Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Xcel is replacing the much-loved Eden with a new concept. Introducing The Bazaar, a brand-new multi-level, multi-sensory space, described as ‘the epicentre of excitement on board and will introduce authentic experiences that extend guests’ time “on shore” to enjoy destinations in an unconventional way’.
A first of its kind concept, each day, the three-storey space will transform, introducing new ways for guests to immerse themselves in the destinations called on throughout their sailing. The Bazaar comes alive to blend guests’ on board and in port experiences in an elevated, authentic and unique way throughout sailings; from a market featuring local artisan products and hands-on craft experiences, to destination inspired festivals specific to each itinerary, regionally inspired culinary experiences, and unforgettable entertainment.
“The Bazaar is a truly one-of-a-kind space designed to seamlessly blend ship and shore and transform the way guests experience destinations,” shares Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises. “Celebrity Xcel intentionally extends the destination experience onboard through a continued authentic offering between ports of call, allowing guests to take the destination with them.”
Four unique Caribbean destination-inspired festivals – each linked to a destination where the ship is sailing – will immerse guests in the cultures of ports they visit. Every festival will bring a destination to life in a myriad of ways, including local food and beverage offerings, crafting experiences, retail enrichment activations, destination-inspired cooking and dance classes, pop-up entertainment, performances from local musicians, and other Caribbean-inspired activities. As Celebrity Xcel heads to Europe in 2026, The Bazaar will transform to feature festivals, markets and culinary experiences inspired by Mediterranean destinations.
On sea days, Market at The Bazaar invites guests to take the cities they visit with them. Guests can excite their senses with unique and engaging displays from local artisans who will come onboard to showcase their crafts, skills and traditions, and even teach guests how to make their own local creations. As with all experiences at The Bazaar, the offering at the Market will change throughout sailings to reflect each of the four festival themes. Depending on the festival theme, guests can expand their palate with activities including rum and chocolate pairings and local hot sauce tastings, dive deep into the destination’s culture with experiences like live basket weaving demos, and find one-of-a-kind keepsakes from local vendors such as an authentic Caribbean mask shop, traditional Mexican leather hats, embroidery stations, and more.
New destination-inspired dining options in The Bazaar will delight palates with local cuisines. An open kitchen concept, Mosaic, will serve reimagined and elevated dishes, inspired by the regions Celebrity Xcel is sailing, enhancing guests’ appreciation of the incredible places they have visited.
For something extra special, guests can delight in an industry-first Chef’s Table experience at Mosaic. Celebrity’s global culinary leadership team will each develop a dish inspired by their native cuisine, plated and presented in an elevated way. The Chef’s Table experience at Mosaic serves a diverse, multi-course tasting menu of childhood favourite dishes representing all continents, each perfectly paired with wines from Celebrity Cruises’ award-winning selection.
Celebrity Xcel is sailing her inaugural season from Fort Lauderdale, offering seven-night itineraries alternating between the Bahamas, Mexico, Cayman Islands, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten. In Summer 2026, Celebrity Xcel will set sail on her inaugural European season where guests can immerse themselves in the Mediterranean like never before on seven-to 11-night journeys out of Barcelona and Athens, including all new overnight stays in Madeira, Portugal.
