Ever wish you had more time to spend in a cruise destination? Maybe you noted a couple more attractions or shops you would like to have visited.

But it was time to head back to the ship. Well, Celebrity Xcel has an answer for that. Celebrity Xcel offers guests the chance to continue exploring the destinations they travel to long after the ship has left port at its transformative venue, The Bazaar.

As Celebrity Xcel sails to Europe this summer, guests will immerse themselves in four new festivals that bring the sights, sounds, flavors and traditions of the Mediterranean along for the ride.

“Since the concept launched on Celebrity Xcel in November, The Bazaar has revolutionized destination immersion, keeping guests enveloped in the culture of destinations well beyond their time in port,” Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises, said in a press release.

“Sea days have been transformed with spatial design extending the authentic food, beverage and entertainment delivered into a cohesive singular experience,” Bethge said.

Designed to seamlessly blend onboard and in-port experiences, The Bazaar is an elevated, authentic, and ever-changing celebration of culture. The space erases the line between ship and shore bringing each destination to life through a curated mix of destination-inspired festivals, markets offering items from local artisans, hands-on activities, regionally influenced culinary offerings, and unforgettable entertainment.

At this first-of-its-kind concept, no two days are the same. With dynamic programming and immersive, three-story LED screens, the space evolves throughout each sailing, offering guests fresh and immersive ways to connect with the Mediterranean destinations they visit – from Florence to Santorini.

“From morning to night, and from day to day, the one-of-a-kind experience has captivated guests, and we’re excited to transform the experience yet again to bring the heartbeat of the Mediterranean on board throughout every Europe sailing,” Bethge said.

At the heart of The Bazaar experience are four Mediterranean-inspired festivals that celebrate the region’s vibrant flavors, timeless traditions, and unforgettable moments.

These festivals will bring the best of the Mediterranean to life in a myriad of ways, including local food and beverage offerings, crafting experiences, retail enrichment activations, destination-inspired cooking and dance classes, pop-up entertainment and performances from local musicians.

                                   Four Mediterranean-Inspired Festivals

• A lively fusion of Spain’s color, rhythm, and flair, Salud Festival is bold, passionate, and unforgettable. By day, guests will sip sangria and sample local dishes as they create their own Spanish flair with activities like building custom flamenco roses and Spanish fans. The energy erupts at the end of the day, as flamenco dancers and matadors create a celebration of passion and Spanish soul.
• Silk & Spice Festival invites guests on a sensory journey through the spices, dances, and mesmerizing music inspired by the vibrant cultures of Morocco and Turkey. During the day, guests can sip fragrant teas, enjoy sweet bites of Turkish delight and find hands-on activities. At night, energetic music and whirling dancers will captivate guests in a celebration of rhythm and culture.
• Centered around the flavors, beauty, and romance of Italy, guests will indulge in the sweet life with La Dolce Vita Festival. By day, guests will indulge in limoncello and other authentic delights while enjoying hands-on experiences like the art of making pastas and tiramisu. As night falls, guests will find themselves surrounded by Venetian magic, as they step into an evening of elegance and enchantment.
• Opa Festival immerses guests in the traditions and contagious energy of Greece. By day, this vibrant celebration of Greek culture will fuse iconic cuisine like baklava and moussaka with hands-on activities like “Mati” evil eye jewelry crafts. As the sun sets, the energy rises: live musicians will invite guests to join the party as they twirl napkins, dance, laugh and shout Opa! to the rhythm of beloved hits.

                                                  Dining Delights

For those happiest when connecting to new cultures through food, destination- inspired dining will delight guests’ palates with local cuisines. The open kitchen concept, Mosaic, will serve reimagined and elevated dishes, inspired by the flavors of cities like Naples, Mykonos and Lisbon.

The Bazaar’s casual dining concept, Spice, will offer a daytime selection of rotating bites with special items inspired by the ports visited on each itinerary, along with spectacular views from the floor-to-ceiling windows on the water’s edge.

Foodies can learn to cook regional delicacies at Chef’s Studio at Mosaic, Celebrity’s first-ever destination-inspired cooking school. Chef’s Studio invites guests to discover their inner chef as they learn to prepare new dishes from each destination they visit.

Throughout the sailing, the cooking school repertoire will change to reflect the destination-inspired festival themes, allowing guests to master local favorites and add to their recipe books alongside creating new memories.

                                              Market at The Bazaar

On sea days, Market at The Bazaar invites guests to take the iconic cities they visit across Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Portugal and Morocco with them. Guests can immerse themselves in captivating experiences and find regional delights from local artisans, such as olive oil, Italian scarves, or handmade painted tiles.

On land, an unforgettable European adventure continues, as Celebrity Xcel brings guests to the romance of places like Florence and Palma de Mallorca, the breathtaking scenery of Santorini and Mykonos, and offers overnight stays to linger longer in Madeira.

Starting in May 2026, Celebrity Xcel will set sail on her inaugural European season where guests can immerse themselves in the Mediterranean like never before on seven-to-11-night journeys out of Barcelona and Athens, including all-new overnight stays in Madeira, Portugal.

                                         About Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises delivers an elevated premium vacation experience across their fleet of ocean and river ships traveling to over 300 destinations across more than 70 countries spanning all seven continents.

Uniquely offering the intimate feel and thoughtful service of small ships, with the variety and excitement of bigger ones – guests can explore the world or get away from it for a little while.

An industry pioneer for more than 35 years, Celebrity Cruises is headquartered in Miami and is a part of Royal Caribbean Group.

Photos courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

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