Celebrity Cruises is turning sea days into destination days on the newest Edge‑class ship, Celebrity Xcel, with four immersive, Mediterranean‑inspired festivals debuting at The Bazaar for the ship’s inaugural Europe 2026 season. Designed to extend the feeling of being ashore long after sailaway, these festivals blend regional food, drink, music, markets and hands‑on activities into a rotating cultural showcase.
The Bazaar: Destination Immersion at Sea
Launched on Celebrity Xcel in late 2025, The Bazaar is a transformative, multi‑level venue that keeps guests enveloped in the culture of the ports they visit. The space combines destination festivals, artisan markets, interactive workshops, regionally inspired dining and live entertainment, supported by immersive three‑story LED screens that evolve throughout each sailing.
From morning to night, The Bazaar’s programming shifts with the itinerary, ensuring no two days feel the same. As Celebrity Xcel heads to Europe in summer 2026, that concept is being reimagined around the heartbeat of the Mediterranean, from Florence and Naples to Santorini, Mykonos and beyond.
Four New Mediterranean Festivals on Celebrity Xcel
At the core of The Bazaar are four new Mediterranean‑inspired festivals that celebrate regional flavours, traditions and nightlife. Each festival weaves together food and beverage offerings, crafting experiences, enrichment activities, cooking and dance classes, and live performances tied to the ship’s ports of call.
Opa Festival: The Spirit of Greece
Opa Festival channels the warmth and vibrancy of Greece with a full‑day celebration of Hellenic culture. Guests can sample Greek favourites like baklava and moussaka, craft “Mati” evil eye jewellery, and then join live musicians in the evening for napkin‑twirling, dancing and joyful shouts of “Opa!” to beloved tunes.
La Dolce Vita Festival: Italy’s Sweet Life
La Dolce Vita Festival is a love letter to Italy’s romance, food and effortless style. Daytime brings limoncello tastings and hands‑on sessions in pasta and tiramisu making, while evenings transition into Venetian‑inspired elegance, inviting guests into a world of masks, magic and la dolce vita ambiance.
Salud Festival: Colour and Rhythm of Spain
Salud Festival captures Spain’s bold colours, rhythms and flair. Guests sip sangria, try regional bites and create their own Spanish flair through flamenco roses and hand fans before the night erupts into flamenco performances and matador‑themed entertainment celebrating Spanish passion and soul.
Silk & Spice Festival: Morocco and Turkey
Silk & Spice Festival offers a sensory journey through Morocco and Turkey. Fragrant teas, Turkish delight and craft activities set the tone by day, while nightfall brings energetic music and whirling dancers in a celebration of rhythm, movement and cross‑cultural spice‑route influences.
Destination‑Inspired Dining and Markets at The Bazaar
Food‑focused travellers will find plenty to explore at The Bazaar’s culinary concepts. Mosaic, an open‑kitchen venue, serves elevated dishes inspired by ports like Naples, Mykonos and Lisbon, with menus that shift to match the festivals and itineraries.
Spice, the casual dining concept at The Bazaar, offers rotating daytime bites and special items tied to each itinerary’s ports, all paired with panoramic sea views through floor‑to‑ceiling windows. On sea days, Market at The Bazaar showcases regional products from Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Portugal and Morocco, from olive oils and Italian scarves to hand‑painted tiles and other artisan goods.
Chef’s Studio and Mediterranean Itineraries in 2026
For guests who love to cook as much as they love to dine, Chef’s Studio at Mosaic becomes Celebrity’s first destination‑inspired cooking school at sea. Here, travellers can learn to prepare local favourites that reflect each festival theme, building a repertoire of Mediterranean recipes to take home along with their memories.
Starting in May 2026, Celebrity Xcel will sail seven‑ to 11‑night Mediterranean itineraries from Barcelona and Athens, featuring calls in Florence, Palma de Mallorca, Santorini, Mykonos and overnight stays in Madeira, Portugal. With The Bazaar’s rotating festivals layered on top of these itineraries, guests can now stay immersed in the Mediterranean’s culture, flavours and traditions long after the ship has left the pier.
