Spots going fast14 Night Best Of Italy, Spain & France
Celebrity • Celebrity Apex
Sep 12, 2026 · 14 nights
Iberian Peninsula
$2,921/person$209/night
View Deal →Celebrity Apex vs Celebrity Xcel
Side-by-side cruise ship comparison · Updated April 2026
Celebrity Xcel is the larger vessel at 140,600 GT, 9% more than Celebrity Apex's 129,500 GT. Built in 2025, Celebrity Xcel is 5 years newer, an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design. Celebrity Apex edges ahead in service with a passenger-to-crew ratio of 2.2:1, meaning more crew per guest.
Score: 2 – 5
Quick Compare
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Category
Celebrity Apex
Celebrity Xcel
Size
129,500 GT
140,600 GT
Passengers
2,910
3,260
Year Built
2020
2025
Crew Ratio
1:2.2
1:2.5
Space Ratio
44.5
43.1
Decks
—
—
Length
306m
327m
From Price
$2,921.47/pp
$1,895.69/pp
Comparison Verdict
Celebrity Xcel is the larger vessel at 140,600 GT, 9% more than Celebrity Apex's 129,500 GT. Built in 2025, Celebrity Xcel is 5 years newer, an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design. Celebrity Apex edges ahead in service with a passenger-to-crew ratio of 2.2:1, meaning more crew per guest.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Size | Celebrity Xcel |
| Capacity | Celebrity Xcel |
| Modernity | Celebrity Xcel |
| Service | Celebrity Apex |
| Spaciousness | Celebrity Apex |
| Decks | Tie |
| Length | Celebrity Xcel |
| Fleet Power | Celebrity Xcel |
Bottom line: Celebrity Xcel leads 5–2 across our categories, strongest in Size. Choose Celebrity Xcel for overall superiority; pick Celebrity Apex if Service matter more to you.
Which Ship Is Right for You?
Choose Celebrity Apex if...
- Better service ratio (2.2:1 crew ratio)
- More space per guest (44.5 GT/pax)
Choose Celebrity Xcel if...
- You want the newer ship (built 2025, 5yr newer)
- Size matters to you (140,600 GT)
- More onboard variety (3,260 guests)
- Save $1,025.78/person on sailings
You've compared the ships. Now see what they cost.
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Deep Dive
Upcoming Sailings
Upcoming Sailings on Celebrity Apex
Spots going fast
Leaves in 16 days11 Night Canaries & Portugal Cruise
Celebrity • Celebrity Apex
Sep 26, 2026 · 11 nights
Iberian Peninsula
$19,940/person$1,813/night
View Deal →
Leaves in 27 days$20,990/person$1,908/night
View Deal →Upcoming Sailings on Celebrity Xcel
Spots going fast$1,896/person$237/night
View Deal →
Leaves in 11 days$7,034/person$639/night
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Leaves in 22 days$2,798/person$280/night
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Frequently Asked Questions
How is the comparison score calculated?
We compute scores across 8 categories using real spec data: gross tonnage, passenger capacity, crew capacity, year built, length, deck count, space ratio, and fleet power. Each category awards one point to the winning ship.
What is the space ratio and why does it matter?
Space ratio is gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity. A higher number means more space per guest. Luxury lines typically score above 40; mass-market ships often fall in the 30-40 range.
What does the passenger-to-crew ratio mean?
Passengers per crew member. Lower is better, more staff per guest means better service. Luxury lines aim below 2:1; large mainstream ships may be 3-4:1.
Are the prices shown accurate?
Prices are sourced from Cruisebound and reflect real-time availability. They may change based on cabin type, date, and demand. Click through to see the latest fares.
Can I compare more than two ships?
Yes, up to four ships. Use the search tool on the compare hub page to add additional ships.
How current is the ship data?
Specifications come from our database of 380+ vessels, revalidated every 5 minutes via ISR. The "Updated" timestamp shows when records were last modified.
