Cruise Spotlight
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Celebrity Xcel vs MSC Meraviglia
The Celebrity Xcel is still being built and will debut in 2025. The Celebrity Xcel will feature many of the new additions seen on the Celebrity Beyond and Ascent including more outdoor space, a more open central atrium, and an improved Rooftop Garden. The Xcel is still under construction and Celebrity hasn't released all the details yet. It's 8 years newer than the Meraviglia, which was built in 2017.
Comparison Overview
- Ship Size
- Number of Passengers
- Food and Restaurants
- Bars and Drinks
- Pools and Hot Tubs
- Ship Features and Activities
- Cruise Costs
- Onboard Costs
Ship Size
The Xcel is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 1,072 feet long and 128 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 3 football fields, as wide as 2.4 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 16-story building. Compared to the MSC Meraviglia, the Xcel is 18% smaller in terms of overall tons.
Number of Passengers
Celebrity Xcel holds 42% fewer passengers than the Meraviglia based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, or what we call the "Space Ratio," the Xcel has more space per person compared to the Meraviglia. This means that you might have a bit more space to yourself on the ship, although there still could be some crowded areas like buffets, pools, etc.
| Celebrity Xcel | MSC Meraviglia | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Edge | Meraviglia |
| Gross Tonnage | 140,600 | 171,598 |
| Length | 1,072 | 1,036 |
| Beam/Width | 128 | 121 |
| Passenger Decks | 16 | 15 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 3,260 | 5,642 |
| Crew | 1,416 | 1,608 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 2.3 | 3.5 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 43 | 30 |
Food and Restaurants
Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.
The Xcel has different dining options like Of those options, are complementary, or included with your cruise fare.
The Meraviglia has the same number of dining venues. Some of its popular venues are of these restaurants are complementary.
The Celebrity Xcel has about the same number of dining options as the MSC Meraviglia.
Both ships have a similar number of paid versus included dining options.
| Celebrity Xcel | MSC Meraviglia | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Dining Options | ||
| Complimentary Dining Options: | ||
| Additional Fee Dining Options: | ||
| % of Included Options | NAN% | NAN% |
| See the options | See the options |
In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Both ships serve the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship.
There are also plenty of bars available on these ships. Alcohol is not included in the base price of this cruise ship. To see if you would save money with a drink package, try our Drink Package Calculator.
Pools and Hot Tubs
Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day for 7 days in a pool, a cruise isn't for you. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.
The Celebrity Xcel has a total of 5 pools and 6 hot tubs. Tired of loud kids and splashing? 1 of the pools and 2 of the hot tubs are adults only. 1 of the pools and 2 of the hot tubs are exclusive access, which means there's either an extra charge to access them or you need to book a certain class of cabin to have access to them.
MSC Meraviglia has fewer pools than the Xcel and fewer hot tubs. There are fewer exclusive pools and hot tubs on the Meraviglia. If you like ships without extra charges or exclusive areas, this might be a better choice since everyone will have access to these areas.
| Celebrity Xcel | MSC Meraviglia | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 5 | 4 |
| Pools - General Access | 3 | 3 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 1 | |
| Pools - Exclusive | 1 | 1 |
| Total Hot Tubs | 6 | 5 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 2 | 4 |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 2 | |
| Hot Tubs - Exclusive | 2 | 1 |
Ship Features and Activities
Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships.
| Celebrity Xcel | MSC Meraviglia | |
|---|---|---|
| Learn more | Learn more |
Cruise Costs
Celebrity is a premium cruise line. Premium cruise lines typically offer upscale food, accommodations, and service. These typically cost about $150 - $400 per person per day.
MSC, on the other hand, is considered a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.
Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. To get a good idea of how the pricing compares, visit the cruise line's website to price out the separate cruises or consult a travel professional.
Onboard Costs
Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.
Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.
The table below will help you compare onboard prices to see if you might spend more on a specific ship.
| Celebrity Xcel | MSC Meraviglia | |
|---|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $18.00 | $16.00 |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 20% | 18% |
| Soda Price | $4.00 | |
| Domestic Beer Price | $8.00 | |
| Drink Package Price | $60 - $125 | $46 - $85 |
| Internet Plan | $20 to $30 per device per day | $17 - $27 per device per day |
| *Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates. | ||
Celebrity Cruise Lines offers an "All Included" program. Guests who book a cruise using this promotion will have wifi and alcohol included. Some sailings are available without this program so pay attention when booking. Typically prices are lower if they don't include "Always Included." The wifi and alcohol package are the base levels and can be upgraded for an additional cost.
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