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
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| The view from our room at The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort |
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.
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| The beach at Fort Lauderdale. |
The following day we caught an Uber to the port--only to discover that Sunday traffic near the terminals is not for the faint of heart. A four-mile trip stretched into a two-hour crawl, so future cruisers should plan accordingly.
Once on board, however, our travel frustrations quickly faded. After settling into our stateroom--spacious, thoughtfully designed and outfitted with an exceptionally comfortable bed, we set out to explore.
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| Our stateroom was a nice size and the bed was very comfy. |
Life Onboard the Xcel
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
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.
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.
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| The captain of Bravo's Below Deck Sailing Yacht was onboard. |
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.
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| A filet served at Blu on the Celebrity XCel. |
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| Dessert at Blu. |
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.
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| The casino on the Celebrity XCel. |
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.
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| Chef Janaina Torres |
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.
