Champagne, Ceremony and Celebrity

It’s not often that one has the opportunity to witness a naming ceremony for a brand-new cruise ship, but that’s exactly the experience my husband and I enjoyed in November, 2025. As guests of Celebrity Cruises for the naming of its newest vessel, the Celebrity Xcel–the event proved to be quite memorable.

Getting There

We flew from our new home in South Carolina to Fort Lauderdale and spent the night before embarkation at The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort. Comfortable, well appointed, and just steps from the beach, the resort was an ideal place to ease into cruise mode.

The Celebrity Xcel offers an impressive range of onboard experiences.  The Attic at the Club is designed for relaxed fun with darts, pool tables and classic arcade games and The Bazaar showcased artisan goods from around the world. We left with hot sauce and candy and I even spotted the captain of Below Deck Sailing Yacht 

Dining options were plentiful, with more than 30 venues across the ship. We chose to dine at Blu both nights of our two-night stay and were rewarded with impeccable service and beautifully executed dishes. The filet was delicious and was followed by desserts that were elegant and indulgent.

A casino onboard allowed us to have a fun time while dropping a few bucks. Let’s just say I won’t be quitting my day job anytime soon.

For those interested in a bit of pampering, the spa on the Celebrity XCel has been described as an “expansive wellness retreat.” With 30 treatment rooms, guests can take part in  facials, massages, state-of-the-art Dome Beds and more.

And for those who enjoy a cocktail or two, 12 lounges were located across the ship and staff didn’t seem to have a problem juggling both passengers and barware, ala Tom Cruise in the movie Cocktail

With more than 1,400 crew members from 66 different nationalities, the passenger-to-staff ratio was noticeable–in the best possible way.

The Naming Ceremony 

The highlight of the voyage was the naming ceremony.  Celebrity chose Chef Janaina Torres as godmother of the ship, honoring her commitment to connecting travelers with destinations through regional recipes, local sourcing and elevated hospitality.

Torres led the procession, which included a pipe and drum corps performance, blessings led by Bishop Delton Fernander and Rabbi Lawrence Schuval, a cast performance, addresses by Celebrity Cruise President Laura Hodges Bethge and Jason Liberty, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group. The ceremony concluded with the U.S. National Anthem, performed by Celebrity Xcel Guest Guitarist Jeff Arnold and the bottle break–a time-honored tradition for maiden voyages.

Two Fully Booked Days

Beyond the ceremony, the schedule was packed: art, architecture and design tours, professional photo sessions, a runway show, a golf and sports simulator open house, a vintage Louis Vuitton and designer watch showcase, Texas Hold ‘Em tournaments, an art scavenger hunt and so much more. There was far more offered than time allowed, which is a good complaint.

Before we knew it, it was time to disembark. There was truly a special experience and one I won’t soon forget.