Celebrity’s Edge Class Lives On: Sixth Ship Confirmed for 2028
In a surprising move, Royal Caribbean Group signed an agreement today for a sixth Edge Class ship to join the Celebrity Cruises fleet. This yet-to-be-named vessel will be built at Chantiers de l’Atlantique and will debut in 2028.
A Look at Celebrity’s Edge Class Ships
The Edge Class of ships, which first debuted in 2018 with the Celebrity Edge, represented a new vision for Celebrity Cruises. The cruise line currently has four Edge Class ships sailing, with a fifth ship, the Celebrity Xcel, set to debut in November of this year.
Initially, the ships were marginally larger (4%) than the previous Solstice Class but featured a new layout and structure. The Edge Class introduced several new concepts, including the Eden 3-story restaurant/bar, the controversial Infinity Veranda, and the Magic Carpet—a platform that moves up and down the side of the ship, serving as both a way to board tenders and a unique bar and restaurant.
When they launched the Celebrity Beyond in 2022, they tweaked the design, expanding the footprint and offering more space in the pool area and central atrium.
Ship Year Gross Tonnage Celebrity Edge 2018 130,818 Celebrity Apex 2020 130,818 Celebrity Beyond 2022 141,420 Celebrity Ascent 2023 141,420 Celebrity Xcel 2025 141,400 Celebrity Xcel 2 2028 141,400
A Surprise Continuation of the Edge Class
This news is especially surprising because it has been reported that the Xcel would be the last in the Edge Class. In a discussion panel at the CruiseWorld conference in November, Celebrity Cruise Line President Laura Hodges Bethge said, “We are taking delivery of our last Edge-class ship, Xcel, which comes out in the fall of next year.” It seemed to be a clear indicator that the class was complete and that Celebrity was moving on to the next class of ships, which she referred to as Project Nirvana.
The New Ship Will Be a Sister Ship to the Celebrity Xcel
According to the press release, the sixth Edge Class ship will be a sister ship to the Celebrity Xcel, or “Xcel 2.” The problem with that statement is that Celebrity has not yet revealed what makes Celebrity Xcel different.
While sailings on the Celebrity Xcel have been open for booking since early last year, Celebrity has been tight-lipped about what distinguishes this ship from its siblings.
Celebrity Xcel will take forward the best of Edge Series ships coupled with seven new experiences, all perfected with the help of our recently announced Xcel Dream Makers—an industry-first program enlisting the power of cruisers to make final decisions across culinary, interior design, and entertainment,” said Bethge.
The Xcel Dream Makers program, which Bethge refers to, is a customer input initiative launched this week. While it may sound like this program will use guest input to customize the ship’s design, the reality is that, with the launch only 10 months away, most of the major decisions have already been locked in. For guests hoping for fewer Infinity Verandas or completely new layouts, they are out of luck. Instead, this program allows guests to pick things like the fabrics for couches or the dishes used in a restaurant.
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