---

December 12, 2023

Last week in Fort Lauderdale FL., Celebrity Cruises newest ship Celebrity Ascent was named in a spectacular 2-day event. It was a glorious party that introduced the Travel World to the 16th ship currently flying Celebrity’s colors.

At 141,000 tonnes at a length of 1073 feet and carrying 3260 passengers in double occupancy, Celebrity Ascent is the sister ship to the wildly popular Celebrity Beyond launched just last year. The new ship continues to build on what make Celebrity’s award-winning Edge Series such a hit with passengers. It is the fourth and most innovative of these extraordinary resorts-at-sea.

CELEBRITY ASCENT CONTINUES CELEBRITY’S GROUND-BREAKING FIRSTS

Cruising Journal’s on-the-scene reporter has sailed on all four Edge Series ships. But it’s not just the ships that are extraordinary. It’s the number of firsts that are consistently presented on each one. There was Captain Kate McCue, the first American woman to become commanding officer of a major cruise ship. She now captains Celebrity Beyond. Not to be out done, Celebrity Ascent is captained by not one but two captains. And they are brothers! Captain Dimitrios Kafetzis and Captain Tasos Kafetzis are highly visible aboard ship. And on last week’s inaugural trip, they even raced the ships tenders in a playful display for the media.

THE TWO CAPTAINS WELCOMED TWO EXTRAORDINARY SISTERS TO CHRISTEN CELEBRITY ASCENT

Co-Godmothers of the ship were two inspiring figures: Captain Sandy Yawn, Star of Bravo TV’s hit series “Below Deck” joined her sister Michelle Durham to do the honors in the time-honored tradition of cracking a bottle of Champagne on the ship’s hull. Captain Sandy a tireless advocate for women in the maritime industry, children’s education, children with disabilities, and the environment, Captain Sandy’s sister Michelle founded the Jacksonville(FL) School for Autism when her own child was diagnosed with the condition. The ceremony was a fitting send off for this remarkable ship which breaks all notions of what a cruise can be.

INNOVATIONS ABOUND ABOARD CELEBRITY ASCENT

Celebrity Ascent boasts no fewer than 32 distinctive restaurants, bars and lounges. Newly designed for Ascent is Chef Daniel Boulud’s glorious Le Voyage restaurant. Chef Boulud is the force of nature behind no fewer the 8 starred restaurants in New York City alone. He also has restaurants in Palm Beach and Miami FL. in Montreal, Toronto, the Bahamas, Dubai and Singapore. In addition to his restaurants and in keeping with Celebrity’s passion for people whose lives make others better, Chef Boulud has been Co-President of Citymeals-on-Wheels, a non-profit organization which provides home-delivered meals to homebound elderly in New York City. Le Voyage are his only sea-going restaurants. Cruising Journal’s reporter had the great pleasure of not only dining on Boulud’s cuisine but of talking to the Chef himself, a great pleasure for anyone who loves great food. Le Voyage is but one of Celebrity Ascent’s many pleasures. “The Retreat” Celebrity’s exclusive resort within a resort offers spectacular accommodations including two-story villas with private plunge pools and its own restaurant, lounge, swimming pool and concierge service. The Rooftop Garden and the glorious Resort Deck offering cantilevered float pools transform into nighttime entertainment venues and for sunset vistas The Sunset Bar is the place to be. New on Celebrity Ascent, Blu, the restaurant for Aqua Class passengers now offers outdoor seating during the daytime.

AND THEN THERE’S THE ENTERTAINMENT ON CELEBRITY ASCENT

Long assigned to a secondary role aboard cruise ships, entertainers were often tasked with second jobs aboard ship. Not so on Celebrity Ascent. The onboard entertainment experience has been elevated beyond anything this reporter has seen aboard ship. The nightlife experience on the Resort Deck is just the beginning. There are no fewer than six new live performances in the spectacular Theater and adjacent Club. Take it from a Broadway show fan, this is the real thing. Elsewhere, there’s live music virtually from stem to stern. There’s interactive gaming and a casino floor with the very latest games. And The Magic Carpet, that engineering marvel cantilevered over the side of the ship, is yours to enjoy.

CELEBRITY ASCENT AIMS TO BE ‘THE ULTIMATE VACATION EXPERIENCE

“With each new ship, our ambition is to debut the ultimate vacation experience and Celebrity Ascent achieves this by raising the bar for premium travel” said Jason Liberty, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group. “Her elevated design and new onboard experiences set her apart from competitors and serve as a new benchmark for the travel industry.

Laura Hodges Bethge, the newly appointed President of Celebrity cruises said: “Celebrity Ascent has been designed to feed our guests travel wanderlust and provide unique experiences they will covet and love.”

EMBARKING ON CELEBRITY ASCENT

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

Don’t miss more updates, news and reviews of Celebrity Cruises on Cruising Journal with photos, videos and cruise on offers.

Monte Mathews

Comments