Having worked as a theme park employee and a cruise ship crew member, I’ve seen my fair share of family vacations. I’ve witnessed cherished trips in the making, as well as family vacations gone horribly awry. I’m a child-free woman and traveler now, but when I explore travel destinations as a travel writer, I can usually tell if a place has the right recipe for family enjoyment (and that means fun for the adults too, not just the kids).
On my recent trip on the naming-ceremony sailing of the new Celebrity Xcel, I saw elements of the recipe in action. The ship’s design and features are built around multi-generational needs. And that attention to a diversity of age ranges and interests comes as no surprise, because the ship’s features are based on real feedback and data contributed by Celebrity cruisers, an incentive called “The Dreammakers Campaign.”
Here’s how Xcel excels at crafting an environment that feels fun without feeling kitschy, and family-friendly without feeling like another theme park at sea.
The Bazaar
For years as a cruise ship crew member, I watched passengers sail entire cruises and never really connect with the destination or its people. This is a missed opportunity for kids to learn about and interact with other cultures. Cruise passengers often go from ship to shuttle bus and never meet a local. As a kind of antidote to that, and based upon user feedback craving more locally-integrated programming, Xcel created The Market at The Bazaar. It stocks 80% locally made products from the ship’s destinations, like chocolate, jewelry, and coconut soap when sailing in the Caribbean. In the Mediterranean, olive oil, Italian scarves, or handmade painted Portuguese tiles.
Instead of walking ashore and buying made-in-China souvenir magnets, the Market at the Bazaar aims to bring the best products and exports of the destinations onboard, a huge bonus for busy families who can’t fit in this kind of engagement into their day after returning to the ship from a full-day tour. The Bazaar also brings on the local makers themselves when the ship is docked in port. All of the money sold at these in-port experiences goes directly into the makers’ pockets, benefiting the local economy and offering guests memorable moments to meet crafters and artisans.
Outside of the marketplace, the Bazaar is an area of the ship host to “festivals,” which also reflect the ship’s itinerary. You’ll know you’re in the Bazaar when you come upon the LED tunnel of lights that makes for a dizzying photo opp and a dangerous post-cocktail walk.
Culinary Highlights
Big ships aren’t praised for their cuisine. I get it; it’s hard to produce excellence at scale. Some of the Xcel meals were a miss for me, but others were a pleasant surprise. The restaurant that stood out to me was the Aft-located Mosaic. Its menu shifts with the ship’s itinerary, reflecting cuisine to align with where the ship is sailing—a welcome change from a ship’s typical steakhouse or grill.
The dining options on the Xcel cover every craving, taste, and diet; perfect for multi-gen groups balancing a large variety of preferences. In total there are 18 restaurants to dine onboard: four are complimentary with your cruise fare, and the others are specialty add-on dining experiences that require reservations. My favorite complimentary venue was the Spice Cafe, a healthy mini-marketplace I frequented for acai bowls, smoothies, fresh espresso, and build-your-own veggie bowls.
Space for Date Night
Celebrity describes the Xcel as “date night all day long.” But its modern arcade is made for more than just couples. The Attic at the Club is more of a contemporary sports pub with games like pool, darts, racing games, air hockey, golf swing simulation, and even nostalgic arcade classics like Pac Man. Lined with big screen TVs streaming games and matches from all corners of the world, this is where you gather together the family who relishes friendly sports rivalry—parents vs kids, brothers vs sisters. On select nights at sea, this space transforms into a line dancing venue with live dancers and country music. My childhood “game nights” usually meant rounds of Yahtzee and Uno, but this new venue really dials up the definition of “family game night.”
If it’s a true date night you’re craving with your one true love, then take them inside the photo booth at The Attic at The Club. After creating a tangible photo memory, guests are granted access to ship’s speakeasy, with its own live entertainment and exclusive cocktail menu. If a night at the theatre is your definition of date night, the mainstage theatre rotates Las Vegas style contemporary shows with aerial arts, live vocalists, and professional dancers.
Spa for Quiet
Every successful family vacation factors in rest and recuperation time, particularly for hard-working parents. With over 120 treatments onboard, the Spa is a part of the ship that warrants multiple return visits. Treatments come with access to the uncrowded Vitamin D lounge deck, which maintains a sense of serenity thanks to its spa-exclusive access. Another onboard getaway is “The Retreat,” Xcel’s small-ship-within-a-big-ship concept that boasts its own sundeck, lounge, and an exclusive restaurant—Luminae. Guests can gain access to The Retreat by booking a special suite class.
While adults and grandparents are grabbing some peace and quiet in the spa, kids can stay entertained (and even learn a thing or two) at the Kid’s Club, which features STEM programming such as coding workshops.
Final Thoughts
The Xcel ship would be best enjoyed by families cruising with kids from about age seven and up. The Attic game room and onboard entertainment isn’t a fit for toddlers who may find it all over-stimulating. Retiree-age cruisers may find the size of the ship intimidating, but there are corners of the vessel to find peace and quiet if you know where to look. Couples looking to cruise the Xcel will enjoy it if they also enjoy vacations to Las Vegas and Club Med resorts. Celebrity is not an all-inclusive line, and most premium experiences and restaurants are paid for in addition to your base fare.
