Over the coming year, Celebrity Cruises has some exciting itineraries in the works. It is bringing its newest ship, Celebrity Xcel, to the Mediterranean for the first time; returning to two continents after a brief hiatus; staying longer in some ports; and even launching a two-hemisphere adventure lasting nearly four months across the Pacific.
Cruise lines have the luxury of moving their ships to different locations based on demand, and the coming year won’t disappoint. Shifting consumer trends to have more immersive experiences in some ports (and an impending solar eclipse) have helped shape the upcoming schedule too.
I have sailed with Celebrity many times, enjoying its hybrid mix of contemporary design and approachable sophistication, ranging from its custom-built ship in the Galápagos to the Edge class of ships in the sun-kissed Mediterranean. And this year’s ambitious schedule has all the trappings of yet another epic adventure. Coming soon is an expansion into river cruising, meaning all eyes are on where the brand will go next.
With sailings to all seven continents on the horizon, these are the itineraries and updates we’re most excited about for the rest of 2026 and into 2027.
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The newest ship heads to Europe
Celebrity Xcel launched in the fall of last year in the Caribbean, sailing from Fort Lauderdale as the fifth (and last) of the line’s contemporary Edge class of ships. And in time for summer, she makes her debut in the Mediterranean.
On 7- to 11-night sailings from Barcelona or Athens, Xcel will join its sister ship Celebrity Ascent, which is sailing from Rome (Civitavecchia). The cruise will visit exciting ports across the Greek islands and along the coasts of France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. It will also dock in unique destinations like Ephesus, Turkey; Valletta, Malta; Tangier, Morocco; and Madeira, Portugal.
New for the season: an overnight stop in Madeira. Guests can spend a little extra time sipping the famous Madeira wine, visiting Cristiano Ronaldo’s museum (after all, the soccer legend was born there), or enjoying island nightlife. This longer stay is available on select departures from Barcelona throughout the season (like this sailing to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco). Celebrity Xcel‘s Mediterranean sailings run now through mid-October.
Celebrity’s longest reign in Iceland
This summer, Celebrity will sail the Arctic region for longer than it ever has with seven cruises scheduled (almost double what it offered last year). You’ll find Celebrity Silhouette making seven-night journeys departing Reykjavik and circumnavigating Iceland.
