Celebrity Cruises elevates cruise experiences in Europe, Alaska
As the summer cruise seasons get underway in Europe and Alaska, Celebrity Cruises is introducing travelers to new ways to cruise through these sought-after regions on board new and newly revamped ships.
Celebrity Cruises' newest ship, Celebrity Xcel, arrived in Barcelona, Spain on May 11 to begin its inaugural Mediterranean season shortly after the reimagined Celebrity Solstice kicked off its Alaska season from Vancouver, British Columbia.
Both ships offer passengers a variety of new experiences on board to complement exploration in epic destinations and scenic cruising through breathtaking landscapes.
Here's what passengers can expect on board Celebrity Xcel's Mediterranean voyages and Celebrity Solstice's enhanced Alaska adventures.
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Celebrity Xcel brings Mediterranean culture on board
Whether you set sail on Celebrity Xcel from Barcelona or Athens, your experience on board the premium Edge Series cruise ship will be curated to enhance your connection to the destinations you visit. Designed with input from vacationers across the globe, Celebrity Xcel offers onboard cultural immersion in an innovative and vibrant way through The Bazaar, an ever-changing space that invites passengers to experience daily festivals inspired by the ship's destinations.
On Mediterranean cruises, the multi-level Bazaar will come alive each day with the spirit of the region through four European-inspired festivals celebrating the cultures of Greece, Italy, Spain, and Morocco and Turkey. Each festival is a sensory journey offering various experiences throughout the day from local food and beverage offerings and crafting activities to pop-up entertainment and performances from local musicians. Passengers even have the opportunity to purchase authentic local products on board directly from local artisans.
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Other highlights of Celebrity Xcel's onboard experience include its resort-style pool club, rooftop garden, and upscale bars and restaurants, which are all thoughtfully designed to enhance relaxation between time spent ashore.
Now through October, Celebrity Xcel is sailing seven- to 11-night Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona and Athens, with select itineraries featuring new overnight stays in Madeira, Portugal.
Celebrity Cruises transforms Celebrity Solstice for restorative Alaska cruises
In addition to bringing enhanced cultural immersion and relaxation to Mediterranean cruises, Celebrity Cruises is elevating how cruise vacationers explore and restore on Alaska cruises with sailings on the renewed Celebrity Solstice.
The ship underwent a major bow-to-stern revitalization ahead of the Alaska season to give it a new ship feel with modernized staterooms, refreshed venues, and eight new experiences designed for travelers who want to enjoy elevated, restorative onboard experiences set against the backdrop of Alaska's awe-inspiring scenery.
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Among the eight new experiences added to Celebrity Solstice are four spaces that are new to Celebrity ships, including Sunset Park, a top-deck outdoor social space designed to maximize the epic views. Other additions include new restaurants and entertainment venues that enhance the cruise experience for passengers who want a balance of premium onboard experiences and nature-focused shore excursions.
Now through September, Celebrity Solstice is sailing seven-night Alaska voyages round trip from Vancouver, British Columbia with scenic cruising to either Hubbard Glacier or Dawes Glacier and calls at Juneau, Icy Strait Point, and Ketchikan. Dawes Glacier itineraries also visit Skagway.
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This story was originally published May 14, 2026 at 4:02 PM.