Inside Celebrity Cruise Line’s 2026 President’s Cruise

Celebrity Cruise Line has announced the details on its 2026 President’s Cruise, which is nothing if not fit for a king.

Travel Pulse reports that the 2025 President’s Cruise is already underway aboard Celebrity Apex, sailing round-trip from Southampton through the Norwegian fjords. Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises, unveiled the dates and an approximate itinerary for next year’s President’s Cruise in a sneak peek.

The 2026 Celebrity Cruise Line President’s Cruise will last eight nights, departing from Athens on Sept. 13, 2026, and ending in Barcelona, with stops in Santorini, Kusadasi, Mykonos, Rhodes, and Malta.

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At a special welcome event for Captain’s Club loyalty members, Hodges Bethge announced that participants sailing on the 2026 President’s Cruise will have the option to prolong their trip with pre- and post-cruise accommodations in Athens and Barcelona.

“Mark your calendars,” the Celebrity Cruise Line president advised. “I hope you’ll join us on Xcel next year. Thank you for your loyalty, thank you for your commitment to Celebrity Cruises. Know that our commitment is equally as strong back to you in ensuring that we deliver the elevated premium vacations that you’re used to.”

The 2026 Celebrity Cruise Line President’s Cruise Will Be Held on the Xcel

Another interesting aspect of this news is that the cruise will take place aboard Celebrity Xcel, the brand’s newest vessel, which will debut in November 2025.

The 3,260-passenger ship will join Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Beyond, and Celebrity Ascent as the newest Celebrity Cruise Line Edge Class member. Xcel will feature seven brand-new locations and concepts, marking a significant step forward in the series’ progression and providing visitors with something new to enjoy daily.

It will also be the brand’s first ship capable of running on methanol, putting parent company Royal Caribbean Group one step closer to its aim of reaching net-zero emissions in 2050.

Celebrity Xcel will launch her first season from Fort Lauderdale in November 2025, with seven-night trips to the Bahamas, Mexico, the Cayman Islands, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten. The ship will go to Europe for her debut Mediterranean season in summer 2026, with seven- to 11-night sailings from Barcelona and Athens and thrilling new overnight stops in Madeira, Portugal.