Celebrity Cruises has announced four new European-inspired festivals that will debut onboard Celebrity Xcel during the ship's European season starting May 2026. The festivals will take place at The Bazaar, a venue designed to extend destination immersion beyond port visits.
"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," said Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises. "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 onboard throughout every Europe sailing."
The Bazaar features three-story LED screens and programming that changes throughout each sailing. The space offers destination-inspired festivals, markets with items from local artisans, hands-on activities, regional cuisine and entertainment.
The four Mediterranean festivals include Opa Festival, which celebrates Greek culture with cuisine such as baklava and moussaka, crafts like "Mati" evil eye jewelry and evening entertainment featuring live musicians and traditional dancing. La Dolce Vita Festival focuses on Italian flavors and romance, offering limoncello, pasta-making and tiramisu classes by day and Venetian-themed evening experiences.
Salud Festival highlights Spanish culture with sangria, local dishes and activities including making flamenco roses and Spanish fans, culminating in performances by flamenco dancers and matadors. Silk & Spice Festival draws inspiration from Morocco and Turkey, featuring teas, Turkish delight, hands-on activities and evening performances with whirling dancers.
The venue includes two dining concepts: Mosaic, an open kitchen serving dishes inspired by cities including Naples, Mykonos and Lisbon, and Spice, which offers rotating bites influenced by ports visited on each itinerary. Market at The Bazaar on sea days provides regional products from local artisans such as olive oil, Italian scarves and handmade painted tiles.
Chef's Studio at Mosaic serves as the cruise line's first destination-inspired cooking school, with its curriculum changing throughout each sailing to reflect festival themes and allow passengers to learn regional recipes.
Celebrity Xcel will sail seven- to 11-night itineraries from Barcelona and Athens, visiting destinations including Florence, Italy; Palma de Mallorca, Spain; and Santorini and Mykonos in Greece, with overnight stays in Madeira, Portugal.
Editor’s Note: This article was generated by AI, based on a press release distributed by Celebrity Cruises. It was fact-checked and reviewed by a TravelAge West editor.
