Construction for Celebrity Cruises' fifth Edge Class cruise ship has reached a major milestone.
Celebrity Xcel's keel-laying ceremony took place on June 13 at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, signifying the start of the ship's physical construction. At the ceremony, Jason Liberty, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group; Laura Hodges Bethge, President of Celebrity Cruises; and Laurent Castaing, General Manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique lowered the first 739-ton steel block for the new ship.
“Today, we not only mark the start of construction, but we are laying the foundation on which countless memories will be created,” said Liberty.
“Each new ship also represents an opportunity to advance our journey to net zero, and with Xcel, we are building our first methanol capable ship, which helps advance our transition to the energy platform of the future.”
The new Edge Class ship is scheduled to enter service in November 2025, offering 7-night cruises to The Caribbean and Bahamas.
The 5-night inaugural voyage is slated to depart on November 18, sailing to Bimini, Bahamas and Cozumel, Mexico. Interior and ocean-view cabins have already sold out, despite the voyage being well over one year away.
Prices for veranda cabins start at $1,139 per person, with suites within the luxurious Retreat going for as much as $32,800 per sailor.
Once completed, the ship will join Celebrity Edge, Apex, Beyond, and Ascent as one of the most revolutionary cruise ships at sea, with features such as infinite veranda cabins, the Magic Carpet, and innovative entertainment options in state-of-the-art venues.
“We can’t wait to debut Celebrity Xcel and her unrivaled guest experiences, living up to her name in every way with surprises that confirm ‘Nothing Comes Close’ to a Celebrity vacation,” said Bethge.
“We are grateful for the continued partnership of the Chantiers de l’Atlantique team for lending their craftsmanship to further elevate the innovative design and world-class features of our beloved Edge Series ships.”
Celebrity Xcel's coin ceremony
During the keel-laying ceremony, a newly minted coin was placed on the first piece of steel to symbolize good fortune during the ship's construction process and seafaring career.
"The Olympic Games symbols and the representation of NASA’s Saturn V rocket engraved on the coins pay tribute to the values of team spirit, commitment, and respect promoted by Chantiers de l’Atlantique as well as the innovative characteristics of Celebrity Xcel," wrote the shipyard's Facebook.
Celebrity Xcel will feature the world's first tri-fuel capable engine
Unlike liquefied natural gas (LNG), Celebrity Xcel's engine will be able to use three types of fuel, including methanol.
This is a first for the company and represents a crucial steppingstone on Royal Caribbean Group's journey to Destination Net Zero, their ambitious aspiration for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, was Royal Caribbean Group's first LNG ship.
The next major milestone in Celebrity Xcel's construction is the float-out
As more blocks are welded together throughout the coming months, the ship will start to take shape. Eventually, Celebrity Xcel will be ready to move from a dry dock to a wet dock, marking a significant moment in the construction process.
The float out isn't a quick process. Utopia of the Seas', for example, took 15 hours and more than 46 million gallons of water.
Once afloat, the ship will undergo further outfitting before embarking on its sea trials to test certain functions that cannot be done when docked, including the main engines, hull, brake systems, steering, vibration levels, and more. Even when complete, more work has to be done before the ship can be delivered to the cruise line and welcoming guests onboard.
Read more: How long does it take to build a cruise ship
