'Erase the line' between ship and shore: This cruise will offer a local-focused Bazaar
Celebrity Cruises’ new ship will take guests from port to port, but also bring destinations to them.
Celebrity Xcel will feature The Bazaar, a three-story space where rotating programming will mirror the on-shore experience, when it launches in November. Michael Scheiner, the line’s chief marketing and product officer, said Celebrity wanted to “erase the line” between the ship and land-based exploration.
“You know, when you when you visit a destination, it's impossible to get to see everything,” he told USA TODAY. “And so, this is just a very unique way for our guests to be able to experience a lot more of what our destinations have to offer.”
The Bazaar will hold festivals inspired by stops in the Caribbean, for example, with local food and drinks, performances by area musicians and more. The Market at The Bazaar will also host local artisans on sea days to present their crafts and share their knowledge with passengers.
“Depending on the festival theme, guests can expand their palate with activities including rum and chocolate pairings and local hot sauce tastings, dive deep into the destination’s culture with experiences like live basket weaving demos, and find one-of-a-kind keepsakes from local vendors such as an authentic Caribbean mask shop, traditional Mexican leather hats, embroidery stations, and more,” the cruise line said in a news release.
Passengers will find regional dishes at Mosaic, an open-kitchen dining concept. The Chef’s Table experience at Mosaic will also feature a tasting menu drawing on the native cuisine Celebrity’s global global culinary leadership team, while guests can try their hand at “regional delicacies” at the Chef’s Studio at Mosaic cooking school.
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There will also be a fast-casual eatery, Spice, with floor-to-ceiling windows. Scheiner said the Bazaar will immerse guests in the experience through a combination of technology and props while aiming for authenticity.
He noted that sourcing local talent from the ports the ship visits will be a “big focus” for the line’s entertainment team. “You know, anyone could listen to music from a location sung by anybody,” he said. “We really want to make sure that we are bringing that local feel.”
Some activities will come at an extra cost, including Mosaic and its Chef's Table, though Spice is included with the cruise fare. Additional specifics on pricing are still being finalized.
Participants in Celebrity’s recently announced Xcel “Dream Makers” initiative – who will test and vote on new features – will also get to weigh in. They will give input on a range of elements, from what makes the menu at Mosaic to the entertainment.
“Regardless of what you're interested in doing, if you just want to have a good time or if you really are someone who's very interested in learning more about a destination – or anything in between – this really is what that will create for you,” said Scheiner.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Destination focus: This new cruise ship will feature an onboard Bazaar
