Celebrity Cruises names captain of the Celebrity Xcel

There was a lot of buzz on social media in the run up to Celebrity Cruises announcing the new Captain of the Celebrity Xcel.

Well, the wait is over, with Celebrity Cruises officially announcing that Kyriakos “Kirk” Matragkas will helm the Celebrity Xcel, the brand’s newest billion dollar Edge Series ship.

Affectionately known as ‘Captain Kirk,’ he has a legacy rooted in seafaring tradition and a personality as magnetic as the ship he now commands.

Captain Kirk’s appointment signals not just a new chapter for Celebrity but a bold new era in cruising.

Born in Piraeus, Greece, Captain Kirk’s maritime roots run deep. He began learning the trade as a boy alongside his father and later graduated from the world’s oldest marine academy in Hydra. He joined Celebrity Cruises in 2000 as part of the launch crew for Celebrity Millennium and has been a beloved figure in the fleet ever since.

Now, as he takes the helm of Celebrity Xcel, Captain Kirk brings not only decades of experience but a dynamic spirit that mirrors the ship’s bold design. Off duty, he’s a snowboarder, guitarist, drummer, and avid reader—an embodiment of the modern explorer who excels in every pursuit.