All Aboard! My Daughter’s First Cruise on Celebrity Xcel

On 22nd August, we boarded Celebrity Cruises' ship Xcel in Barcelona, and the excitement was definitely building. For my daughter, this was a brand-new adventure. For me, it was a chance to discover what cruising would be like through the eyes of a nine-year-old – and I have to say, the whole experience exceeded both our expectations!

First impressions – WOW!

From the moment we stepped onboard Celebrity Xcel, the excitement began.

There was so much to see and discover, and I think the sheer size of the ship was one of the first things that impressed her. There was a definite sense of “Wow… this is where we're staying?!”

We stayed in a Prime Concierge Class Veranda on Deck 11, and our location was fantastic. Being centrally positioned meant we were just a short walk from the restaurants, pool facilities and Oceanview Café. And if you've ever travelled with a nine-year-old, you'll appreciate how important being close to food is!

Staying in one of the Infinite Veranda’s was perfect for us, but what I loved most was seeing how much my daughter enjoyed waking up each morning and discovering where we had arrived. She would head straight to the window to see what was outside, excited to find a completely new destination waiting for us.

There was something really magical about starting each day with a different view – For her, it made every morning feel like Christmas morning: “Where are we today mummy?”

A cruise through the eyes of a nine-year-old

One of the best things about this trip was seeing the ship through my daughter's eyes. 

Things I might notice from a professional perspective – the design, service, dining concepts and attention to detail – weren't necessarily what excited her.

She was much more interested in where we were going next, what we were eating, when we could go swimming and, most importantly, what was happening that evening!

And honestly, watching her excitement was infectious.

She quickly got into the rhythm of cruise life. Wake up somewhere new, explore, eat, swim, discover something else, get ready for dinner… and then do it all again the next day. Not a bad routine at all!

Dining, entertainment and a little bit of wow!

One of the things my daughter loved most about Celebrity Xcel was that there was always something exciting to look forward to – especially when it came to dining and entertainment.

We enjoyed some fantastic experiences onboard, including the speciality steakhouse, The Bora rooftop and the 4D animation dining experience. She loved every single one, but the 4D dining experience was definitely the winner!

I wasn't quite sure what she would make of it beforehand, but she absolutely loved the whole experience. It was so much more than simply sitting down for a meal – the combination of food, animation and the immersive 4D experience made it feel like an adventure in itself.

Watching her reactions throughout the experience was probably one of my favourite memories from the whole trip. She was completely captivated and couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next.

It really highlighted something I hadn't fully appreciated before travelling with her: for children, the dining experience can be just as much about the fun and theatre as it is about the food.

And, of course, the fun didn't stop when dinner was over. She absolutely loved the evening entertainment onboard and quickly got into the routine of getting ready for dinner, choosing where we were going to eat and then heading off to see the evening show.

For a nine-year-old experiencing her first cruise, it felt like every evening brought another little adventure – and I loved seeing her excitement grow throughout the week.

Adventures ashore

It wasn't all about the ship, of course.

We also had the opportunity to explore some fantastic destinations, including Nice, Portofino and Pisa.

Portofino was beautiful and felt like one of those places that looks almost too perfect to be real. Exploring somewhere so picturesque with my daughter was a lovely experience.

Then there was Pisa – and naturally, no visit would be complete without seeing the famous Leaning Tower!

Travelling with a nine-year-old definitely adds a different dynamic to exploring destinations. You want to see the sights, but you also need to make sure there is enough fun along the way.

The beauty of cruising is that after a day ashore, you get to come back to your floating hotel, have a swim, grab something to eat and get ready for another evening of entertainment.

Can luxury cruising really work with children?

This was probably the question I was most interested in answering before we travelled. And my answer is a very enthusiastic yes!

Celebrity Xcel gave us a fantastic balance. My daughter had plenty to keep her entertained and enjoyed the freedom and excitement of being onboard, while I could still enjoy the things I love about luxury cruising – beautiful surroundings, great dining, attentive service and the feeling that everything is taken care of.

But perhaps the biggest lesson for me was that luxury doesn't have to mean formal or grown-up.

You can have a beautifully designed ship, fantastic dining and sophisticated surroundings while still creating an exciting and fun environment for children.

So, would we do it all again?

Without a doubt yes! Let’s just say I may have created a monster!

I think the biggest compliment Celebrity Cruises could receive is that my nine-year-old has already started asking where we can go on our next cruise adventure – and, apparently, we need to start planning for next year!