Janaína Torres pushed a button that launched a bottle of champagne towards the brand new Movie star Xcel’s hull and shared the standard ship launching prayer.
“Could God bless her and all who sail on her,” mentioned Torres, chosen as godmother for Movie star Xcel whose slogan is “We didn’t discover your glad place. We constructed it.”
Named Greatest Feminine Chef within the World in 2024, Torres was requested to be ship godmother as a result of “she shares our ardour for celebrating tradition by way of delicacies and our dedication to culinary excellence,” mentioned Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Movie star Cruises.
Invited aboard for the two-day cruise for the ship’s official naming ceremony this week, I used to be impressed by the excellent consideration to element and new areas and experiences on the fifth ship in Movie star Cruises’ Edge Class.
Actually, Movie star Xcel has seven distinct new areas and experiences mentioned Jason Liberty, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group. A premium cruise line, Movie star Cruises is a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group.
“With every new ship, we increase the bar for the final word trip expertise,” Liberty mentioned. “And Movie star Xcel stands in a category of her personal.”
Two-Day Cruise
Departing from Fort Lauderdale, our two-day cruise headed out to sea with no vacation spot or shore excursions. We have been simply cruising the attractive blue ocean to find what the shocking Xcel provides.
And, imagine me, there have been many surprises and such an enormous ship that I’m certain there have been locations I didn’t see. The 16-deck Movie star Xcel can accommodate 3,276 company throughout a big selection of stateroom classes. The ship additionally has 1,400 crew members.
And the ship’s captain has a well-recognized nickname – Captain Kirk. “My Greek identify is just too tough for individuals to pronounce,” Captain Kyriakos Matragkas defined.
Born in Piraeus, Greece, Matragkas has been with Movie star Cruises for 25 years and got here from a seafaring household. His father was a ship captain who usually took his younger son on crusing journeys.
My Stateroom
Situated on Deck 12, my Concierge Class stateroom 12169 was great, particularly that lovely Infinite Balcony. Contact a button on the wall and the floor-to-ceiling window for the balcony drops down. One other button strikes down some heavy blinds that block out all gentle.
When that giant window was open, it nearly felt like my entire stateroom was a balcony.
Lavatory was fairly giant with a glass-enclosed bathe and Bigelow toiletries. Fluffy gown within the closet. Loads of storage areas and charging choices. Six-page Movie star Right now e-newsletter left on my turn-downed mattress every night time was additionally obtainable on the ship app. Good to have as a result of so many actions have been occurring across the ship and it was useful to know what, when and the place.
Eating Decisions
The locations I dined have been glorious. However what number of eating spots are you able to go to in two days? I had breakfast and lunch within the Oceanview Café, far superior to buffets on many ships. Much less time-consuming and positively scrumptious. So many decisions that I most likely might have eaten each meal there.
First night time, I dined at Uncooked on 5 with it contemporary seafood. Delicious. Second night time, I dined at Luminae which was my favourite – not just for the meals but in addition for the place I used to be seated by the hostess. A pleasant window seat at a solo desk. New York strip steak was grilled good as have been the greens which weren’t cooked to mush. Crème brulee dessert was a becoming finale.
Theater Productions
Movie star Xcel appeared to have music occurring a lot of the day and night time, together with three new theatre productions, two interactive reveals at The Membership and different pop-up musical experiences across the ship.
Vocalist in Chapters in The Theatre
The primary night time, I noticed a little bit of the 254 West present at The Membership. Second night time noticed Chapters within the ship theatre. Performers have been all glorious however I used to be significantly dazzled by the acrobats and trapeze artists. Unbelievable a number of the strikes they made.
By the way in which, 254 West pays homage to the wild Nineteen Seventies disco Studio 54 in New York. The celebrity-infused Studio 54 was a favourite playground for individuals like pop artist Andy Warhol and author Truman Capote.
Chapters in The Theatre
Present in The Membership
Seven New Areas
As Jason Liberty mentioned, Movie star Xcel has seven new areas that make any Xcel cruise one to recollect.
The Bazaar was one of the well-liked. The idea, Hodges Bethge says, was “to blur the road between ship and shore, to deliver the vacation spot on board.”
Strolling by way of the lighted archway entrance to the Bazaar gave me a touch of the vacation spot being celebrated with certainly one of 4 festivals – Carnival, Aqua, Viva and Flora. Every day, that modified relying on the place the ship was cruising.
The Market on the Bazaar provided merchandise from native artisans, a few of whom come on board to showcase their creations. On my cruise, the second-day Aqua competition within the Bazaar had a do-it-yourself exercise craft making a scallop shell trinket dish.
Ejona explains the island salt within the Market on the Bazaar.
Passenger making a sea shell for her son
The complimentary “sip” was an Aqua Blossom Cocktail. Whereas I used to be sipping, a pop-up present began with singers and dancers. At first look, I questioned why a lady was sporting a elaborate night robe in the midst of the day when she got here in and sat down at a desk close by.
Pop-up musical efficiency within the Bazaar
Then she began singing and was quickly joined by the opposite performers. An immersive musical expertise. The Bazaar additionally has two eating places – the informal Spice Cafe and the wonderful eating Mosaic.
Bora is the brand new alfresco restaurant on the prime of the ship with wonderful sea views and dishes ready tableside.
Attic on the Membership is an adults-oriented lounge open around the clock. Video games embrace shuffleboard, darts, pool and foosball in addition to retro video video games like Pac-Man.
Movie star Pool Membership is a part of the ship’s new expanded adults-only pool. An enormous playful monkey sculpture designed by artist Todd Lyndon Stuart is a favourite photograph spot by the pool.
Movie star Flagship Retailer is a novel combo museum and retailer the place passengers can study Movie star historical past whereas shopping for Movie star merchandise solely obtainable on Movie star Excel.
The Spa options Movie star’s first-ever Hydra Room the place company can take pleasure in a rejuvenating expertise in a heat effervescent pool with massaging jets and heated lounge chairs. A brand new out of doors Vitamin D Deck provides sweeping views from the entrance of the ship for company to take pleasure in restorative ocean breezes.
IYKYK stands for the phrases “If you understand you understand.” I do know since I used to be on Movie star Xcel. To not indulge an excessive amount of in regards to the secret, I’ll say that I discovered it and found a treasure which actually provides to Movie star Xcel’s many charms.
After I advised a fellow author in regards to the hidden web site and tips on how to get there, he disappeared and I by no means noticed him the remainder of the night. Subsequent day, he advised me it was unbelievable. I agree.
Inaugural cruises
Movie star Xcel is now crusing her inaugural season with seven-night Caribbean itineraries from Fort Lauderdale alternating between The Bahamas, Mexico, Cayman Islands and Puerto Plata, St. Thomas and St. Maarten.
In summer time 2026, Movie star Xcel will launch her European cruise season with seven to 11-night Mediterranean journeys out of Barcelona and Athens, together with all-new in a single day stays in Madeira, Portugal.
Xcel Dream Makers
To assist create such a incredible new ship, Movie star known as on 1000’s of vacationers worldwide who contributed concepts on all the things from eating and design to leisure and enjoyable touches just like the monkey statue.
“Movie star Xcel has been designed with our company as our north star. We even concerned them within the design course of by way of the Xcel Dream Makers program, so we all know she would be the glad place of vacationers globally,” Hodges Bethge mentioned.
Known as the Xcel Dream Makers, the revolutionary program used the suggestions from greater than 140,000 volunteers to assist form a dream vessel.
The Dream Makers thought got here from an organization assembly the place the Movie star workforce was kicking round ideas for a top-notch ship. A workforce member mentioned Movie star ought to simply ask cruise company. So that’s what Movie star did.
Actually, the each day schedule of actions encompasses a Dream Makers Selection image to let passengers find out about some Dream Makers favorites like Nation Night time on the Saddle Up Saloon at The Membership and the 11 p.m. Shine the Night time celebration on the Pool Membership the place passengers are invited to put on their shiniest metallic outfit for a shimmering night of enjoyable and shock performances.
Disembarking
Appeared like I had simply walked onboard when it was time to depart the ship. Straightforward course of. I carried my very own suitcase – how a lot do you want for a two-night cruise – and confirmed my passport and room key. No line. No trouble.
Scheduled an Uber and headed to the airport. When my Uber driver requested if I’d suggest the ship, I didn’t hesitate. For certain, I advised him.
Terrific ship and really caring skilled crew. I’m certain my two days provided solely a glimpse into what reminiscences may be made on the superb Movie star Xcel, a really welcome addition for cruise lovers.
Pictures by Jackie Sheckler Finch
Cowl photograph courtesy of Movie star Cruises
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