Celebrity Xcel To Underline St. Maarten Cuisine; Janaína Torres Selected Culinary Godmother
Culinary Port of Call
Celebrity Cruises announced that acclaimed Brazilian chef Janaína Torres will serve as the godmother of Celebrity Xcel, the line’s newest Edge Class ship. She will be designing St. Maarten island cuisine at the ship’s inaugural visit on St. Martin’s Day 2025 and all consecutive visits to the island.
Torres is co-owner of the award-winning São Paulo restaurant A Casa do Porco and was named Best Female Chef in the World by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. She is recognized globally for her innovative culinary approach, which emphasizes sustainability, no-waste techniques, and authentic Latin American flavors.
Chef Torres will formally christen Celebrity Xcel on November 16, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, marking the ship’s official entry into service. Her appointment reflects Celebrity Cruises’ commitment to elevating the onboard culinary experience, highlighting food as a central pillar of the modern cruise journey.
A Daily Changing Bazaar
Celebrity Xcel is the fifth vessel in the line’s Edge Class series and to offer spacious accommodations and innovative dining venues, including the new concept The Bazaar. In the Bazaar, Guests can expect menus and dining settings that reflect the culture, ingredients, and traditions of the ports they visit, creating an immersive gastronomic journey at sea.
Among its curated itineraries, Celebrity Xcel will call on St. Maarten, widely regarded as the culinary capital of the Caribbean. The island’s fusion of Caribbean, French, Dutch, Asian and American flavors makes it a natural complement to the ship’s food-focused programming. Guests will be able to experience St. Maarten’s vibrant local cuisine both ashore and onboard, allowing the flavors of the region to extend seamlessly into their dining experience.
Visit to St. Maarten
By selecting a chef as godmother, Celebrity Cruises underscores the ship’s focus on culinary excellence and destination-driven experiences. The new ship will amass over 141000 gross tonnage and measure 327 meters. Its inaugural visit to St. Maarten will be on November 11, 2025, as part of a 7-night Caribbean cruise departing from Miami. The ship docks in Philipsburg from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM allowing passengers plenty of time to explore port of call Philipsburg island restaurants and other shore excursions. If you missed this brand new ships looks, see when it visits port St. Maarten on the island cruise ship schedule.
