CELEBRITY CRUISES LAUNCHES 'DREAM MAKERS,' A FIRST OF ITS KIND INVITATION FOR TRAVELERS TO DREAM UP THEIR PERFECT VACATION ON CELEBRITY XCEL

Rhea-AI Summary

Celebrity Cruises has launched 'Dream Makers,' an innovative program allowing travelers worldwide to help shape the experience on their newest ship, Celebrity Xcel. Through online polls and in-person events, participants will influence key decisions across culinary, entertainment, and interior design elements before the ship's launch in November 2025.

The Celebrity Xcel, which recently completed its exterior construction at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard, features the industry's first tri-fuel capable engine, advancing Royal Caribbean Group's commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050. The ship will begin its inaugural season from Fort Lauderdale with seven-night Caribbean itineraries, followed by Mediterranean voyages in Summer 2026 from Barcelona and Athens.

Positive

• Introduction of innovative customer-driven design program potentially increasing brand engagement and future bookings
• Completion of ship's exterior construction, indicating on-schedule progress
• Implementation of first tri-fuel capable engine, advancing environmental sustainability goals
• Planned expansion into Mediterranean routes in 2026, diversifying revenue streams

Negative

• Significant capital investment in new ship construction during uncertain economic conditions
• Extended timeline until revenue generation (launching November 2025)

Insights

Market Research Analyst

This innovative customer engagement initiative from Celebrity Cruises represents an intriguing shift in product development strategy within the cruise industry. The 'Dream Makers' program effectively combines crowdsourcing with customer experience design, potentially reducing the risk of misaligned product offerings while building brand loyalty through direct customer involvement.

The timing is particularly strategic as it coincides with the cruise industry's strong recovery phase. By involving customers in key decisions for the Celebrity Xcel, RCL is not only gathering valuable market intelligence but also creating anticipation and emotional investment in the product before launch. This approach could drive higher booking rates and premium pricing potential, as customers typically place higher value on products they helped create.

The tri-fuel capable engine announcement is also noteworthy, as it positions RCL favorably with ESG-focused investors and could provide operational cost advantages as fuel regulations tighten globally. The Mediterranean expansion plans for Summer 2026 indicate confidence in sustained luxury travel demand and strategic diversification of revenue streams.

Customer Experience Strategist

The 'Dream Makers' initiative brilliantly leverages co-creation principles to build customer engagement and loyalty. By involving future guests in decisions ranging from interior design to entertainment programming, Celebrity Cruises is creating a powerful emotional connection with its target market while simultaneously conducting extensive market research at relatively low cost.

This approach addresses a common challenge in the luxury travel sector - the gap between customer expectations and actual experience. By allowing customers to influence key elements of the ship's design and offerings, Celebrity Cruises is effectively pre-validating their product decisions and creating a built-in market of brand advocates. The program's structure, combining online polls with experiential events, creates multiple touchpoints for customer engagement and data collection.

In an industry first, cruisers will help make key decisions across culinary, entertainment and interior design to finalize Celebrity Xcel, the cruise line's newest billion-dollar ship. 

MIAMI, Jan. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrity Cruises is inviting vacationers worldwide to create their dream vacation experience on Celebrity Xcel® with Xcel 'Dream Makers^SM.' Open to all who wish to join, this global community will test, try and vote on new experiences. Their selections will launch on Celebrity Xcel in November 2025 for vacationers to enjoy, further elevating the fifth ship in the cruise line's award-winning Edge® Series into a class of its own.

CELEBRITY CRUISES LAUNCHES 'DREAM MAKERS,' FIRST OF ITS KIND INVITATION FOR TRAVELERS TO DREAM UP THEIR PERFECT VACATION

"We want to ensure our guests love our products and experiences, so involving them in the process to perfect Celebrity Xcel was a great way to achieve this," shares Michael Scheiner, chief marketing and product officer of Celebrity Cruises. "Celebrity Cruises is known for ground-breaking innovation in ship design and experiences unlike any other at sea, when Xcel launches guests won't have just found their happy place, they'll have helped us build it."

In an industry first, Dream Makers will have the final say across key elements of the vacation experience to be offered on Celebrity Xcel when she sets sail. Through online polls and one-of-a-kind experiential in-person events, the public will perfect the ship's design, culinary and entertainment offerings.

Dream Makers will put their design, experiential and foodie skills to the test on Celebrity's newest ship, making decisions across key spaces, including the ship's seven, new, yet-to-be-revealed experiences. Dream Makers will make their mark on the Celebrity Xcel by:

• Choosing textiles, managing interior design elements and curating service offerings;
• Picking their favorite dishes and beverages, choosing table settings and shaping dining concepts; and
• Providing input on headline shows, curate props and costumes, select playlists and partake in selections to appoint pivotal entertainment positions onboard.

With the help of Dream Makers, Celebrity Xcel will push the boundaries of leisure travel. The ship reached a major milestone on January 18, floating out of dry dock at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. The float out ceremony celebrated the completion of the ship's exterior, bringing Celebrity Xcel one step closer to welcoming guests. The innovative ship will also advance Royal Caribbean Group's decades-long commitment to sustaining the planet with the first tri-fuel capable engine, representing an important steppingstone on the company's journey to Destination Net Zero, its vision for net-zero emissions by 2050.

Celebrity Xcel is sailing her inaugural season from Fort Lauderdale, offering seven-night itineraries alternating between the Bahamas, Mexico, Cayman Islands, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten. In Summer 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.

Those interested in joining Xcel 'Dream Makers' can learn more at www.celebritycruises.com/xceldreammakers.

To book a sailing with Celebrity Cruises, visit www.celebrity.com, call Celebrity Cruises on 1-800-CELEBRITY, or contact a trusted travel advisor.

About Celebrity Cruises 
Celebrity Cruises delivers an elevated premium vacation experience across their fleet of ships traveling to nearly 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. With every detail elevated beyond expectations, guests will never want to vacation any other way. An industry pioneer for more than 35 years, each Celebrity vacation offers experiences you won't find anywhere else aboard ships which continue to shatter industry expectations with the highly anticipated Celebrity Xcel® arriving Fall 2025.

Celebrity Cruises is headquartered in Miami and is one of five cruise brands owned by Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL). Visit www.celebritycruises.com for more information, and connect with us on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/celebrity-cruises-launches-dream-makers-a-first-of-its-kind-invitation-for-travelers-to-dream-up-their-perfect-vacation-on-celebrity-xcel-302355413.html

SOURCE Celebrity Cruises

FAQ

When will Celebrity Xcel begin its inaugural cruise season?

Celebrity Xcel will begin its inaugural season in November 2025, sailing from Fort Lauderdale on seven-night Caribbean itineraries.

What makes Celebrity Xcel's engine technology unique?

Celebrity Xcel features the industry's first tri-fuel capable engine, supporting Royal Caribbean Group's goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

What routes will Celebrity Xcel sail in Summer 2026?

In Summer 2026, Celebrity Xcel will offer 7-to-11-night Mediterranean journeys from Barcelona and Athens, including overnight stays in Madeira, Portugal.

How can travelers participate in the Celebrity Xcel Dream Makers program?

Travelers can join the Dream Makers program through online polls and in-person events to influence the ship's design, culinary, and entertainment offerings by visiting celebritycruises.com/xceldreammakers.

What destinations will Celebrity Xcel visit during its Caribbean season?

Celebrity Xcel will alternate between destinations including the Bahamas, Mexico, Cayman Islands, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten.