My First Impressions of Celebrity Xcel — A Preview Sailing on the Brand New Ship
I feel like I will be writing a lot about this new Celebrity cruise ship Xcel, where I was lucky enough to experience their first ever passenger sailing, a preview cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Cozumel, and back to Fort Lauderdale.
My cruise experience to date has been fairly limited, being Residensea “The World” which now must be c. 20 years + ago, and a much more recent sailing on the QM II with Cunard.
Why I Booked the Celebrity Xcel Preview Cruise
This 5 day, 4 night, preview cruise has given me a very different perspective on cruising, and has also helped me accomplish a life-long desire to take an inaugural flight or cruise, or be one of the first people to stay in a brand new hotel.
I will do a full review soon, but on day 1 of this cruise with Celebrity and Xcel here are some initial observations.
Boarding Experience at Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale
With my only recent comparison being Cunard at the Mayflower Terminal in Southampton, Cunard “did” boarding so much better.
Once I arrived at dock 25 of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, it felt unclear as to what you were meant to do with luggage. I hadn’t been provided with any advance means of labeling, and the attendants that were curbside seemed to be quite happy for me to walk past them without suggesting they take my luggage.
Once I got near the boarding area, it was clear that no one was boarding with luggage, and I managed to get the attention of a luggage agent. This wasn’t the slickest of experiences, and it felt like the main focus was on getting tips rather than the passenger experience.
I did however manage to get my luggage labelled, and it did arrive at my suite in fairly short order after boarding.
There was a separate queue for The Retreat /Suites, but not the most obvious and it felt disorganised. You were funnelled one way to an agent, who checked your boarding credentials, but then she just said to move forward without any obvious signs of where to go.
The elevators were actually sectioned off from the Retreat boarding area, but I had to ask someone and they let me into the elevator going up to the VIP lounge area.
Once there, my boarding pass was checked again along with my passport, and I was asked to provide my ESTA details. It would have been good to know this was required in advance, as I had to then log on to the ESTA site to prove I had one.
Once I was scanned, after the invite to have or take a drink from the VIP lounge area, I was then invited to board at leisure, with no more checks.
The Retreat Suite & First Impressions of the Ship
The suite was excellent, not as large as I had on the Cunard QM II, but beautifully designed and very well laid out. It felt like there was a lot of storage space, despite the overall reduced size, and I was met by both my room attendant Andrew, and later introduced to my butler Ervin. Both were excellent.
I was surprised though that on such a new ship, and the scale of the ship, that there were 6 plastic bottles of water in the suite, and in the main buffet area on deck 14 (I was on 11) that plastic water bottles seemed prevalent too. This must generate so much waste for recycling.
I was confused as to why I had PALL as a package on my online ‘boarding’ pass, but it turns out everyone in a Suite / The Retreat Class gets this - this means than any premium alcohol drink up to a certain value is free, you just pay a 20% service charge, or any uplift on cost if the drink is more expensive.
The Retreat, which gives you access to the exclusive Luminae restaurant (deck 16), The Retreat pool deck on 17 and the lounge on 15, didn’t feel nearly as exclusive as the Grills Suite restaurant on the QM II. I was absolutely delighted though that I had this exclusive access, especially the restaurant always felt busy.
Getting around the ship felt very easy, with there being 17 numbered decks, albeit they don’t have a 13. Passenger spaces were:
Deck 2 - the Destination Gateway is a multipurpose embarkation and destination-enrichment lounge on Deck 2, while The Basement is a dedicated teen hangout space on the same deck
Deck 3 - one of the theatre levels (across 3/4/5), Camp at Sea, Captain’s Club at Sea, and two restaurants (Normandie & Tuscan).
Deck 4 - The Club (a multi‐purpose venue that serves as a daytime activity hub [trivia, games, live music] and transforms into a nightclub in the evening), Future Cruise Vacations, shops, Casino and another two restaurants (Cosmopolitan & Cyprus).
Deck 5 - The Annex (a flexible, bookable lounge and private event space where you can reserve for small-group gatherings — it features things like virtual sports simulators (golf, baseball, soccer), karaoke nights, movie-screenings with popcorn, or your own party lounge), Art Gallery, The Attic at The Club, World Class Bar, The Bazaar, Celebrity Flagship Store and four restaurants (Blu, Raw on Five, Fine Cut Steakhouse).
Deck 6 - Upper level of the Bazaar and staterooms
Decks 7 through 12 entirely staterooms and suites
Deck 14 - Vitamin D deck, Sea Thermal Suites, The Spa and Salon, Solarium, Pool & Whirlpools, Mast Grill, Pool Bar and Celebrity Pool Club, Il Secondo Bacio Bar, Oceanview Cafe (including Scoops ice cream bar), and when I was there the Magic Carpet.
Deck 15 - Fitness Centre, Motion Studios A & B, The Retreat Lounge, Rooftop Garden & Bora restaurants, and the Sunset Bar.
Deck 16 - Luminae Restaurant at The Retreat, The Retreat Sundeck, jogging track and whirlpool
Deck 17 - The Retreat Sundeck, pool, whirlpools, and The Retreat Bar
Dining Observations: Luminae vs Oceanview Café
Initial thoughts on food - really excellent, though it is really disappointing that Luminae Restaurant (for The Retreat) doesn’t have a vegetarian or vegan menu for lunch. There was one item on each course that would be vegetarian, but I had a bit of an issue if this one option included tofu or mushrooms, as they often did. One lunch, the only option for me was a salad starter, and I then had to leave and find another restaurant with other vegetarian options. As odd as this was, it wasn’t too much of a deal as the food in the main buffet (Oceanview Cafe) was really excellent, as buffets go.
For the evening meals in Luminae however, as well as the standard Luminae menu, they also give you a choice of a vegetarian menu from the standard restaurant.
Initial Thoughts & What’s Next
This preview sailing on Celebrity Xcel has already given me a strong sense of how the ship performs across suites, dining, service, and overall design — but there’s still much more to explore. I’ll be publishing a full, in-depth Celebrity Xcel cruise review soon, covering The Retreat experience, entertainment, dining across the ship, shore days, and how this inaugural sailing compares with other brands like Cunard. More observations and practical booking insights to follow.
Why I’m Sharing This — And Why You Should Let Me Help You Book Your Own Cruise Experience
As someone who has only recently stepped back into the world of cruising, this short preview sailing on Celebrity Xcel has been eye-opening in the best possible way. No ship is perfect — especially when sailing with passengers for the first time — but what struck me most is how elevated the experience feels when you’re travelling in a suite, with access to The Retreat, private spaces, curated dining, and a service style that (mostly) removes the stress that travelling can create.
And now that I’ve seen this ship up close — and experienced the boarding, the suite category, the dining, the lounges, the pool decks, and the service level — I can confidently help you navigate the world of cruise options with far more clarity. Whether you’re a first-time cruiser, a long-time Cunard devotee, or someone curious about the new Celebrity Edge-class ships, I can guide you through:
Choosing the right ship and itinerary
Understanding the suite categories and the Retreat benefits
When to book for the best value (and when to upgrade)
What’s genuinely worth paying for — and what isn’t
Tips to avoid embarkation-day stress
How the experience compares across cruise brands
My role as a Fora Travel Advisor means I can access the same rates you see online — but with added perks where available, priority with onboard teams, and personal insight that comes only from actually being onboard.
If you’re considering Celebrity, Cunard, or any other cruise line — Caribbean, Mediterranean, Alaska, transatlantic, world cruises or preview sailings — I’d love to help you tailor the experience so it feels right for you, not just what the cruise line recommends.
📩 To start planning your next cruise (with or without suites, The Retreat, or Grills), email me directly: dave.gillan@fora.travel
Or visit: theprivatetraveller.com
Let’s make your next sailing unforgettable — and stress-free.
