A Seamless Journey to Sea on Brand-New Celebrity Xcel

Some holidays feel special from the very first moment, and this one began before we ever set foot on the ship. We started with a relaxed pre-flight stay at Heathrow, watching aircraft sweep past our runway-view room and knowing the next day would be stress-free and easy. A smooth Virgin Atlantic flight to Miami, a breeze through immigration using the Mobile Passport Control app, and a simple transfer later, we were soaking up the sunshine in Fort Lauderdale. Two nights there gave us time to stroll to the beach, explore Publix and Whole Foods for those “only in America” finds, and enjoy laid-back evenings with happy hour drinks and people-watching along the waterways.

Embarkation day brought that unmistakable flutter of excitement as we watched Celebrity Xcel glide into Port Everglades. Fresh from launch and still carrying that “new ship” feel, she looked stunning against the Florida sky. Boarding was seamless, and it quickly became clear this brand-new ship was designed for both style and comfort. Our days fell into an easy rhythm: strong coffees and pastries at Café al Bacio, lazy hours in the Rooftop Garden and at the Sunset Bar, and long, lingering meals in venues like Normandie, Cosmopolitan, Tuscan and the vibrant Bazaar, where highlights ranged from French onion soup and steak Diane to flavour-packed rice bowls, perfect Beef Wellington and show-stopping desserts.

The itinerary blended relaxing sea days with calls at Bimini, Cozumel and Grand Cayman. In Bimini, we wandered along the pier above crystal-clear water to a white-sand beach washed by turquoise sea. Cozumel brought hot sunshine, spontaneous exploring, a towering view of Royal Caribbean’s latest ship and a fun mix of shops, bars and beach clubs. In Grand Cayman, a smooth tender ashore led to a few hours of relaxed browsing, island charm and friendly locals before heading back to the ship for burgers, fries and chilled drinks. Even on wilder sea days or when a show was cancelled due to cast illness, the crew’s warmth, attention to detail and genuine service really stood out.

Our final day at sea mixed Captain’s Club cocktails, a leisurely French-style lunch, a little last-minute shopping and those inevitable moments of packing, rounded off with one more evening of live music, cocktails at the Martini Bar and time to savour the last of the ocean views. After swift disembarkation back in Fort Lauderdale and a handy day room near Miami Airport to freshen up before the overnight flight, we headed home with memories of runway views, Caribbean sunsets, incredible food and the buzz of sailing on Celebrity’s newest ship.