Celebrity Xcel Entertainment Revealed

October 15, 2025 Randy Young

We’re a month away from the first sailings of Celebrity Cruises’ fifth Edge Class ship, the Celebrity Xcel. Celebrity has already revealed how the ship is different, including transforming Eden into The Bazaar and Rooftop Garden Grill into Bora, a Mediterranean-themed outdoor restaurant. Now we’re getting an inside look at the entertainment that will be available onboard.

Main Theater Productions

celebrity apex theater — The Theater on the sister ship, Celebrity Apex.

Like its sister ships, Xcel will feature a large main theater with a massive 110-foot curved LED screen for immersive experiences. The theater will host three custom-made productions:

Mainstage is a high-energy live music concert that transports audiences to the world’s most iconic music festivals, featuring hits from top artists across the decades.

Between Takes brings guests to a 1920s Hollywood backlot and straight into the mayhem that ensues between “cut” and “action,” as a crew attempts to create the next blockbuster. The show juxtaposes the glamour of the screen with the chaos of life on set using dynamic, color-changing stage design.

Chapters is a poetic and visually stunning journey through nature, transformation, and self-discovery. Each chapter reflects growth, change, and connection.

The Club Entertainment

the club performances — Performances at The Club will be “interactive” and lead into dance parties afterwards.

The Club is the two-story multipurpose space found on all Edge Class ships, and Xcel will also feature two “interactive” shows there.

254 West takes guests back to the 1980s for the closing night of the iconic “254 West” club. The party isn’t over yet, as guests are invited to join in the high-energy celebration, followed by the 254 West After Party.

HOTEL combines scandal, spectacle, and mystery in a comedic “whodunit” performance filled with cabaret flair and razor-sharp wit. Featuring bold musical numbers, eccentric characters, and twists at every turn, the only question is whether guests can solve the mystery before checkout.

Unfortunately, The Club isn’t the best space for viewing shows since the seating is arranged more like a lounge than a theater. Hopefully, the new productions find creative ways to improve the experience.

The venue will also feature Game On, where retro arcade-style games are projected onto the floor, allowing players to compete against each other.

The Bazaar

The Bazaar is the three-story venue at the back of the ship, replacing Eden from previous Edge Class ships. Celebrity hasn’t announced any formal shows for this space. Instead, it will host four unique themed festivals: Carnival, Aqua, Viva, and Flora. These festivals will highlight the culture, music, and beauty of the destinations the ship visits, including the Bahamas, Mexico, the Cayman Islands, and the Dominican Republic.

Celebrity says guests will “never step into the same space twice,” as the venue will evolve throughout the day with activities such as salt scrub making and roving live musicians.

Other Entertainment

Celebrity also announced several other entertainment options that will be available on Xcel, though they didn’t specify where these will take place.

High Stakes is a high-energy, participatory elimination game show filled with instinct, luck, and suspense.
Brain Spin is a fast-paced game show that mixes the thrill of spinning a wheel with strategic thinking as players race to complete their “mind map.”
Guests can bring a robot to life in an escape room-style game that challenges them to build a working circuit board using clues and props hidden in locked boxes.
A destination-themed mystery game challenges players to assemble a world map, eliminate locations, and find hidden treasure.
Piano bar entertainment invites guests to sing along to their favorite hits.
Saddle Up Saloon is an elevated country music party where guests can grab their cowboy hats, dance along, and enjoy live performances of classic country favorites and new hits.
A candlelit concert experience will celebrate classic rock’s most iconic artists with powerful anthems and guitar riffs, all illuminated by a warm candlelight glow.
At Bora, the Mediterranean vibes continue with roaming musicians playing upbeat hits during brunch and romantic Greek and Italian melodies at night.
The Shine the Night party returns, inviting guests to dance under the stars in their shiniest outfits.

Learn more about Celebrity Xcel

Our Take: Ramping Up Entertainment

Celebrity clearly wants to boost the onboard energy and appeal to a broader audience. The line doesn’t want to be seen as stuffy or subdued, but instead vibrant and full of life. Specifically for Xcel, they’re marketing it as the “ultimate date” experience for couples, a clear contrast to Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas, which are billed as the “ultimate family vacation.”

The entertainment lineup is robust, offering something for everyone. The dance parties and interactive games will bring up the energy, while guests looking for a more relaxed evening can enjoy piano bar performances or the candlelit concert. They’ve really packed as much fun and entertainment as they could onto the ship, which is a struggle because of the lack of available spaces compared to megaships like Oasis of the Seas.