Celebrity Ascent sets sail on her maiden voyage

4th December 2023

CELEBRITY ASCENT WAS OFFICIALLY NAMED AND DEPARTED FOR HER MAIDEN VOYAGE

 

Catch up on our Celebrity Ascent video content series here >>

 

We are delighted to share that our latest ship, Celebrity Ascent, was officially named by Co-Godmothers, Captain Sandy Yawn star of ‘Below Deck’ and her sister Michelle Dunham, during its christening ceremony on 1 December 2023. The celebrations took place in Fort Lauderdale at sunset; with the traditional champagne bottle smash whilst guests watched from the Resort Deck.  

This is a historic moment for our brand, as we welcome the next ship into our industry-transforming Edge Series. We can’t wait for everyone to experience Celebrity Ascent and all that she has to offer, with her culinary delights, jaw-dropping entertainment and breath-taking outward facing design.

Celebrity Ascent is the sixteenth ship in our fleet, and she has taken our award-winning Edge Series to new heights, as Celebrity continues to redefine premium travel. Ascent is living up to her name as she further accelerates the modern cruising experience. Ascent hosts transformative new nightlife experiences, new production shows and new gaming experiences which will offer guests endless opportunities to have the ‘ultimate night out experience’ onboard. 

Celebrity Ascent’s maiden voyage departed Fort Lauderdale on 3^rd December 2023, for a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise sailing to Philipsburg, St, Maarten; Charlotte Amaline, St. Thomas and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic before returning to Fort Lauderdale.

Celebrity Ascent’s European sailings debut in Summer 2024.

 

Octopus sculpture on Celebrity Ascent's Resort Deck, designed by Todd Lyndon Stuart

 

8^th November 2023

IT’S OFFICIAL:

CELEBRITY CRUISES TAKES DELIVERY OF HIGHLY ANTICIPATED CELEBRITY ASCENT

Royal Caribbean Group Executives and Celebrity Cruises Crew on hand to Celebrate Handover from Shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique

 –Celebrity Ascent has officially joined Celebrity Cruises’ fleet of award-winning ships redefining premium travel, as company officials took delivery of its newest ship at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France. The fourth ship in the line’s innovative Edge Series, Celebrity Ascent continues to shatter preconceived notions of cruising with its forward-thinking design by the world’s leading architects and interior designers; culinary excellence from Michelin starred chefs; wellness woven throughout the experience; expansive onboard entertainment and more. Celebrity Ascent will make her official debut in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on 3^rd December, with a 7-night Eastern Caribbean sailing visiting popular destinations such as St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and the Dominican Republic.

Welcoming the ship to the Celebrity Cruises family were Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty, Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges-Bethge, and Laurent Castaing, General Manager, Chantiers de l'Atlantique. Captains Dimitrios Kafetzis and Tasos Kafetzis, the first brother captains honoured with taking a new ship from the shipyard, were also on-hand for the celebration, along with 1,400 Celebrity Ascent crew members.

To mark the moment, they participated in several maritime traditions including the signing ceremony and the changing of flags onboard the ship, along with a celebratory toast in the ship’s spectacular three-story Grand Plaza. 

“Celebrity Ascent is yet another example of innovation driving our mission to provide the best vacations responsibly,” said Liberty. “The ship continues Celebrity’s ambition to redefine premium travel and take it to new heights,” said Liberty. “I want to thank and congratulate the Chantiers de l’Atlantique team, our Newbuild and Celebrity Cruises’ teams and their partners for the vision, craftmanship and passion that went into bringing this spectacular ship to life.”

“Celebrity Ascent features all the innovative and award-winning Edge Series signature experiences that launched a new era in cruise ship design, plus a few new enhancements, and I can’t wait to welcome our guests aboard,” said Hodges-Bethge. “It is a true honour to welcome this ship to our fleet and I am so grateful to everyone involved with all that goes into a launching new ship.”

 

Holiday Experience Highlights

Celebrity Ascent joins a class of ships without comparison and is a sister ship to Celebrity Beyond which debuted to great acclaim last year.  New experiences  and Edge series favourites include:

• The Retreat, an exclusive resort-within-a-resort area for suite guests, highlighted by a two-story sundeck;
• Accommodations for modern tastes from modern two-storey villas with private plunge pools to staterooms with infinite verandas, blurring the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living;
• An expanded Rooftop Garden and stunning Resort Deck featuring unique cantilevered float pools;
• A multi-level, multi-terraced Sunset Bar at the ship’s aft;
• An expanded onboard entertainment program featuring a transformative nightlife experience on the Resort Deck, six new live productions, interactive gaming experiences, and more;
• A redesigned casino floor and brand-new games;
• A new outdoor dining terrace at Blu, the brand’s clean cuisine restaurant for Aqua Class guests, available for al fresco daytime dining;
• A newly designed Le Voyage by Chef Daniel Boulud;
• And, the return of the Magic Carpet^®, an engineering feat soaring cantilevered above the sea, offering guests uninterrupted vistas while sipping cocktails or having dinner.

Setting Sail on Celebrity Ascent

Following Celebrity Ascent’s maiden voyage, she will offer a variety of alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean holidays until late April 2024, when she then heads to the Mediterranean for sailings from Barcelona and Rome.

 

13th June 2023

IT’S NOT SO LONELY AT THE TOP!

As one of the most awarded premium cruise lines, with the first ships to ever receive the coveted Forbes Travel Guide Star Rating, we are once again making waves with the arrival of our fourth Edge^® Series ship. Celebrity Ascent^SM will be the newest ship based in Florida for the 2023-2024 Caribbean season, making her debut in November 2023.

Cruising out of Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale from December 2023 to April 2024, the stunning new ship will transport guests to some of the Caribbean’s most desired destinations like the Bahamas, Grand Cayman, Puerto Rico, and the British Virgin Islands, before departing to Europe for a summer of bucket-list Mediterranean cruises in Greece, Italy, Turkey, Spain and France.

 

WHAT'S NEW

New Food and Beverage experiences

Celebrity Ascent will treat guests to a culinary journey that includes new experiences like:

• Redesigned Le Voyage^SM by Daniel Boulud restaurant – first featured on Celebrity Beyond^SM, the brand will continue its partnership with Boulud and introduce his second restaurant at sea. The reimagined space, created by KTGY Simeone Deary Design Group, will offer an intimate fine dining experience inspired by the Chef’s travels.
• Plant-based tasting menu at Eden Restaurant - bringing guests closer to the earth through a culinary journey rooted in untouched, fresh and seasonal ingredients.
• Never-before-seen Le Petit Chef dinner - the crowd favourite dinner will feature an all-new animation and menu to match.
• Bourbon offerings and tastings - expanding on existing whiskey tastings, Craft Social will now offer high-end bourbons and new tasting seminars.
• More Martinis at the Martini Bar – aligning with the trend of low-sugar cocktails and fresh, crisp ingredients, the Martini Bar will feature brand-new creations and an expanded menu including lychee and passion fruit martinis.
• Revitalised Main Dining Experience - once again featuring four complimentary main dining options, each with a signature menu and rotating nightly dishes, Celebrity Ascent will feature a redesigned Cosmopolitan restaurant inspired by the culture of champagne.
• Outdoor terrace at Blu - the clean-cuisine restaurant exclusive to AquaClass guests will feature an outdoor terrace with 24-person seating that will be available for daytime dining, from al fresco brunches to lunches.

 

New Private Dining room at Le Voyage

New Entertainment, Art and Retail Experiences

On board Celebrity Ascent, guests will enjoy enhanced entertainment, art and retail offerings like:

• Nightly entertainment - as the sun sets the Resort Deck will become the centre stage for the ultimate nightlife experience treating guests to an open-air celebration with live performances, live music, and a DJ creating a pulsating dance floor.
• New production shows - building on Celebrity Cruises' award-winning entertainment, the brand is partnering with industry-leading creatives to introduce three spectacular new productions shows in The Theatre, new interactive digital experiences and shows in The Club, and new engaging immersive shows in the Eden Bar and Restaurant, all featuring world-class dances, vocalists, musicians and specialty artists.
• Redesigned Casino floor and brand-new games - a first for Celebrity Cruises, Celebrity Ascent will feature an all-new gaming floor complete with a new layout, new design featuring deep reds and golds, and all new slot machines with the latest technology.
• Redesigned Art Gallery - the new space is thoughtfully reimagined, allowing guests to better experience priceless art pieces, and enjoy exclusive auctions and art events.
• The Sunset Collection by Nate Berkus - a collection of chic travel and home accessories available exclusively on board Celebrity Ascent.

 

Redesigned Art Gallery

Edge Series Favourites Return

Incorporating all the features that made her sister ships in the Edge Series a TIME magazine “World’s Greatest Places,” Celebrity Ascent will bring back favoured signature experiences, like:

• The Theatre - that takes entertainment at sea to a new level with state-of-the-art technology and experiential, imaginative performances.
• The Rooftop Garden - the ultimate outdoor haven where guests can enjoy live music, movies, infinity float pools, and even al fresco dining at the Rooftop Garden Grill.
• The Spa - where holistic wellness takes centre stage through 120 destination-inspired treatments, the SEA Thermal Suite featuring eight distinctive therapeutic experiences inspired by nature, plus specialty treatment beds, a full-service salon and barber.
• The sprawling Resort Deck - featuring a main pool lined with cabanas, two-story martini-glass-shaped hot tubs, and The Solarium, an adults-only, tranquil spa-inspired retreat built for relaxation and complete with pool, hot tub and loungers.
• The Sunset Bar designed by Nate Berkus - where an international beach club ambiance meets fresh sea breezes and boundless views.
• The Magic Carpet® - the world’s first cantilevered lounge and gathering space at sea sits on the edge of the ship, offering a new way to drink, dine and socialise while enjoying unobstructed panoramic views.
• Inventive culinary experiences – like the three-story Eden Bar and Restaurant featuring floor-to-ceiling views, or the fully immersive and animated Le Petit Chef dinner.
• The Grand Plaza and Martini Bar – that stuns guests with an interactive chandelier and jaw-dropping Flair, Flash, Fusion bartender shows.
• Modernised accommodation options – such as the Infinite Veranda® that transforms from window to terrace with the push of a button, and the AquaClass® staterooms built for wellbeing-seekers that are packed with thoughtful design and exclusive amenities.

 

Catch up on our Celebrity Ascent video content series here >>

 

How to Set Sail on Celebrity Ascent

With a vast array of dates and itinerary options catering to all kinds of travellers, Celebrity Ascent is slated for an exciting winter Caribbean and summer Europe season. Options to sail include:

• Be one of the first to experience Celebrity Ascent by booking one of the Preview sailings, such as the 4-Night Western Caribbean voyage on November 22, 2023, or the 3-Night Bahamas getaway on November 26, 2023.
• Join a monumental celebration by taking part in the 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Maiden Voyage on December 3, 2023.
• Pick and choose from one of the ship’s signature Caribbean sailings that take place from mid-December 2023 to early April 2024, like the 7-Night Bahamas, Mexico and Grand Cayman itinerary or the 7-Night San Juan, Tortola and St. Kitts.
• Celebrate the holidays at sea during the 7-Night Bahamas, Mexico and Grand Cayman Holiday Cruise departing on December 24, 2023, or ring in the New Year on the 7-Night San Juan, Tortola, and St. Kitts cruise departing on December 31, 2023.
• Kick off the summer with the ultimate Mediterranean getaway on the 9-Night Italian Riviera and France itinerary; or cross Rome, Naples, Mykonos, and Santorini off your bucket-list during the 12-Night Best of Greece and Italy.

 

TOOLS TO SUPPORT YOU

Access Celebrity Ascent toolkit for deck plans, flyers and more >>