Celebrity Xcel may be brand new, but the cruise line’s next Edge-class ship is already on the horizon.
That next ship is Celebrity Xcite, set to launch in 2028, and while it hasn’t been fully revealed yet, Celebrity Cruises has dropped a new promo video—and more than a few clues about what will make it different from Xcel.
The 23-second clip doesn’t show much in the way of specifics, but it does frame the ship around a clear idea. On-screen text describes Xcite as “a new ship designed to excite every sense,” suggesting an emphasis on immersive experiences rather than a simple copy-and-paste of Xcel.
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Additional context came during Celebrity Xcel’s recent christening sailing. According to Cruise Critic,Celebrity Cruises president Laura Hodges Bethge told press on the recent Xcel Christening sailing that Xcite will include several ideas that didn’t make it onto Xcel—not because they weren’t exciting, but because ship design has its limits once construction was well underway.
In other words, Xcite is where the next wave of ideas will take shape.
One of the clearest examples is dining. Hodges Bethge said guests have been asking for more Italian cuisine—and not just broadly Italian. While Xcel includes Tuscan-inspired offerings, Celebrity is hearing strong demand for deeper, Roman-style Italian food. That’s where Trattoria Rossa comes in.
Trattoria Rossa is a brand-new Italian restaurant concept that will debut on the newly refurbished Celebrity Solstice in 2026, and all signs point to it appearing on Xcite as well. While nothing is officially confirmed yet, Hodges Bethge made it clear that seeing Trattoria Rossa on Xcite “wouldn’t be shocking.”
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Xcite is also expected to build directly on one of Xcel’s biggest swings: The Bazaar.
On Xcel, The Bazaar replaces the Eden space and introduces a flexible, destination-driven venue that changes throughout each sailing. Instead of being one static lounge, it transforms daily—hosting local-style markets, regionally inspired food pop-ups, performances and cultural programming inspired by each upcoming port. It also includes two new restaurants: Spice, a casual eatery inspired by regional flavors and Mosaic, a more elevated dining experience.
Celebrity says The Bazaar was created in direct response to guest feedback, particularly around making ship spaces feel active throughout the day, not just in the evening. When asked whether elements of the concept could eventually appear on other ships if it proves popular, Hodges Bethge was open to the idea.
“We never say never,” she said, noting that Celebrity has expanded successful concepts across the fleet before. “When you introduce something new and it really resonates, of course you want to bring aspects of it forward.”
The takeaway for passengers? Celebrity Xcite won’t just be a redo, but an evolution, like Xcel has been from previous Edge ships. Guests can expect familiar Edge Series design, with the possibility of more experimentation, more focused dining concepts and spaces that may evolve even further from day to day.
So, all told, Celebrity isn’t giving much away yet, but all signs point to Xcite being designed to live up to its name—appealing to the senses in all new, exciting ways.
This story was originally published by Parade on Dec 22, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
