Celebrity cruise ships ranked from best to worst usually follow ship age and class: the five Edge-class ships (led by the brand-new Celebrity Xcel) sit at the top, the five Solstice-class ships fill the middle, and the four Millennium-class ships, built in 2000-2002, come last. Celebrity Flora, the line’s only Galápagos expedition ship, is in a category of its own and is the best choice if wildlife is the point of your trip.
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Below we rank all 14 of Celebrity’s ocean ships for 2026-27 sailings, explain what separates each class, and show which ship suits which kind of traveller. Rather than a single score, the order is based on clear, checkable criteria, set out first so you can weigh them yourself.
How we ranked the Celebrity fleet
No single review score is reliable across every ship, so we used four practical factors that shape your cruise:
- Age and class: newer classes have bigger balconies, more dining venues and more modern cabins.
- Refurbishment status: whether a ship has had Celebrity’s multi-year “Revolution” refit, which updated cabins, suites and public rooms to look more like the Edge class.
- Venues and choice: the number of restaurants, bars and signature spaces such as the Magic Carpet, the Lawn Club or a Retreat suite area.
- Space and crowding: guest numbers against the size of the ship, and how busy the pool and buffet areas tend to feel.
Outside rankings point the same way. U.S. News Travel’s 2026 list of Celebrity ships, built from reviews and health inspection results, puts Celebrity Apex and Celebrity Beyond joint first. Celebrity’s own fleet page describes the Edge series as its flagship ships. Keep in mind that the gaps between ships within a class are small. A well-priced Solstice-class cruise on the right itinerary can be a better holiday than an expensive Edge-class sailing you don’t really want.
Celebrity cruise ships ranked: summary table
| Rank | Ship | Class | Entered service | Approx. guests (double) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Celebrity Xcel | Edge | 2025 | 3,260 | Newest venues, first-timers who want the latest |
| 2 | Celebrity Ascent | Edge | 2023 | 3,260 | Europe and Caribbean, couples |
| 3 | Celebrity Beyond | Edge | 2022 | 3,260 | Families, pool and deck space |
| 4 | Celebrity Apex | Edge | 2021 | 2,910 | Edge features with slightly fewer guests |
| 5 | Celebrity Edge | Edge | 2018 | 2,918 | Edge design, often at lower fares |
| 6 | Celebrity Reflection | Solstice | 2012 | 3,046 | Most cabin choice in the Solstice class |
| 7 | Celebrity Silhouette | Solstice | 2011 | 2,886 | Updated Solstice ship, Revolution in 2020 |
| 8 | Celebrity Equinox | Solstice | 2009 | 2,850 | Caribbean value, Revolution in 2019 |
| 9 | Celebrity Eclipse | Solstice | 2010 | 2,850 | Longer and repositioning voyages |
| 10 | Celebrity Solstice | Solstice | 2008 | 2,850 | Alaska, Australia and Pacific routes |
| 11 | Celebrity Summit | Millennium | 2001 | 2,218 | Port-heavy itineraries, smaller ship feel |
| 12 | Celebrity Millennium | Millennium | 2000 | 2,218 | Asia and Alaska routes, quieter cruising |
| 13 | Celebrity Constellation | Millennium | 2002 | 2,170 | Classic, relaxed Europe cruising |
| 14 | Celebrity Infinity | Millennium | 2001 | 2,170 | Budget-minded port-focused voyages |
| Own category | Celebrity Flora | Expedition | 2019 | 100 | Galápagos wildlife expeditions |
Guest figures are approximate double-occupancy numbers and can vary slightly between sources. Deployments change each season, so check the current itinerary on Celebrity’s official ships page before you book.
Edge class: the best Celebrity cruise ships
If you are asking which is the best Celebrity cruise ship, the answer is almost always one of the Edge class. These ships introduced Infinite Verandas (a balcony that becomes part of the cabin at the touch of a button), the cantilevered Magic Carpet platform, the Rooftop Garden, a resort-style pool deck and a large Retreat area for suite guests.
1. Celebrity Xcel (2025): the newest Celebrity ship
Xcel is the newest Celebrity ship. It began preview sailings in November 2025 and was named at Port Everglades on 16 November 2025. It builds on Ascent’s layout but replaces Eden with The Bazaar, a destination-themed space, and adds the IYKYK speakeasy-style bar, the Attic games area at The Club, a Hydra Room thermal spa space and Bora in place of the Rooftop Garden restaurant. It also has the line’s first tri-fuel-capable engine. If you are thinking about cabins, see our guide to Celebrity Xcel cabins to avoid.
2. Celebrity Ascent (2023)
Ascent has the lengthened hull of the later Edge ships, an expanded Sunset Bar and larger pool and Retreat areas. It offers almost everything Xcel does, and fares are often a little lower now that Xcel is the newer ship.
3. Celebrity Beyond (2022)
Beyond was the first of the longer Edge ships, and it brought in the two-level Sunset Bar and Le Voyage restaurant. Its larger Resort Deck makes it a strong pick for families and anyone who spends sea days by the pool.
4. Celebrity Apex (2021)
Apex shares the original Edge-class size and layout, so it carries a few hundred fewer guests than Beyond, Ascent and Xcel. It ranks highly in guest-review-based lists, including the U.S. News 2026 list, and for many cruisers that slightly smaller scale is a plus.
5. Celebrity Edge (2018)
The ship that started the class still has every core Edge feature. It ranks fifth only because it is the oldest and lacks the later additions. It is often the best-value way to try the Edge design. Read about Celebrity Edge cabins to avoid before choosing a stateroom.
Solstice class: the strong middle of the fleet
The five Solstice-class ships (2008-2012) introduced Celebrity’s real-grass Lawn Club, a glass-blowing show and a high proportion of balcony cabins. They feel more traditional than the Edge ships but are spacious and have a wide choice of restaurants. They also sail many of Celebrity’s longer and more varied itineraries.
6. Celebrity Reflection (2012)
The youngest and largest of the class, with an extra deck of cabins and suites. It had a drydock refresh in 2023, which helps keep it at the top of this group.
7. Celebrity Silhouette (2011)
Silhouette received the full Revolution refit in 2020, with redesigned cabins and suites and a new Retreat lounge, so its rooms feel newer than its age suggests.
8. Celebrity Equinox (2009)
Equinox completed its Revolution refit in 2019. It is a popular Caribbean ship and a good value alternative to the Edge class from Florida.
9. Celebrity Eclipse (2010)
A sister to Equinox that is well liked for longer voyages and repositioning cruises. Its Revolution refit was postponed, so check the most recent drydock updates if a modern cabin matters to you.
10. Celebrity Solstice (2008)
The class original, often based in Alaska and the South Pacific. It has the same Lawn Club and balcony-heavy layout, but it is the oldest of the five and was not among the first ships to get the Revolution refit.
Millennium class: older, smaller, port-focused
The four Millennium-class ships (2000-2002) are the oldest in the fleet and hold roughly 2,200 guests. Standard cabins and bathrooms are smaller, and some balconies are narrow. They do have advantages: they fit into smaller ports, their atmosphere is calmer, and they often run interesting itineraries in Asia, Alaska, Europe and the southern Caribbean at lower fares.
11. Celebrity Summit (2001)
Summit was one of the first ships to get the Revolution refit in 2019, which updated its cabins and suites. That puts it at the top of its class.
12. Celebrity Millennium (2000)
Millennium was the first ship to get the Revolution refit, in February 2019. It ranks below Summit only because it is the oldest ship in the fleet.
13. Celebrity Constellation (2002)
Constellation was “Solsticized” with Solstice-class features in the 2010s, and some sources report a more recent refresh. However, it has not been confirmed as having the full Revolution refit, which keeps it lower in the order. Check recent drydock news before you book.
14. Celebrity Infinity (2001)
Infinity received Solstice-style upgrades in 2015 and a routine technical drydock in Marseille in January 2026. It is the smallest of the class, has not had the full Revolution refit, and has the fewest dining choices, so it comes last here. Choose it for the itinerary rather than the ship itself. For more on what to expect on these older ships, our guide to Celebrity Millennium cabins to avoid covers the class layout.
Celebrity Flora: the Galápagos expedition ship
Celebrity Flora (2019) carries just 100 guests in all-suite accommodation and sails year-round in the Galápagos. Naturalist guides, Zodiac landings and an itinerary built around wildlife make it a different kind of cruise, so ranking it against 3,000-guest ships would not be fair. If the Galápagos is on your list, it is the obvious Celebrity choice.
Older articles may still list Celebrity Xpedition and Celebrity Xploration. Both ships left the fleet in January 2025 after being sold to Lindblad Expeditions, which now runs them as National Geographic Gemini and National Geographic Delfina. Flora is now Celebrity’s only Galápagos ship.
Newest Celebrity ships coming next
A sixth Edge-class ship, Celebrity Xcite, is under construction. Steel was cut in October 2025 and delivery is expected in 2028. Celebrity is also starting a separate river brand. Celebrity River Cruises plans to begin with Celebrity Compass on the Rhine in August 2027, followed by Celebrity Seeker. Each river ship will carry up to about 180 guests, and around 20 ships are planned by 2031. These are a very different product, so we have not included them in the ocean-ship ranking above.
Which Celebrity ship should you choose?
Something most rankings skip is that the ship matters less than the cabin category and itinerary. A few quick rules of thumb:
- Want the newest experience? Book Xcel or Ascent, and expect to pay for it.
- Want Edge style at a lower price? Look at Edge or Apex, which often cost less than the newest ships on similar routes.
- Want a big balcony cabin on a longer voyage? A Solstice-class ship such as Reflection or Silhouette is often good value.
- Want unusual ports? The Millennium-class ships go to places the larger ships can’t reach. Pick these for where they go, not for the facilities.
- Thinking of upgrading? Spa-focused AquaClass cabins can make an older ship feel more special. See our view on whether Celebrity AquaClass is worth it.
Whichever ship you choose, prices for the same ship can vary a lot by sailing date. If you are flexible, compare several dates and ships before you commit.
If you sail Celebrity regularly, it’s worth understanding Celebrity's Captain's Club loyalty programme and how quickly each tier comes round.
If the onboard casino matters to you, our ranking of the best casino cruise ships compares casino size, games and gambling ages by line.
FAQs
What is the best Celebrity cruise ship?
For most travellers it is one of the Edge-class ships. Celebrity Xcel is the newest, while Apex and Beyond were joint first in U.S. News Travel’s 2026 Celebrity ranking. For the Galápagos, Celebrity Flora is the clear choice.
What is the newest Celebrity ship?
Celebrity Xcel, which began sailing in November 2025. The next ocean ship, Celebrity Xcite, is expected in 2028, and the first river ship, Celebrity Compass, is due in August 2027.
Which is the oldest Celebrity cruise ship?
Celebrity Millennium, which entered service in 2000. It is the lead ship of the Millennium class, alongside Infinity, Summit and Constellation.
What is the passenger capacity of Celebrity Cruises ships?
About 100 guests on Celebrity Flora, roughly 2,170 to 2,220 on Millennium-class ships, about 2,850 to 3,050 on Solstice-class ships and up to about 3,260 (double occupancy) on the larger Edge-class ships.
Which is nicer, Royal Caribbean or Celebrity?
Celebrity is Royal Caribbean Group’s more upscale brand. It has a calmer, more adult atmosphere, better-rated dining and fewer thrill attractions. Royal Caribbean suits families who want water slides and big shows, and Celebrity suits couples and travellers who want a more refined experience.
