Celebrity Xcel vs. Edge Class Ships: What's The Difference?

Celebrity Xcel is here, but how does it compare to the four Edge Class ships that came before it?

Celebrity Cruises' Edge Class changed the game when Celebrity Edge debuted in 2018. Since then, the lineup has grown to five ships, each building on the last with new spaces, expanded dining, and design refinements that keep pushing the class forward.

Now, with the launch of Celebrity Xcel in late 2025, the Edge Class has taken its biggest leap yet. Seven entirely new onboard experiences, a reimagined signature venue, and the largest entertainment cast in Celebrity's history make Celebrity Xcel feel like more than just the next ship in line.

But that doesn't mean the other four Edge Class ships aren't worth booking. Every ship in the class shares the same premium DNA, and depending on your destination, travel style, and priorities, a different ship might be the better fit.

So which one is right for you? Here's everything you need to know.

Celebrity Edge Class at a Glance

Looking ahead: Celebrity Cruises has confirmed a sixth Edge Class ship, Celebrity Xcite, arriving in 2028. Details are still emerging, but if the evolution from Celebrity Edge to Celebrity Xcel is any indication, there's plenty to look forward to.

What All Edge Class Ships Share

Before diving into what makes each ship different, it's worth understanding the foundation they all have in common. No matter which Edge Class ship you book, you're getting Celebrity's premium experience.

The Magic Carpet

The world's first cantilevered, floating platform that travels up and down the side of the ship. Depending on the deck, it transforms into a bar, lounge, restaurant, or tender platform. It's one of the most iconic features in modern cruising and a signature of every Edge Class ship.

Infinite Verandas

Celebrity's reimagined stateroom design uses floor-to-ceiling windows that lower at the touch of a button, turning the entire room into an indoor-outdoor living space. Available across all five ships.

Four Complimentary Main Dining Rooms

Every Edge Class ship offers four distinct restaurants included in your fare: Cosmopolitan, Normandie, Cyprus, and Tuscan. Each has its own design and signature dishes inspired by the regions they're named after.

The Grand Plaza

A three-deck atrium anchored by the Martini Bar, where bartenders put on the popular Flash Flair Fusion cocktail performance nightly. It's the social hub of every Edge Class ship.

The Sunset Bar

An open-air lounge at the aft of the ship with panoramic wake views, daybeds, and a beach club atmosphere. One of the most popular spots on board across the entire fleet.

The Retreat

Celebrity's suite-class experience is available on all Edge Class ships. Retreat guests enjoy a private sundeck, an exclusive lounge, dedicated butler service, the suites-only restaurant Luminae, and premium drinks and Wi-Fi included in the fare. For a full breakdown of what's included by stateroom category, check out our guide: Celebrity Cruises Staterooms: What's Included in Each Category →

The Club

A multi-purpose venue that shifts from daytime activities like game shows and creative workshops to nighttime entertainment with live music, DJs, and interactive shows.

The Solarium

An adults-only covered pool area and one of the most popular relaxation spots on board.

All Included Pricing

Celebrity offers an All Included fare option that bundles a Classic Drink Package and Basic Wi-Fi into your cruise fare. Retreat guests automatically receive Premium Drinks and Premium Wi-Fi.

Want to know if the All Included package makes sense for your trip? Read our breakdown: Is Celebrity's All Inclusive Package Worth It?

What's New on Celebrity Xcel

Every Edge Class ship has introduced something new, but Celebrity Xcel takes the biggest step forward with seven entirely new or reimagined spaces.

The Bazaar (Replaces Eden)

This is the headline difference. Eden, the multi-deck venue at the aft of the other four Edge Class ships, has been completely reimagined as The Bazaar on Celebrity Xcel.

Think destination-driven festivals with live entertainment, themed cocktails, and local crafts on sea days. Local vendors selling handmade goods from your ports of call on port days. And it all starts the moment you walk through a tunnel of LED-lit arches that shift visuals, scents, and sounds to match the destination theme.

The Bazaar also houses two new dining venues:

• Mosaic: A specialty restaurant with an open-kitchen concept serving destination-inspired dishes that rotate throughout the cruise. Celebrity's first destination-focused cooking school, the Chef's Studio, is also here.
• Spice Cafe: A complimentary casual eatery with grab-and-go items and daily specials tied to the itinerary.

When Celebrity Xcel moves from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean, the entire Bazaar experience transforms to match.

Bora (Replaces Rooftop Garden Grill)

An alfresco Mediterranean restaurant at the top of the ship with two distinct experiences:

• Brunch: An over-the-top Bloody Mary bar, bottomless cocktails, and Mediterranean-inspired dishes like French toast with orange zest, figs, and pistachios.
• Dinner: Complimentary spritzes, hand-selected regional wines, and dishes finished tableside, including fresh sea bream served "a la espalda" style.

Both begin with a welcome celebration in the Rooftop Garden with live music. Date night, all day long.

Celebrity Pool Club

The pool deck has been reimagined with a resort-style feel. Cabanas face inward toward the action, a dedicated Pool Valet handles chilled towels, sunscreen, and personal-item storage, and Caribbean sailings feature "The Poolest Day Ever" with live music, DJ sets, poptails, and poolside games from sunup to sundown.

The Spa (Expanded)

The largest spa in Celebrity's fleet, featuring:

• Hydra Room: Celebrity's first therapeutic H2O experience inside the SEA Thermal Suite
• Vitamin D Deck: A new outdoor spa deck with ocean views and complimentary drinks
• Expanded Salon: Now featuring a bubbles bar
• 120+ treatments and therapies

Attic at The Club

A grown-up game lounge above The Club with pool, darts, classic arcade games, and leaderboard competitions. Neon-lit, social, and a space that the other Edge Class ships don't have.

Celebrity Flagship

Part museum, part retail. Explore curated exhibits tracing Celebrity's history back to 1988, shop exclusive Celebrity Xcel gear, and personalize keepsakes. A first for the fleet.

IYKYK

A hidden speakeasy tucked behind a photo booth. Celebrity is keeping the details under wraps. You'll have to book to find out (we can help you with that—expert guidance with zero fees).

Entertainment

Celebrity Xcel carries 75+ resident performers, 20 to 30 more than any other ship in the fleet. That powers three new theater productions, two new interactive Club shows, and four rotating Bazaar festivals per sailing.

Sustainability

Celebrity Xcel is the first methanol-capable, flex-fuel ship in Celebrity's fleet, supporting Royal Caribbean Group's goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.

How the Edge Class Has Evolved

When Celebrity Beyond launched in 2022, Celebrity didn't just build another Edge Class ship. They stretched the hull by 66 feet, added a full passenger deck, and used the extra space to expand some of the most popular venues on board.

That means there are real differences between the first two ships (Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Apex) and the three that followed (Celebrity Beyond, Celebrity Ascent, and Celebrity Xcel).

Here's what changed:

A few things worth noting:

• The expanded Retreat is one of the biggest upgrades. If you're considering a suite, the additional sundeck space and larger lounge on the newer ships make a noticeable difference.
• Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Apex still deliver the full Edge Class experience. They're also frequently deployed on desirable itineraries like Northern Europe and Alaska, so the destination may matter more than the ship generation.
• Celebrity Xcel takes the platform even further with The Bazaar, Bora, and the other new spaces covered above. It shares the same hull as Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Ascent but is the most evolved version of the class.

Which Edge Class Ship Should You Book?

All five ships share the same premium foundation, but each one has a personality. Here's a quick guide to matching the right ship to how you like to travel.

Celebrity Xcel

• Best For: Trend-Seekers & Night-Out Crowds.
• The Vibe: Bold and ahead of the curve. Xcel is for travelers who've done the Edge Class and want to experience what's next—the biggest entertainment lineup in the fleet, a hidden speakeasy, and cutting-edge sustainability tech.

View Celebrity Xcel Sailings.

• Best For: Groups & Multi-Gen Families.
• The Vibe: Upscale with a "members only" feel. The Annex makes it the top pick for groups wanting dedicated time together, while Eden keeps it grounded in the fan-favorite original aesthetic.

View Celebrity Ascent Sailings.

• Best For: Sunset Seekers & Al Fresco Lovers.
• The Vibe: Sophisticated and airy. This was the first ship to introduce the multi-tiered, Moroccan-inspired Sunset Bar and the expanded Retreat sundeck. If your ideal vacation involves a cocktail in hand while watching the Mediterranean wake from a chic, terraced lounge, this ship’s layout is arguably the most beautiful in the class.

View Celebrity Beyond Sailings.

• Best For: Foodies & Service Loyalists.
• The Vibe: Polished and prestigious. Forbes Four-Star rated, Apex is the go-to for bucket-list itineraries like the Norwegian Fjords or the British Isles, where flawless service matters most.

View Celebrity Apex Sailings.

• Best For: Design Purists & Destination-Focused Travelers.
• The Vibe: Iconic and intimate. As the "Original," Edge has the most compact layout of the class, meaning less walking between venues and a closer connection to the water. It’s the best pick for travelers who prioritize the ports of call—like the Greek Isles or the Caribbean—but want a world-class "home base" to return to without the higher price tag of the newest sister ships.

View Celebrity Edge Sailings.

No matter which ship you choose, The Cruise Web's Celebrity Cruises experts can help you find the right sailing, stateroom, and value for your trip. Call us at 1-800-377-9383 or visit cruiseweb.com to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions About Celebrity's Edge Class Ships

How many Edge Class ships does Celebrity Cruises have?

Celebrity currently operates five Edge Class ships: Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Beyond, Celebrity Ascent, and Celebrity Xcel. A sixth, Celebrity Xcite, is confirmed for 2028.

What is the difference between the earlier and newer Edge Class ships?

Celebrity Beyond, Celebrity Ascent, and Celebrity Xcel are 69 feet longer than Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Apex, with an additional passenger deck, more staterooms and suites, a larger Retreat sundeck, a redesigned Sunset Bar, and access to Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud.

What replaced Eden on Celebrity Xcel?

The Bazaar, a destination-driven entertainment and dining venue that hosts festivals, local vendors, live performances, and two new restaurants: Mosaic and Spice Cafe. It occupies the same multi-deck space at the aft of the ship where Eden sits on the other four Edge Class ships.

Is Celebrity Xcel bigger than Celebrity Edge?

Yes. Celebrity Xcel is 141,420 gross tons with 1,640 staterooms and 228 suites, compared to Celebrity Edge at 130,818 gross tons with 1,467 staterooms and 176 suites.

What is The Retreat on Celebrity Cruises?

The Retreat is Celebrity's suite-class experience, available on all Edge Class ships. It includes a private sundeck, exclusive lounge, dedicated butler service, the suites-only restaurant Luminae, and premium drinks and Wi-Fi included in the fare.

What is Celebrity's All Included pricing?

Celebrity's All Included fare bundles a Classic Drink Package and Basic Wi-Fi into your cruise fare. Retreat guests automatically receive Premium Drinks and Premium Wi-Fi. For a full breakdown, read our guide: Is Celebrity's All Inclusive Package Worth It?

Where does Celebrity Xcel sail in 2026?

Celebrity Xcel sails Caribbean itineraries from Fort Lauderdale and Miami, and Mediterranean itineraries from Barcelona and Athens during the summer 2026 season.