Celebrity Xcel

Xcel’s main pool deck centers on a big pool that works for morning laps or just cooling off, with in-water loungers and drink service all around. The Pool Club bar anchors the middle, and most evenings the deck turns into an entertainment zone with a live band. A new pool valet service takes care of the small details, and private cabanas line the side for a Vegas day-club feel. The Mast Grill serves burgers, hot dogs and fries nearby.

The Magic Carpet is a platform cantilevered off the side of the ship, and it moves between decks. Its job changes with its position. On the upper decks it’s a bar with lounge seating and sofas. On Deck 5 it becomes a specialty dining spot. On tender days it drops to Deck 2 and becomes a comfortable boarding platform with a full bar, something you’ll only find on Celebrity’s Edge Series ships.

All the way aft, the Moroccan-themed Sunset Bar has seating wrapped around the stern, plus step-down seats on the sides that face straight out over the wake. Up top, the Rooftop Garden is filled with live plants and has lounge seating in sun or shade, a pickleball court and a large LED screen for movies and parties. New on Xcel are two plunge pools off the side of the ship. Camp at Sea brings kids up here for activities too.

The Retreat is Celebrity’s ship-within-a-ship for guests in full suites. The Retreat Sundeck spans two decks up forward, with a pool, bird’s nest loungers, hot tubs, cabanas and daybeds, its own bar, and a lunch restaurant open from about 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In the Retreat Lounge, a concierge handles keys, excursions and dining, so you can skip the front desk. Luminae serves an upgraded breakfast, lunch and dinner every day.

Xcel has Celebrity’s most expansive spa yet, with a full salon, a gents’ barber shop and treatment rooms for massages, facials and wraps. The SEA Thermal Suite has heated stone loungers, a salt room, a hammam, an aromatherapy steam room and an experience shower. New on Xcel are the Hydra Room, a warm, bubbling hydrotherapy pool, and an outdoor deck up forward. Thermal Suite access comes with AquaClass and some suites, or you can buy a pass.

The Grand Plaza sits right in the center of the ship, like the square of an Italian town. At the Martini Bar, bartenders do flair shows under a chandelier that lights up in the evening, and the dance floor hosts live music and silent discos. Around it are Cafe al Bacio, the World Class Bar with mixology classes, Raw on 5 for sushi and seafood, and Fine Cut Steakhouse, which Danny ranks among the best steak experiences in cruising.

The Club is a multi-use venue that’s a nightclub at heart, with a dance floor and stepped lounge seating. At night it hosts production-style shows and interactive theme parties. New on Xcel is the level above, Attic at The Club, a neon-lit games lounge with retro arcade games, darts and more. There’s also a private room you can rent for golf simulator games and other group fun. Danny’s swing needs work, but he had a blast.

Camp at Sea is Celebrity’s kids’ program, and it mixes learning with play. Older kids get video game stations, a giant Lite-Brite, ping pong and foosball, plus robotics and arts and crafts. Danny’s daughter learned to program a robot here. Kids from age 3 who are potty-trained have their own space, and counselors take activities out around the ship. Teens head to The Basement, with games, beanbags, a dance floor and a big screen.