Celebrity Xcel to Offer Celebrity Cruises’ Most Expansive Entertainment Lineup
When the Celebrity Xcel launches in November, it will debut the most extensive and varied entertainment program in the brand’s history, featuring over 75 resident performers and a host of new, immersive experiences designed to “spark connection and delight from morning to night,” according to Lisa Lehr, Vice President of Entertainment for Celebrity Cruises.
Spectacular Stage Productions
The ship’s new lineup is anchored by three mainstage shows in The Theatre. Developed by industry-leading creative minds, these productions feature Celebrity’s largest-ever cast of singers, dancers, parkour artists, and aerial performers, complemented by cutting-edge technology like kinetic lighting, projection mapping, and a 110-foot curved kinetic LED screen.
- Mainstage: A high-energy live music concert transporting guests through the world’s most iconic music festivals and featuring hit songs spanning multiple decades and genres.
- Between Takes: A spectacular journey into a 1920s Hollywood backlot, juxtaposing on-screen glamour with behind-the-scenes chaos through jaw-dropping stunts, choreography, and dynamic set design.
- Chapters: A poetic, visually stunning show exploring themes of nature, self-discovery, and transformation, inviting guests to connect with the stories unfolding on stage.
Interactive Club and Nightlife
The Club will host two new interactive shows that invite guests to join the party:
- 254 West: Guests step into the closing night of an iconic 80s club for a high-energy, groovy celebration that continues into the 254 West After Party.
- HOTEL: A comedic cabaret-style “whodunit” featuring bold musical numbers, eccentric characters, and twists that challenge the audience to solve a crime before check-out.
New Music & Dance Experiences will also keep the energy high:
- Piano bar entertainment offers nightly singalongs.
- Saddle Up Saloon is an elevated country music party featuring a live band playing classics and fresh hits.
- A candlelit concert experience celebrates iconic Classic Rock artists.
- Bora brings the magic of the Mediterranean with roaming musicians during the day and Greek ballads and Italian love songs at night.
- The popular Shine the Night party returns, inviting guests to dance under the stars.
Immersive Destination & Activity Programming
The Bazaar extends the port experience with four rotating cultural festivals—Carnival, Aqua, Viva, and Flora—that celebrate the cultures of destinations like The Bahamas, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic through regional music, costumes, and hands-on activities.
For friendly competition, Celebrity Xcel debuts several new game shows and activities:
- High Stakes: A high-energy, mass participatory elimination game show driven by luck and instinct.
- Brain Spin: A fast-paced game show combining strategy with spinning the wheel.
- An escape room-style game challenges guests to bring a robot to life by building a unique circuit board.
- A destination-themed mystery game requires assembling a world map to find hidden treasure.
- Game On returns to The Club with an enhanced retro arcade experience, using floor projections and body motion for interactive competitions.
- Camp at Sea (for guests under 18) features a new interactive digital game wall with over 50 games.
Guest-Driven Design and Inaugural Season
The entertainment lineup was partially influenced by the Xcel Dream Makers program, which invited travelers to help finalize elements, including a featured costume in Chapters, the first headline performer, and programming themes for Saddle Up Saloon and the Viva festival.
Celebrity Xcel’s inaugural season begins in November from Fort Lauderdale, sailing seven-night itineraries that alternate between the Caribbean and the Bahamas. In Summer 2026, the ship will head to Europe for its inaugural Mediterranean season from Barcelona and Athens.
More details on Celebrity Xcel can be found on Celebrity Cruises website.
What do you think of this entertainment lineup? Leave a comment below or join us on the Talking Cruise Community forums.