Cruise company launches new competition that lets you design their newest ship and it includes a free holiday

YOU’VE painted the bedroom and given the kitchen a makeover. Now how about turning your hand to designing a cruise ship?

Celebrity Cruises is inviting past passengers and anyone who loves holidays at sea to do just that as it puts the finishing touches to its new luxury liner, Celebrity Xcel, which sets sail this November.

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From the outside it is similar to sister ship Celebrity Ascent, which launched in 2023, and features a Magic Carpet – an orange cantilevered platform on the side of the ship that serves as a restaurant.

But inside changes are afoot – and that’s where cruise fans come in.

The company calls them Dream Makers because their task is to dream up their perfect holiday – and steer the cruise line in the right direction by voting on such things as what they’d like to eat or learn while aboard.

And there’s a chance you could be entered into a draw, with prizes including cruises from Southampton and the opportunity to experience the new ship on its Caribbean inaugural season.

Current polls link to the first of seven “reveals” about the new look.

This one is a bazaar in a large lounge at the back of Xcel that offers activities, food and drinks you’ll find ashore in the countries you are visiting.

So it’s a colourful Caribbean vibe when the ship is in the West Indies this winter and a Mediterranean feel for when it is in Europe in summer 2026.

Lighting, music and stalls will change each day and evening to set the mood.

In the Caribbean, you might be making salt scrubs and learning to salsa one day, painting carnival masks and knocking back rum tasters the next.

New Celebrity president Laura Hodges Bethge says: “There will be something for everyone, whether they want to take part, watch or listen to the music. We’re erasing the line between the ship and destination.”

A market at the entrance to the bazaar will set the scene, with local goodies such as hats or jewellery for sale, I was told during a clever 3D walk through of the new-look lounge at the cruise line’s Miami HQ.

There will be local street eats for breakfast and lunch at Spice, a cafe to one side of the bazaar, while Mosaic, a restaurant at the back of the lounge, will serve up Caribbean or Mediterranean food favourites with a twist.

Foodies can roll up their sleeves and learn to cook like a local in a Chef’s Studio in Mosaic or take a seat at a Chef’s Table and watch the professionals at work before tucking into their creations.Gift to receive

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Dream Makers have so far voted in favour of learning to dance like a local rather than rolling cigars, and eating Jamaican lamb curry instead of corvina (white sea bass), in Mosaic.

Future votes will include what sculpture to have by Xcel’s pool, what music to dance to at the silent disco, and what gift to receive after a cooking class.

An apron, spices or the recipe? Dream Makers will decide.

Dream Maker polls are running each week until September.

Take part at dreammakers.celebritycruises.com.

Votes count for points towards prizes.

A place on a cruise from Southampton to the Norwegian fjords in May is up for grabs and there’s a top prize of two nights on Xcel on its naming cruise in November.

All you have to do to be in with a chance is to start dreaming.