Eastern Caribbean
Royal Beach Club SantoriniJuly 2026
Celebrity Xcel Med
- Episodes
- 5
- Ports of call
- 6
- Nights
- 7
- Sailed
- July 2026
Trip brief
This series follows our seven-night Mediterranean sailing aboard Celebrity Xcel, beginning in Athens and ending in Barcelona. Along the way, we explore Santorini, Mykonos, Ephesus and Valletta, with two sea days to slow down and enjoy the ship.
Xcel was one of the main reasons we booked. As Celebrity's newest ship, we wanted to know whether it would still have the quieter, more grown-up atmosphere we expected from the cruise line. Sailing during the school holidays gave us a slightly different answer.
The headline experience was Royal Beach Club Santorini, but the whole itinerary delivered. We also discovered just how hot the Mediterranean can become in July, particularly during our day in Malta.
In this series:
- Our first experience aboard Celebrity Xcel
- Royal Beach Club Santorini, Oia and Fira
- Mykonos, ancient Ephesus and a very hot return to Valletta
The episodes
All vlogsWatch the full series
Every episode from this trip, in the order we filmed it. Press play and come along.
It's another summer in the Med — and this time, we're sailing with Celebrity Cruises for the very first time. And what better way to jump in than boarding the newest ship in the fleet: Celebrity Xcel.
Yassas from Greece! 🇬🇷
Windmills, Little Venice and the secret alleyways of Mykonos — all this and more in this episode.
Kusadasi was one of our stops on our Mediterranean cruise aboard Celebrity Xcel, and we'd say Ephesus alone makes it a port you shouldn't skip. In this video we take you along on our private Get Your Guide tour to Ephesus, the House of Mary and the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
We are in Malta, again!
We loved Celebrity Xcel and this itinerary, with Royal Beach Club Santorini the clear highlight. The ports are brilliant, but July and August in the Med can be fiercely hot. Malta was especially punishing, so carry plenty of water, plan your time ashore carefully and do not underestimate the heat. We also expected Celebrity to feel quieter and more adult, but a brand-new flagship during the school holidays drew plenty of families and far more children than we anticipated. None of that spoiled the trip, though. We would happily sail on Xcel again.
Ports of call
All destinationsWhere this series goes
Every port from the voyage. Each opens its own guide with the places we filmed.
Greece
Santorini
Greek Aegean island shaped by a volcanic caldera, known for cliff-top villages and blue-domed architecture.
Turkey
Kusadasi
Kusadasi is a port town on Turkey's Aegean coast, close to the Roman ruins of Ephesus. It has a harbour serving cruise ships and ferries, with beaches along the surrounding coastline.
Malta
Malta
Malta is a compact Mediterranean island nation known for historic architecture. It serves as a cruise port with key sites close together, though summer temperatures can be very high.
Where we slept
The ship and the stays
Every place we slept on this trip, with the booking links we used to get the same rooms.
Our single night stay proved this is a convenient port hotel with helpful staff.
From the journal
All storiesStories from this series
The written companion to the trip: longer reads, extra frames and the small details the videos had no room for.
Tips
Malta: A Cruise Port Day vs. a Land Holiday
As our ship drew in towards the Maltese harbour in Valletta, the heat, the haze and the golden hue of the buildings instantly gave us that "we've been here before"…
Tips
What to See in Kusadasi (Turkiye)
Kusadasi is a resort town on Turkey's Aegean coast offering ancient ruins, waterparks, bazaars and shopping, all within easy reach of the cruise port.
Tips
Royal Beach Club Santorini review: was our excursion worth it?
Royal Beach Club Santorini is part of Royal Caribbean's Ultimate Santorini Day excursion, costing £372 for two. It includes transport, time in Oia and Fira, a buffet and selected drinks.
Things To Do, Tips
The Hidden Alleys of Mykonos: Walking Tour with a Local
It's no secret that Mykonos is one of the top destinations in Greece. In fact, it's regarded as one of those party islands once dusk comes. But there's a side…
Tips
Santorini: the DIY Way
A few years back, before we discovered the beauty of cruising, we visited Santorini in a land based holiday for 3 nights. We were back in Santorini recently, this time…
Review
A day in Santorini with Celebrity Cruises and Royal Beach Club
A Celebrity Xcel port day in Santorini: Oia and Fira with a local guide and no cable car queues, then Royal Beach Club. What our excursion included, with tips on timing and shade.
Star Plates
All the Dishes We Went Back For on Celebrity Xcel
Seven nights, four restaurants and one simple rule: if we would order it again tomorrow, it earns a place in The Plate Log.
Review
Celebrity Xcel: Is it Excellent? Our Experience in a Nutshell.
First-time Celebrity cruisers compare Celebrity Xcel with Royal Caribbean: an AquaClass upgrade, dinner at Cosmopolitan, standout crew, frustrating lifts and a largely positive verdict.
Things To Do
Discovering Athens Pre-Cruise
Kalós írthate stin Athína – welcome to Athens! This magnificent Greek capital is more than just a cruise embarkation point. Its rich history alone is one of the many things…
Review
Mitsis N'U Piraeus Port: A pre-cruise Hotel Review
We have been to Athens previously and spent a good few days there before the cruise, so this time, since our cruise embarked from Piraeus, we chose a hotel that…
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