Celebrity Cruises has celebrated two major milestones at a shipyard in France.
The cruise line welcomed its newest ship – Celebrity Xcel – and announced the name of its sixth Edge Series vessel – Celebrity Xcite – as the first piece of steel was cut and construction commenced at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire.
“Celebrity Xcel represents the next bold step in our journey to transform the way the world experiences premium travel,” said Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean Group president and CEO.
“Each ship in the Edge Series has reimagined what’s possible at sea through elevated design and experiences that deepen the connection to the destinations being visited.
“With Celebrity Xcel now joining the fleet and Celebrity Xcite on the horizon, we’re continuing to set new standards for excellence and innovation alongside our trusted partners at Chantiers de l’Atlantique.”
Royal Caribbean Group executives and Celebrity Cruises crew gathered to celebrate the handover of Celebrity Xcel.
The milestone was marked with time-honoured maritime traditions, including a formal signing ceremony, the symbolic changing of flags aboard the vessel and a celebratory toast in the ship’s three-storey Grand Plaza.
Celebrity Xcel will set sail in November on her inaugural season from Fort Lauderdale while Celebrity Xcite is expected to set sail in 2028.
