What’s New and What’s Coming Next

Celebrity Cruises has one of the largest fleets of any premium cruise line. While it’s smaller than the mega-fleets of Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian (NCL), Celebrity still impresses with 15 ships currently sailing – and one more on the way.

While most of the fleet consists of large, modern ocean ships, Celebrity Flora stands apart as the line’s only expedition vessel. She’s purpose-built for exploring the Galápagos Islands, offering an intimate, all-suite experience for just 100 guests.

As part of the Royal Caribbean Group, Celebrity benefits from the strength of one of the world’s biggest and most successful cruise companies.

With new ships helping to keep the brand fresh and in demand, let’s take a look at the newest Celebrity Cruises ships – the latest additions that are turning heads at sea.

The Newest Celebrity Ships

The newest Celebrity Cruises ship is Celebrity Xcel, the fifth Edge-class ship for the fleet. She launched in November 2025. One final Edge-class ship (for now) is due to join the fleet in 2028 – Celebrity Xcite.

The Newest Celebrity Ship Being Built

1. Celebrity Xcite (Edge Class) – 2028

Celebrity Xcite is set to launch in 2028 and will be the sixth ship in the Edge® Class, following Celebrity Xcel, which debuted in November 2025.

While details are still under wraps, Celebrity has confirmed that Xcite will continue the brand’s signature Edge-class style – combining modern luxury, innovative design and advanced technology.

No major design changes or new ship class have yet been announced, so for now, Xcite looks set to build on the success of her popular sister ships.

After Xcite, Celebrity hasn’t confirmed any additional new-build orders, so fans will be watching closely to see what comes next for the fleet.

Suggested read: Celebrity Cruise Ships By Class

Celebrity Cruises’ Newest Ships Already Sailing

1. Celebrity Xcel – 2025

Joining the fleet in late 2025, Celebrity Xcel is the fifth Edge-class ship and the newest addition to the Celebrity Cruises fleet. She sails year-round from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Caribbean cruises packed with style, sunshine and that modern-luxury flair that Celebrity fans can’t get enough of.

Like her sister ships, Celebrity Xcel is all about the views – with huge open-air spaces, panoramic lounges and floor-to-ceiling windows that make you feel connected to the ocean wherever you are on board.

Guests can expect fine dining, world-class service and luxurious accommodations, alongside state-of-the-art technology and sustainable engineering – continuing Celebrity’s commitment to innovation at sea.

What sets Celebrity Xcel apart from her Edge-class sisters is several exciting firsts. She debuts The Bazaar, a vibrant three-deck space packed with live entertainment, local-inspired experiences and destination-themed food stalls – a completely new concept for Celebrity Cruises.

Guests can also enjoy Bora, the line’s first-ever al fresco restaurant offering a relaxed brunch and dinner experience in the Rooftop Garden. And for those seeking relaxation, Xcel introduces an enhanced spa area with a Hydra Room and outdoor Vitamin D Deck, designed to bring wellness closer to the ocean than ever before.

Construction milestones for Xcel included her steel cutting in 2023, float-out in 2024, and maiden voyage in November 2025, marking the start of an exciting new chapter for the Edge Series.

2. Celebrity Ascent – 2023

Celebrity Ascent joined the fleet in late 2023 as the fourth Edge-class ship, bringing even more modern luxury to the Caribbean before spending her summers sailing both sides of the Mediterranean.

She builds on everything guests already love about the Edge Series, with sleek design, stunning outdoor spaces and incredible ocean views that make every moment feel special.

From fine dining and vibrant entertainment to quiet corners made for relaxation, Ascent delivers the perfect mix of sophistication and fun that Celebrity fans adore.

Construction began with steel cutting in November 2021, and after her float-out in January 2023, she officially entered service in December 2023 – setting the standard that Celebrity Xcel would later build upon.

3. Celebrity Beyond – 2022

The third-most recent addition to the Celebrity Cruises fleet, Celebrity Beyond is also the third Edge-class ship to launch for the line, and she really fulfils the promise of the class – more open spaces, more places to relax, and more areas where you can soak in the incredible views of the ocean as you sail.

Similar to many other ships in the Celebrity fleet, she spends her winter months exploring the Caribbean and her summer months offering itineraries across the Mediterranean, including sailings that focus on some of the unique ports of Croatia and Montenegro. She also has sailings along the Panama Canal.

Celebrity Beyond was the first ship in the Celebrity fleet to be equipped with SpaceX Starlink internet connections. Using the SpaceX satellites, this provides a significantly faster WiFi experience for guests onboard.

4. Celebrity Apex – 2020

Celebrity Apex was the second of the Edge-class ships to join the fleet. She was completed on time in 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she ultimately didn’t enjoy her maiden voyage until 2021.

During the winter months, she primarily sails around the Eastern Caribbean, and then in summer, she offers cruises around Europe. Unlike some of her sister ships, she mainly offers sailings in Northern Europe, including British Isles cruises, Norwegian Fjords itineraries and sailings to Iceland.

All of the Edge-class ships are very similar in design, retaining the popular features that were first introduced on Celebrity Edge.  And while her later sister, Celebrity Beyond, introduced Starlink internet first, it has since been added to Celebrity Apex too.

If you want to sample the premium cruise experience of an Edge-class ship, but you prefer the more historical landmarks and cities of the ports of Northern Europe, then Celebrity Apex would be the ship to go for.

5. Celebrity Flora – 2019

It’s not all about the Edge-class for Celebrity. The line also operates one very special small ship – Celebrity Flora – which offers the same premium experience but on a much more intimate scale.

Now the only expedition ship in the Celebrity Cruises fleet, Flora was the first purpose-built vessel designed specifically for exploring the Galápagos Islands. She accommodates just 100 guests, making her about 4% of the size of an Edge-class ship, yet still delivers the signature style, service and comfort Celebrity is known for.

Stationed year-round in the Galápagos, guests fly into Ecuador before joining the ship to discover the region’s breathtaking landscapes and unique wildlife.

Classified as a mega-yacht, Celebrity Flora offers an elegant, all-suite experience with multiple dining venues, including the Ocean Grill, as well as beautiful social spaces like the Discovery Lounge and Observatory.

She may be small, but Celebrity Flora is packed with luxury – a stunning ship built to deliver an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

6. Celebrity Edge – 2018

Celebrity Edge was the first of the Edge-class ships, of course, and she launched back in 2018 – still relatively recent when compared to many of the other ships in the fleet.

Similar to her sister ships, she moves between the Caribbean in the winter months and Europe in the summer – focusing primarily on the Western Mediterranean and ports in Spain, France and Italy.

Of course, as the first ship in the Edge Class, a lot of features debuted on Celebrity Edge. This includes Eden, the magnificent ‘living’ room with three levels and a variety of sensory experiences designed to help you feel closer to the ocean, enhanced by the stunning floor-to-ceiling views.

There’s also the Magic Carpet – a protruding space that changes purpose throughout the cruise, and rises between the decks to offer amazing views from the ship.

And old favourites return too, such as The Retreat – the exclusive, all-suite location on the ship where guests can enjoy sumptuous spaces and incredible dining if they book accommodation here. Other guests don’t settle for average cuisine, though – every restaurant onboard is exceptional.

To Conclude

While there aren’t many brand-new builds on the horizon for Celebrity right now, the Edge-class ships are still some of the freshest and most impressive at sea. Their sleek, modern design means they continue to feel brand new every time you step onboard.

And let’s not forget Celebrity Flora – the line’s purpose-built expedition yacht that brings Celebrity’s signature luxury to the Galápagos Islands. She offers one of the most exclusive and unforgettable cruise experiences in the world.

For the full list of Celebrity Cruises ships, check out my guide to Celebrity Cruises ships by age, size and class.

And if you’d like to know which Celebrity ships cruisers like the best, then be sure to check out this list of Celebrity Cruises ships ranked by reviews.

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