Part 1 - Celebrity Xcel First Impressions: My Retreat Suite Experience on the Inaugural Preview Cruise
I think I've said this a few times, I’ve always been fascinated by the size of cruise ships, and have equally wanted to experience an inaugural sailing too. I’ve not had much cruise experience though (yet) - “Mrs’ Private Traveller isn’t a fan (again, yet….), despite the fact that he’s never experienced one and, in my (now three cruises) experience would argue against all his reservations as being unfounded. I’ve been lucky enough though to experience each so far in a very premium way, like First or Business or a plane - an apartment on The World residential ship, Queens Grills on Cunard’s QMII and now The Retreat/Suite Class on the brand new Celebrity Excel.
I’m going to split this review into two parts so it’s not too long - this first part will cover:
Fast Facts about Celebrity Xcel
Booking & Pre-Cruise Experience
Embarkation & Check-In
First Impressions Onboard
My Sky Suite 11203 (Deck 11, mid-ship, Port)
The second part, which I will also publish immediately will cover:
The Retreat / Suite Benefits
Dining & Culinary Experience
Bars & Lounges
Coffee & Snacks
Wellness & Recreation
Entertainment & Enrichment
Shore Excursions & Ports of Call
Service Onboard
Atmosphere & Fellow Guests
Disembarkation
Where Celebrity Xcel Truly Shines
What Could Be Improved
Booking Celebrity Xcel with The Private Traveller
Final Thoughts
Celebrity Xcel First Impressions: My Retreat Suite Experience on the Inaugural Preview Cruise
A few months ago I took a mini cruise from Southampton to Hamburg (2 nights) with Cunard, and loved this so much I wanted to increase this to a 4 night cruise with Celebrity Cruises, part of the Royal Caribbean group which also includes Silversea. It was the perfect opportunity when I read about their newest Edge-class ship, Xcel, launching in November with a special (extra) preview cruise as a round-trip from/to Fort Lauderdale, about an hour north of Miami. I booked myself a Sky Suite, which came with all of The Retreat privilege.
I had to dust off my memory of cruising terms, like:
FWD - Forward (front of ship)
AFT - Back of ship
Port - always the lefty side when sailing straight ahead (remember, also 4 letters) - red light
Starboard - the right hand side of the ship, when sailing forward - green light
Pitching - the up-and-down movement of a ship’s bow and stern (Imagine the vessel nodding)
Rolling - the side-to-side tilting motion of the ship.
Fast Facts about Celebrity Xcel
| Cruise Line | Celebrity Cruises |
|---|---|
| Ship | Celebrity Xcel |
| Route | Fort Lauderdale – Cozumel – Sea Days – Fort Lauderdale (preview sailing) |
| Duration | 4 nights |
| Stateroom Category | Sky Suite – The Retreat (11203, Deck 11, mid-ship, port side) |
| TripAdvisor / Cruise Critic Ranking | TBC at time of sailing |
Booking & Pre-Cruise Experience
It was very easy for me to book this myself with my Fora advisor tools, and I knew I had to book one of The Retreat suites - I had toyed with the idea of an AquaClass suite, which (accommodation-wise) was identical to the Sky Suites, but Aqua came with unlimited access to the Thermal Suite of the Spa, free fitness classes, and was the restaurant Blu. My Sky Suite was for the premium restaurant Luminae on Deck 16, and below it on Deck 15, the Retreat Lounge. The Celebrity app for this cruise was a bit hit and miss, but only because this would be the first ever passenger cruise on Xcel, and I guess a lot of things were still being worked on.
Embarkation & Check-In
Again the app was a bit glitchy, but I was able to check in and add all the relevant details, and I was advised I would be asked to complete health questions within 24 hours of the sailing. I did get a notification of the morning of embarkation, and was easily able to complete these questions.
The check in at Port Everglades Cruise Terminal (dock 25 for Celebrity Xcel) wasn’t as smooth as I had expected. When boarding the QMII with Cunard at Southampton, I had been provided in advance with downloadable luggage tags, and there were clear drop off points for luggage, all looking professionally staffed. For Celebrity at Port Everglades, there didn’t seem to be any signage about baggage, but there were staff who looked like they were taking luggage, and what seemed most obvious, also taking tips.
I was eventually able to get my bags tagged, albeit no receipt, and they did turn up outside my suite by the time I had boarded. All was well, but I think this could have been handled much more professionally and officially, not to mention technology with their app / advance boarding tags to print.
There then was some signage about personal boarding, and I noticed a not very obvious Suites sign. There was a member of staff who just directed us to another member of staff with a printed list, again not the most professional experience when there was a digital boarding pass on their app. She checked a list and directed me forward, only to find the way was blocked by a barrier and no one there to advise. I did work out though that we were meant to go up in the elevator, to a VIP lounge before boarding.
Here the service was much better, and passengers were met at the door for another ID and documents check. My advisor was great and advised that she needed to check my ESTA (would have been good to have been advised in advance, and I could have had a copy ready). No issue though, there was Wi-Fi and she waited until I was able to access this. After being offered a drink, I was then advised I could board at leisure.
First Impressions Onboard
First impressions were good, arriving straight onto deck 5 of the ship, and I was interested to look around. Having checked all of my luggage, I could have started to explore the ship, but first off I went up to deck 11 to check out where my cabin was. It was there I first met Andrew, my room attendant, shortly followed by Ervin, my suite butler. Great initial impressions from both, and there was sufficient information in my cabin to find out that lunch was now being served in Luminae.
I wasn’t sure whether, like Cunard and Queens Grill, there would be an assigned table for me throughout the voyage, so I went straight to the restaurant, only to find it was already quite busy but no, you seemed to be assigned to a section of the restaurant, but no particular table - first come, first served on a meal by meal basis.
After a great lunch, I was off to explore and ended up on deck 17, the Retreat deck, to enjoy a cocktail and the best view of the sail away at 4pm. Everything about the ship was so well done, and so new (as you would expect), and it was great fun going off to explore all of the multiple decks, as well as just relaxing in the incredible suite.
My Sky Suite 11203 (Deck 11, mid-ship, Port)
This definitely had the wow factor and I was very pleased with my choice, not only from having access to all of The Retreat facilities and additional services, but with the actual Sky Suite too, and location. It wasn’t nearly as big as my penthouse suite on Cunard’s QMII, but far more modern and exceptionally well designed and laid out.
At the entrance, there was a large floor to ceiling wardrobe with lots of hanging space and hangers, then the door into the very well laid out bathroom. On the other side was another floor to ceiling door, this housing shelving and drawers, as well as the in suite safe. Then was the main bedroom area, with a huge king size bed (and ultra comfortable) bedside units and then a decent sized sofa/chaise longue, coffee table, and a large amenity unit desk housing the mini bar, a work area, and lots of extra full size drawers for storage. There was a full sized LCD TV on the wall (which pivoted out so you could watch it in bed). This was meant to accept casting from an iPhone or iPad/computer; I seemed to get it connected ok then my iPhone wouldn’t cast Netflix to it. It wasn’t a big problem, there was lots to do and I was working throughout so not lots of downtime.
From the lounge area where full width and floor to ceiling windows onto the balcony, the width of the suite, with a clear balustrade for that full ocean view at all times. There was a large central door which opened fully for easy access, and the balcony had a couple of relaxing chairs and an occasional table.
The bathroom really had the wow factor - so well designed and in keeping with the rest of the suite and ship. Light neutral colours and a range of materials (woods, glass and marble affect), and well supplied with Retreat dedicated toiletries and accessories. There was a large trough sink (two person / two taps) facing what could either be a double mirror, or the mirrored doors slide to reveal a window into the suite, and at the side of this another vanity area well lit. There were lots of storage areas either side, and drawers under the sink. There was a separate WC cubicle with frosted glass, and a very large shower and bath area, with an overhead rainshower. I generally don’t like over-bath showers, and the one on QMII had a shower curtain (not a favourite) but the bath here was huge, more like a jacuzzi sized and shaped tub, but no jets, and a brilliant shower overhead with various functions including side jets.
Looking Ahead to the Full Celebrity Xcel Experience
As the sun began to set over Fort Lauderdale and Celebrity Xcel edged away from the dock, I had that familiar feeling I always get at the start of a great journey — a mix of excitement, curiosity, and gratitude to be experiencing something brand new. Settling into my Sky Suite, wandering the decks, and soaking in those first moments onboard reminded me exactly why I love sharing these trips. There’s something incredibly special about being part of an inaugural sailing, and Xcel was already showing signs of being a standout addition to the Edge Series.
If you're considering a future sailing on Celebrity — whether you're new to The Retreat or comparing suite options across the fleet — I can help you plan the perfect voyage through The Private Traveller. With first-hand experience of this preview cruise and access to Fora Travel’s preferred booking channels, I’m able to guide you on cabins, itineraries, seasonal pricing and added-value opportunities when available. Part Two of this review will dive into the full onboard experience, from dining and bars to wellness, entertainment and everything that makes Xcel shine — but if you’re already thinking about your own Celebrity journey, you can always start your plans here.
Join the Conversation
Cruise reviews always spark great discussions, especially when it comes to new ships like Celebrity Xcel — and I’d love to hear what you think. Whether you’ve sailed on an Edge-class ship before, are considering The Retreat for the first time, or simply have questions about suites, dining, motion at sea, or itineraries, feel free to leave a comment below.
Your insights and questions help shape future reviews, and I reply personally to every message.
Part Two is now live and dives deeper into the onboard experience — from dining and bars to wellness, entertainment, and where Celebrity Xcel truly stands out.
Ready to Plan Your Own Celebrity Cruise?
If Part I has inspired you to look at Celebrity Xcel or another Edge-class ship, I can help you navigate everything from suite categories to seasonal pricing and itinerary choices. With first-hand experience onboard and access to Fora Travel’s preferred booking channels, I can offer guidance, insights, and added-value opportunities when available.
