Celebrity to Crowdsource Xcel Onboard Features – Cruise Industry News

Celebrity Cruises has launched Xcel Dream Makers, an open global community, inviting vacationers worldwide to join and create their dream vacation experience on the Celebrity Xcel.

The company said in a press release that the community will test, try and vote on new experiences, and that their selections will launch on the Celebrity Xcel in November 2025.

“We want to ensure our guests love our products and experiences, so involving them in the process to perfect the Celebrity Xcel was a great way to achieve this,” said Michael Scheiner, chief marketing and product officer of Celebrity Cruises.

“Celebrity Cruises is known for ground-breaking innovation in ship design and experiences unlike any other at sea. When the Xcel launches, guests won’t have just found their happy place; they’ll have helped us build it,” added Scheiner.

The company added that in an industry first, the community will have the final say through online polls and in-person events regarding elements of the vacation experience onboard.

The Xcel Dream Makers community will make decisions for the ship’s seven new yet-to-be-revealed experiences, as well as:

• Choose textiles, manage interior design elements and curate service offerings
• Pick their favorite dishes and beverages, choose table settings and shape dining concepts, and
• Provide input on shows, curate props and costumes, select playlists and partake in appointment selections for entertainment positions onboard.

According to the press release, the Celebrity Xcel is sailing her inaugural season from Fort Lauderdale, offering seven-night itineraries alternating between the Bahamas, Mexico, Cayman Islands, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas and St. Maarten.

In the summer of 2026, the Celebrity Xcel will set sail on her inaugural European season, comprising seven-to 11-night journeys out of Barcelona and Athens, including new overnight stays in Madeira, Portugal.