Hello, adventure seekers! I am fresh off my first back to back cruises, and I wanted to share my experiences with you.

The first cruise I had the pleasure of being on was the inaugural sailing of the Celebrity Xcel. This is the fourth ship in the Celebrity Cruise Line’s Edge class ships. This was only a 4-night preview sailing that ported one night in Cozumel and two full days at sea, but this ship is amazing!!!

First the food…oh, all the food. There are four included dining rooms each with a bit different theming from Greek to Italian. We ate at three of the four dining rooms either for lunch or dinner and had delicious meals at each. My colleague and fellow travel agent, Sara Kramer, was also able to experience the specialty dining location Bora for brunch, and she raved about the freshness and creativity of the meal.

Another highlight for foodies is the Spice Bar in the Bazaar area. The unique part of the Bazaar is not only the beautiful entry with lighted panels (see picture below) but also the immersive atmosphere. At each port the Bazaar area is themed specifically after the country you visited. For our sailing it had a Caribbean and Mexican theme. Buffets are out and “food displays” are in, and the Xcel does food displays in an impressive manner. Each station has fresh food from various countries—from Italian, English, Indian, Mexican and many many others. We never felt cramped or like cattle going through a feed line. One evening they had a chocolate desserts area complete with chocolate fountain and every other imaginable chocolate dessert your heart could desire.

Another memorable experience of the Edge Class ship is the Solarium area. This particular sailing was unseasonably windy and cold, but inside the enclosed Solarium pool and hot tub area, the temperature was perfect for us. The area was equipped with ample seating, and we never had a problem finding a chair to lounge by the pools.

The unanimous highlight of the trip for our traveling party of four was the bar areas. First, the Martini Bar in the atrium area. These bartenders juggle, sing, dance and make some of the best martinis we have ever tasted. IYKYK was one of the most unique spaces we have seen on a cruise ship. This 1920’s themed speakeasy was so much fun. The era appropriate drink menu, the performers dressed in 1920s themed costumes and we even had to hide our drinks when the speakeasy had a “raid” from the local “police.” So much fun!!!

Upon a Star Travel agents Eric Pruitt and Sara Kramer were among the first to experience the Celebrity Xcel!

I absolutely recommend the Celebrtiy Xcel. If you haven’t tried Celebrity Cruise Line yet, this is a great ship to experience!

Stayed tuned for Part 2 of our back to back cruise adventure where I talk about how easy it is to navigate Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, sailing Virgin Voyages, and how to leave your luggage safely on a late flight home and explore your disembarkation port.

Ready to plan your next cruise vacation? We’re here to help you create a fabulous vacation! Reach out to your favorite Upon a Star Travel advisor or contact us for more information.