Celebrity Cruises has announced that Janaína Torres, recognized as the World’s Best Female Chef 2024 by World’s 50 Best, will be the godmother of the new Celebrity Xcel. Torres thus becomes the first Brazilian chef to receive this honor for a major cruise line.
The Brazilian chef is widely recognized for her innovative and sustainable approach to cooking, combining tradition with purpose. As owner of the award-winning restaurant A Casa do Porco in São Paulo, Torres is not only a prominent figure in Brazil’s culinary scene, but her influence extends internationally as an advocate for Latin American culture and gastronomy.
Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises, expressed her enthusiasm: “It is an honor to have Chef Janaína Torres, a pioneer in the culinary industry, as Godmother of Celebrity Xcel. Janaína shares our commitment to celebrating and sharing global culture through elevated culinary experiences.”
Celebrity Cruises, recognized for offering high-level gastronomic experiences to more than a million guests each year, was one of the first cruise lines to obtain the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide Star Award for its culinary offerings. The Celebrity Xcel will stand out for its culinary experiences inspired by destinations through The Bazaar, a space that blurs the line between the ship and the shore.
The official naming ceremony will take place on November 16, where Torres will christen the Celebrity Xcel following maritime tradition. Starting that month, the ship will begin its inaugural season from Fort Lauderdale, offering seven-night itineraries through The Bahamas, Mexico, Cayman Islands, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten. For summer 2026, the Celebrity Xcel will begin its first European season with seven to eleven-night journeys from Barcelona and Athens.
