One of the beloved Edge Class venues got a major upgrade on Celebrity Xcel, and I couldn't be happier about the change.
Earlier this year, Celebrity Cruises announced that Eden would be transformed into the Bazaar, a brand-new venue that combines shopping, dining, and entertainment in one multi-sensory space that blurs the line between ship and shore experiences.
It's one of the most ambitious spaces at sea, and Celebrity has executed it perfectly.
Everything in the Bazaar is inspired by the ship's itineraries, so the merchandise, activities, and dining while sailing through the Caribbean will differ from when Celebrity Xcel moves to the Mediterranean next summer.
It's all about creating an authentic experience, so the fun doesn't have to stop when the ship departs from port.
The experience begins when walking through dynamic LED arches that change based on the port of call.
Read more: Photos show what it's like aboard the brand-new Celebrity Xcel cruise ship
Along with different images, the immersive archway greets you with a curated array of scents that were inspired by the destination.
The Market at the Bazaar
After passing the arch walkway, guests enter the Market at the Bazaar, which is perhaps the best retail space aboard Celebrity Xcel.
Unlike EFFY or the Flagship store, the merchandise in the Market reflects the ship's destinations and rotates throughout the cruise.
Although my short 2-night media sailing didn't call at any ports, we got a taste of what guests on Xcel's Caribbean sailings can expect.
There's everything from locally made hand soaps and lotion to chocolate, rum, jewelry, coffee mugs, seasoning salt, hot sauces, and more.
It's not just the products that make the Market feel special; it's the people running it. The crew members in the Market all come from the Caribbean, which was an intentional choice made by Celebrity to make the space feel even more authentic.
"[A]uthenticity was incredibly important as [we were] creating [the Bazaar]," Michael Scheiner, Chief Marketing & Product Officer at Celebrity Cruises, said during a press conference aboard Xcel's media cruise.
"You'll notice even the crew members are from the Caribbean [who] are working in the Bazaar. It's not an accident. We really thought through every single detail."
Moreover, Celebrity will bring on local artisans while the ship is in port. It's a clever way to give guests local experiences without having to step off the ship.
Or if you happen to need a last-minute souvenir, you can shop directly from the local merchants in the Market until about an hour before the ship's departure.
The Bazaar
As unique as the Market is, the Bazaar itself is more than a place to shop — it's an immersive venue where the destinations come to life through entertainment and culinary experiences.
Celebrity developed four unique festivals, all themed around the ship's destinations. On Caribbean sailings, the festivals are Aqua, Carnival, Flora, and ¡VIVA! When the ship moves to Europe this summer, the festivals will change to reflect the Mediterranean culture.
Opa will transform the Bazaar into a Greek village, while La Dolce Vita will whisk guests straight into the heart of Italy. Salud is a fun-filled fiesta complete with paella and soulful rhythms of Spanish guitar. Finally, Silk & Spice pays homage to the colors, sounds, and dances of Turkey and Morocco.
As is true with large-scale festivals, there's more to the experience than the "parade." Guests can enjoy special culinary offerings, activities, and pop-up shows throughout the day.
For example, during the Aqua festival, guests can try the Aqua Blossom cocktail or the non-alcoholic Seaform Elixir.
Spice, Xcel's new complimentary fast-casual restaurant, also features daily specials tied to each festival theme.
During the Caribbean festival, these include the tropical sunrise bowl, Carnival breakfast sandwich, Reggae wrap, pineapple ginger turkey, tostones, and more.
Not only that, but the activities and decorations change to reflect the festival. During Aqua, you can make your own body scrub, while guests are invited to design a mini-maraca during Carnival.
Moving on, it was important for Celebrity to locally source the décor. For example, they sent members of their team into the streets of Cozumel, Mexico, to wander through the artisan stalls and bring back handcrafted pieces to display.
They also collaborated with local designers from these destinations to create the intricate costumes worn during the festivals, and the performers hail from the regions that inspire the celebrations.
"There [is one festival] where the [Jamaican drummer] comes out and he drums and then he sings," Jeanette Coto Dou, Vice President of Product Development for Celebrity Cruises, said during an exclusive interview with Cruise Blog.
"And then [the] activity hosts that are all from the Caribbean islands are just there dancing...So we're just trying to keep it authentic."
She added that they will do the same when Celebrity Xcel moves to Europe, ensuring that the crew is from the Mediterranean. However, it's a major logistical hurdle that the cruise line had to overcome, as that isn't how cruise ships typically operate.
Moasic
Moasic replaced Eden as the specialty restaurant within the Bazaar. This one-of-a-kind venue brings the flavors of the ship's destinations to life in a fine-dining setting. Prices begin at $95 per person if purchased onboard.
Menu offerings include Dukkah-spiced lamb loin, cedar-grilled eggplant farcie, Barcalo "croquetas," and mushroom gordita.
However, Moasic's menu changes throughout the cruise to reflect the ship's itinerary. As such, you may be inspired to visit the restaurant more than once!
Guests can also opt to take cooking classes in Moasic's open-concept kitchen. The experience matches the location of the ship.
For example, if Celebrity Xcel is docked in Cozumel, passengers will learn how to make an authentic mole sauce.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
