Celebrity Cruises is set to make waves in the European cruise market with its highly anticipated new ship, Celebrity Xcel, which will debut in the Mediterranean for its inaugural summer season in 2026. This marks a renewed focus on Europe for the upmarket cruise line, which will also introduce its first Grand Voyage, a 110-night sailing that will visit 55 destinations across 15 countries.

Expanding the Fleet

With 16 cruise ships already in operation, Celebrity Cruises is gearing up for an impressive 2026-27 season. The Celebrity Xcel, the fifth ship in the popular Edge class, is scheduled to enter service in fall 2025. By 2026-27, Celebrity Cruises will have vessels sailing in the world’s prime cruising grounds.

New Deployments and Surprises

The new deployments include some surprises. Celebrity Xcel will be homeported at PortMiami in winter 2026 after spending her first Caribbean season at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. Although the cruise line did not provide a reason for the port switch, cruisers departing from Fort Lauderdale will still have many options, including the 3,260-guest Celebrity Ascent and the 3,000-guest Celebrity Reflection.

Inaugural Europe Season

The 4,000-guest Celebrity Xcel, currently under construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France, will begin her inaugural Europe season in May 2026. She will offer 7- to 11-night cruises from Barcelona and Athens, featuring overnight stays in Madeira, Portugal. Other Celebrity ships set to sail in Europe during summer 2026 include:

• Celebrity Equinox (2,850 guests) and Celebrity Ascent (3,260 guests) from Lisbon, Rome, and Barcelona.
• Celebrity Eclipse (2,850 guests) between Athens and Ravenna.
• Celebrity Constellation (2,200 guests) from Rome and Ravenna.
• Celebrity Infinity (2,362 guests) on weekly roundtrip cruises from Athens.
• Celebrity Silhouette (3,000 guests) offering Iceland and Greenland voyages, including a Solar Eclipse cruise on 12 August 2026.

Grand Voyage and Other Highlights

One of the most exciting announcements is Celebrity Cruises’ first Grand Voyage, a 110-night journey from Canada to Southeast Asia aboard the 2,852-guest Celebrity Solstice. This epic voyage will visit 55 ports in 15 countries and depart between September and December 2026. The ship will undergo a refurbishment before the Grand Voyage, ensuring guests enjoy the best possible experience.

Global Adventures

Celebrity Cruises will also offer sailings in other regions, including the Arctic Circle, Norwegian fjords, Scandinavia, Alaska, and Japan. Notably, the 2,900-guest Celebrity Edge will offer 7-night voyages roundtrip from Seattle, while Celebrity Millennium will sail from the new Narita Terminal in Tokyo, Japan, with overnight stays in the city.

Booking Information

Bookings for Northern Europe, Alaska, Australia, Bermuda, Canada/New England, Hawaii, Iceland, and Japan sailings opened on October 1, 2024. Mediterranean and South America voyages will be available from 5 November 2024, the Caribbean and Panama Canal from 19 November 2024, and Asia and the Grand Voyage from 10 December 2024.

Are you ready to embark on a luxurious adventure with Celebrity Cruises? Which destination are you most excited to explore?