Feb 26, 2025 – News
On a crisp January day in St. Nazaire, France, more than 1,200 workers prepared Celebrity Xcel, the fifth ship in the Edge Series, for its next major construction moment — float out. Marking the first time the ship is waterborne, the float out also signals a shift to interior construction and outfitting.
Overseeing this next big step alongside the shipbuilders at Chantiers de l’Atlantique is the team at Royal Caribbean Group’s shipyard site office including Ivan Klaric, Project Manager, and Bryony Hird, Senior Program Associate. They have been a part of bringing this revolutionary class of ships to life since they first debuted in 2018.
In a Q&A session with Ivan and Bryony, they shared more about their roles in bringing this class of ship to life.
Q: How does it feel, seeing the fifth Edge-class ship well on her way to debut?
Ivan: It is always a special milestone of ship construction; every float out is unique as it’s the first time the ship is doing what she was designed for.
Bryony: I have had the wonderful opportunity to work on Edge Class since I joined the company in 2018. Having delivered our first baby, Celebrity Edge, and now preparing to deliver Celebrity Xcel is crazy. Seeing how the ships have evolved throughout this series is a testament to the visionary development and hard work of all the teams in Celebrity, Newbuild and Chantiers de l’Atlantique.
Q: What does your role here at St. Nazaire entail?
Ivan: I’m the Project Manager for Celebrity Xcel at our site office. Think of a project manager like a general contractor in a home project. I’m responsible for coordinating with the shipyard, vendors and our internal teams to ensure the ship has flawless delivery and startup, including good quality, safety and that the project meets the contract’s deliverables within budget.
Bryony: I work on the amazing Mission Control team, where I get to work on each project from the start to the end and get involved in every discipline – from technical equipment selection to artwork installation, to events planning and more. The Mission Control team is here to provide support and coordination between all the teams while ensuring the smooth flow of processes. This multi-disciplinary perspective is such a privilege.
Q: What is a “site office?”
Ivan: To design and develop these amazing ships, we must have a truly collaborative relationship with our shipyards. Our site office is a frontline example of that collaboration. It is an extension of our Newbuild Team and features specialized professionals that connect and cooperate with the shipyard, as well as our headquarters in Miami and other shipyard site offices. They work together to deliver ships that meet our guests’ expectations and our quality standards, on time and per signed specifications and performances.
Q: What is the float out process?
Ivan: The float out is a complex operation, consisting of several valves opening and filling a 1,320 ft-long and 230 ft-wide drydock with water. Once the day arrives, the proverbial floodgates are opened to fill the dry dock with a million gallons of water – an overnight process that takes nearly 10 hours.
Q: What's your professional background? What's your favorite part of your role?
Ivan: I have a background as a Naval Architect. What I love about this job is that no two days are the same, and every day you can learn something new!
Bryony: My background is in management and logistics. My favorite part of the role is getting to collaborate with so many people from so many backgrounds. We get to learn so much from each other on both professional and cultural levels. I’m a people person and my daily relationships contribute to my work efficiency. Luckily everyone I work with is amazing!
Q: What's your favorite part of the construction process?
Ivan: Sea trials, when for the first time you witness and test the performances and maneuvers of the vessel.
Bryony: My favorite part is the delivery phase. I love a good delivery. The excitement of seeing everything come together and having all the teams onboard pushing towards the final goal is by far my favorite part. Having spent years on a project, seeing it come to life is incredible, and getting to experience it is next level!
Over the next eight months, Ivan, Bryony and the team will continue to oversee Celebrity Xcel’s progress as interior work is completed at dockside at the outfitting pier. This includes implementing ideas from the recently announced ‘Dream Makers’ program that invites vacationers worldwide to create their dream vacation experience.
The program includes making decisions across key spaces, choosing textiles, managing interior design elements and curating service offerings; picking their favorite dishes and beverages, choosing table settings and shaping dining concepts; and providing input on headline shows, curate props and costumes, select playlists and partake in selections to appoint pivotal entertainment positions onboard.
Celebrity Xcel will debut this fall and is sailing her inaugural season from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, offering 7-night itineraries alternating between the Bahamas, Mexico, Cayman Islands, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas and St. Maarten.