Celebrity’s new cruise vessel forms part of a growing trend of top-notch liners setting sail with the very latest in arcade tech offered to passengers. The American company may be a tad late to the party, its competitors across the world, and notably so in Europe, have seen the economic power of the floating arcade.

Miami-biased Celebrity Cruises is just the latest in a growing number of cruise operators to add an impressive arcade offering to its latest vessels: with news that its latest liner, Celebrity Xcel, will tout a huge adults-only, 24/7 games room packed with retro video titles and newer immersive golf, pool, and shuffleboard offerings.

Due for its debut voyage, the Xcel will represent merely the latest in a growing number of ocean-going arcades: with competitors Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian all having previously fitted their top-tier vessels with similar arcade spaces, in what has been interpreted as a concerted effort to appeal to a younger demographic and to compete with land-based resorts. 

Of the heavy-hitters within the cruise space, perhaps Carnival is the most entrenched within the arcade-space. Also headquartered in Florida, the operator’s Excel-class liners each boast a massive Warehouse arcade featuring over 100 individual machines. 

Of course, this level of investment in entertainment doesn’t come cheap: but industry observers have noted that after taking a hammering during the Covid pandemic, liner operators have been forced to think outside the box to coax customers, particularly those under 40, back onboard. 

A recent report from trade association Cruise Lines International Association noted a 12 per cent hike in first-time cruise passengers globally in 2024, a trend it attested to the addition of new “immersive cultural experiences, adventure activities and wellness offerings onboard.”