Celebrity Cruises is not done building its current generation of cruise ship.
Cruise lines build ships in groupings, known as ship classes, and each builds upon the success of the last.
On Tuesday, Celebrity confirmed an order they placed to build their sixth Edge Class ship.
The deal was made with Chantiers de l'Atlantique for delivery of the new ship sometime in 2028.
The cruise line said that while it's the sixth in the Edge Class, it will be more more akin to "Xcel 2" and the sister-ship to Celebrity Xcel, which sails later this year.
Xcel is being built with engines designed to use three types of fuel making the ship the line’s first methanol-capable ship pending future alterations. It was not specified if the next ship will also be methanol-capable.
The decision to order another in the Edge Class lineage demonstrates the company's confidence in the product. It can be argued the Edge Class has fundamentally improved the perception of the brand, as well as catapulted the line ahead of other premium brands.
What makes an Edge ship stand out
Ever since Celebrity launched its first Edge Class ship in 2018, it's completely revamped what a cruise ship in its line is all about.
They were designed to be advanced and not a slight iteration beyond what they had done in the past.
Xcel has a capacity of 3,260 passengers at double occupancy, making it a mid-sized contemporary cruise ship.
The most notable difference almost every notices first is the Magic Carpet on the side, which moves vertically along the side of the ship.
Think of it like a multi-purpose venue that can move from deck to deck to perform certain functions. At the lowest deck, it allows passengers to get on tenders.
In the evening, it moves up to become an outdoor restaurant, but during the day it's just an outside bar.
Another first introduced on Edge Class ships was the advent of the infinite veranda.
These have since been copied to Royal Caribbean's Icon Class ships, but the idea is the balcony seamlessly integrates into the cabin.
With the push of a button, a floor-to-ceiling glass wall opens, allowing for fresh air and uninterrupted ocean views. Or close the window and allow the balcony space to become indoor space.
At the back of the ship is The Eden.
Think of Eden as a multi-purpose theater, restaurant, and bar rolled into one. You'll find live performances, interactive dining, and wide open ocean views.
In addition, Edge class ships are designed to be "outward-facing", which means they focus on the sea instead of older ship designs that emphasize internal spaces.
Features we can expect on Xcel 2
Celebrity has provided no details beyond the order, but we can make reasonable guesses based on what Xcel is getting.
In addition to some distinctive Edge Class features, there are some differences and enhancements that will make the experience onboard this Edge Class ship different from others.
Xcel will have an expanded Rooftop Garden and Resort Deck with unique cantilevered float pools.
The expanded Sunset Bar is also on Xcel. It's a multi-level, multi-terraced bar at the aft of the ship.
Grand Plaza was also redesigned with the latter Edge Class ships to provide a better layout.
