Celebrity Cruises is celebrating a major construction milestone for its next Edge-class ship. Today at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France, a ceremony was held for the keel laying — one of the first milestones as a ship is built.
At the ceremony, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group Jason Liberty, president of Celebrity Cruises Laura Hodges Bethge, and General Manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique Laurent Castaing lowered the first 739-ton steel block for the new ship in the dry dock. As part of the longstanding maritime tradition, executives from the cruise company and shipyard placed newly-minted coins on the first piece of steel to bestow good luck on the ship during both the construction process and future sailings.
“Today, we not only mark the start of construction, but we are laying the foundation on which countless memories will be created,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. “Each new ship also represents an opportunity to advance our journey to net zero, and with Xcel, we are building our first methanol capable ship, which helps advance our transition to the energy platform of the future.”
Pushing the boundaries of leisure travel, Celebrity Xcel will advance Royal Caribbean Group’s decades-long commitment to sustaining the planet with the first tri-fuel capable engine. The new engine will provide unmatched fuel flexibility with the ability to use three types of fuel, including methanol — a first for the company. This type of engine represents an important stepping stone on Royal Caribbean Group’s journey to Destination Net Zero, its vision for net-zero emissions by 2050.
Celebrity Xcel will make her debut in November 2025 in the Caribbean. Her inaugural season will be out of Fort Lauderdale, from where she will operate seven-night itineraries alternating between the Bahamas, Mexico and the Cayman Islands, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten. The sailings are now open for booking.
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