CRUISE GPS
The Edge of Discovery
The Edge of Discovery
Redefining the art of sailing, Celebrity Cruises unveils Celebrity Xcel and The Retreat.
Luxury at sea has always been a promise of Celebrity Cruises, but with the debut of Celebrity Xcel—the fifth ship in the acclaimed Edge Series—guests can expect a new benchmark for high-class travel. The Retreat is at the center of this evolution, an exclusive, all-suite enclave that transforms the sailing experience into a private, resort-within-a-resort escape.

From the moment guests step into The Retreat, they enter a sanctuary defined by detail and distinction. Every suite is a design standout, complete with expansive verandas, sophisticated interiors, and thoughtful touches curated for modern travelers. The experience extends far beyond the suite. The Retreat features its own private restaurant, Luminae at The Retreat, where globally inspired menus are paired with exceptional wine selections, as well as a serene lounge and a private sundeck. Personalized service from a team of butlers ensures every whim is anticipated and every moment is effortless.
“From the moment guests step into The Retreat, they enter a sanctuary defined by detail and distinction… Personalized service from a team of butlers ensures every whim is anticipated and every moment is effortless.”

Celebrity’s Edge Series ships—Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Beyond, and Celebrity Ascent—are wowing guests with bold architecture, transformative spaces, and world-class dining. And come November 2025, Celebrity Xcel will bring sea travel to a whole new level with an outward-facing design that brings the sea closer than ever, imaginative venues like the Magic Carpet, and expanded culinary and entertainment offerings that blur the line between ship and destination.
Plus, The Retreat aboard Celebrity Xcel is anticipated to be the pinnacle of modern indulgence. Here, intimate scale meets expansive possibility, with every detail—private transfers, priority embarkation—tailored to the sophisticated traveler who values ease and exclusivity.
Onboard Celebrity Xcel, guests are invited to fully indulge, knowing that every element of the journey has been thoughtfully designed and executed.
The world has never looked better.
CRUISE GPS
The Edge of Discovery
The Edge of Discovery
Redefining the art of sailing, Celebrity Cruises unveils Celebrity Xcel and The Retreat.
Luxury at sea has always been a promise of Celebrity Cruises, but with the debut of Celebrity Xcel—the fifth ship in the acclaimed Edge Series—guests can expect a new benchmark for high-class travel. The Retreat is at the center of this evolution, an exclusive, all-suite enclave that transforms the sailing experience into a private, resort-within-a-resort escape.

From the moment guests step into The Retreat, they enter a sanctuary defined by detail and distinction. Every suite is a design standout, complete with expansive verandas, sophisticated interiors, and thoughtful touches curated for modern travelers. The experience extends far beyond the suite. The Retreat features its own private restaurant, Luminae at The Retreat, where globally inspired menus are paired with exceptional wine selections, as well as a serene lounge and a private sundeck. Personalized service from a team of butlers ensures every whim is anticipated and every moment is effortless.
“From the moment guests step into The Retreat, they enter a sanctuary defined by detail and distinction… Personalized service from a team of butlers ensures every whim is anticipated and every moment is effortless.”

Celebrity’s Edge Series ships—Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Beyond, and Celebrity Ascent—are wowing guests with bold architecture, transformative spaces, and world-class dining. And come November 2025, Celebrity Xcel will bring sea travel to a whole new level with an outward-facing design that brings the sea closer than ever, imaginative venues like the Magic Carpet, and expanded culinary and entertainment offerings that blur the line between ship and destination.
Plus, The Retreat aboard Celebrity Xcel is anticipated to be the pinnacle of modern indulgence. Here, intimate scale meets expansive possibility, with every detail—private transfers, priority embarkation—tailored to the sophisticated traveler who values ease and exclusivity.
Onboard Celebrity Xcel, guests are invited to fully indulge, knowing that every element of the journey has been thoughtfully designed and executed.
The world has never looked better.
MORE STORIES
What to Read Next
What to Read Next
Destination GPS
Flavor is brought to the forefront at five resorts where the coastline guides every plate.
View Finder
Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Spotlight Voyages offer the finest food, wine, and spirits.
Cruise GPS
Windstar Cruises showcases James Beard flavors and local market cuisine.

I have always been a Geography and Map Fanatic. I own a very large and well-utilized National Geographic Atlas in which I have recorded many notes and personal trips and routed out my journeys by ships, planes, trains, and cycling. I refer to it frequently in putting together my clients' trips and itineraries, as well as my own.
Going back to the time when I was a little girl, I have either lived just a few yards from the ocean or relatively close to it. I liked watching ships and wanted to know what life was like on the other side of the ocean. I was fascinated that my Grandmother came to the US on a ship as a teenage girl together with her sister from Ireland. Before my grandparents met in the US, my Grandfather from Ireland worked as a cowboy and copper miner in Montana at the turn of the 20th Century. They had many National Geographic issues at their home which I loved looking at. These impressions, plus taking my first cruise, all eventually led me to the cruise and travel ...