco. The interactive programming, supported by state-of-the-art LED installations, allows the space to transform continuously throughout the cruise, making every day feel like a new adventure.
Mediterranean-Focused Programming for Every Sail
The Mediterranean programming aboard Celebrity Xcel builds on the framework established by The Bazaar, allowing the cultural experience to evolve with every sailing. Guests will encounter Mediterranean traditions across four major festivals:
- The Opa Festival: This celebration of Greek culture will immerse guests in the flavours of Greece, offering culinary demonstrations, craft workshops, and vibrant live music performances that evolve from day to night. Guests will be treated to a mix of traditional dishes, including moussaka and souvlaki, as well as hands-on experiences in Greek crafts such as pottery and weaving.
- La Dolce Vita Festival: Focused on Italy’s rich culinary heritage, this festival brings the essence of Italian food, craftsmanship, and culture to life. By day, guests can participate in pasta-making workshops or enjoy tastings of Italian delicacies such as risotto and gelato. In the evening, the festivities shift to recreate the charm of Venice, featuring Venetian-style performances and live music.
- Salud Festival: A tribute to Spain’s vibrant culture, this festival celebrates Spanish food, dance, and music. From tapas tastings to regional creative workshops, this festival offers guests the chance to indulge in Spain’s diverse culinary traditions, while enjoying live flamenco performances and the sounds of regional musicians.
- Silk & Spice Festival: This festival highlights the unique cultural influences of Morocco and Turkey. Guests can sip Moroccan tea, sample traditional sweets, and enjoy performances inspired by Turkish dance and Moroccan music. The festival offers a truly immersive experience with region-specific crafts, art, and culinary delights.
Immersive Dining and Shopping Experiences
A key feature of The Bazaar is its immersive dining experiences. Mosaic, the open-kitchen venue, presents Mediterranean-inspired dishes reinterpreted from ports such as Naples, Mykonos, and Lisbon. Guests can watch the chefs prepare dishes and sample flavours specific to the regions they will visit. The casual Spice concept offers rotating daytime menu selections influenced by the ship’s itinerary, ensuring guests experience fresh, local dishes even while on the move.
Floor-to-ceiling windows in the dining areas further enhance the connection between guests and the places they’re exploring, reinforcing the sense of destination immersion. The Market at The Bazaar is another integral aspect of the experience. Here, guests can purchase handcrafted goods from regional artisans, offering an opportunity to take home souvenirs reflective of the Mediterranean cultures they have encountered.
Celebrity Xcel’s Chef’s Studio also serves as the brand’s first destination-inspired cooking school. Located in Mosaic, the studio adapts its classes based on the festivals’ themes and regional cuisines, enabling guests to enhance their culinary skills while learning about the flavours that define the Mediterranean.
Extended Exploration Ashore
While The Bazaar offers an unforgettable cultural experience on board, the European itineraries for Celebrity Xcel ensure that guests will have ample opportunity to explore Mediterranean destinations in depth. The ship’s itineraries will call at iconic locations including Florence, Palma de Mallorca, Santorini, and Mykonos, providing opportunities for extensive exploration ashore. The ship’s new focus on overnight stays, such as those in Madeira, offers guests longer port time, allowing them to soak in the beauty and history of each destination more thoroughly.
The blend of onboard cultural immersion and extended time in port creates a more complete Mediterranean experience for Celebrity Xcel guests. From the bustling markets of Florence to the ancient ruins of Santorini, every day brings new opportunities to engage with local cultures, both on board and ashore.
Setting Sail in May 2026
Celebrity Xcel’s Mediterranean season will officially begin in May 2026, with 7- to 11-night itineraries sailing from Barcelona and Athens. These cruises will incorporate new overnight stays, strengthening The Bazaar’s position as a central element of the ship’s design. The ship’s focus on destination immersion, combined with its luxurious amenities and unique programming, is set to revolutionize how travellers experience the Mediterranean.
Celebrity Cruises is still up front in the field of luxury travel by incorporating fascinating ways of cultural immersion and making the most of their new world. The Bazaar has turned Celebrity Xcel into the ideal ship for travelers who want to go deep and live through Europe, offering them the best chance to be right at the center of the Mediterranean.
