| Xcel to bring the shore to the ship

CELEBRITY Cruises’ upcoming ship Celebrity Xcel will debut an “industry-first transformational space”, The Bazaar, which will aim to “erase the line between ship and shore”.

The three-storey space will transform as Xcel sails from port to port, bringing the sights, sounds, flavours, and traditions of each destination to life on board.

Guests will be able to peruse local artisan products in the market, attend destination-inspired festivals, enjoy local tastings, and try their hand at traditional crafts.

They will also be able to dine out at The Bazaar’s new open kitchen concept, Mosaic, which will includes a Chef’s Table and cookery school, Chef’s Studio.

There will also be a new casual dining concept, Spice, which will offer a daytime selection of rotating bites with special items inspired by the ports visited on each itinerary.

The Bazaar will debut later this year with four unique Caribbean destination-inspired festivals – each linked to a destination where Xcel is sailing on her inaugural season.

This will include local food and beverage offerings, crafting experiences, retail activations, destination-inspired cooking & dance classes, pop-up entertainment, performances from local musicians, and other Caribbean-inspired activities.

Xcel’s debut season will also introduce Market at The Bazaar, which will be available on sea days, inviting guests to take the cities they visit with them, with displays from local artisans who will come on board to showcase their crafts, skills and traditions.

Market at The Bazaar will change throughout sailings to reflect each of the four festival themes, including activities featuring rum and chocolate pairings and local hot sauce tastings; deep dives into the destination’s culture with experiences like live basket weaving demos, and one-of-a-kind keepsakes from local vendors such as an authentic Caribbean mask shop, traditional Mexican leather hats, and more.

As Xcel heads to Europe next year, The Bazaar will transform to feature festivals, markets and culinary experiences inspired by Mediterranean destinations.MS