Marking the launch of the 16th ship in its fleet of premium cruise ships, Celebrity Cruises threw a spectacular party for Celebrity Ascent at her winter home port in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The 141.OOO tonne vessel is sister ship to the immensely popular Celebrity Beyond and the fourth in Celebrity’s award-winning Edge Series. At a length of 1073 feet and accommodating 3260 passengers in double occupancy, Celebrity Ascent is truly a sea-going resort geared to upscale travelers seeking space and comfort and pleasures geared to adult vacationers.
CELEBRITY ASCENT CONTINUES TO PUSH BOUNDARIES
This All Things Cruise reporter having sailed on all four Edge Series ships is in awe of how exceptional Celebrity Ascent is among this innovative collection of resorts-at-sea. And it’s not solely about the ship itself. It’s the consistent introduction of ground-breaking firsts on each vessel. Notably, Celebrity Ascent is captained by two Greek brothers, Captain Dimitrios Kafetzis and Captain Tasos Kafertzis. The two make a unique and highly visible leadership team. They seem to be everywhere at once, greeting passengers and even engaging in a playful race with the ship’s tenders, showcasing their camaraderie and adding a touch of excitement for the Media and Celebrity Travel Partners and VIPs aboard Ascent’s Inaugural.
THE TWO CAPTAINS WELCOMED TWO EXTRAORDINARY SISTERS TO CHRISTEN CELEBRITY ASCENT
The two Co-Godmothers of Celebrity Ascent were two remarkable women: Captain Sandy Yawn, star of Bravo TV’s yacht-focused “Below Deck” and her sister, Michelle Durham.
Their selection is In keeping with Celebrity’s remarkable choice of truly exceptional godmothers. They join Olympic Medalist and World Champion gymnast Simone Biles (Celebrity Beyond), CEO of Girls Who Code Reshma Saujani (Celebrity Apex) and Nobel Laureate and activist Malala Yousafzai (Celebrity Edge). Captain Sandy, a tireless advocate for women in the maritime industry and various social causes, joined forces with Michelle, who founded the Jacksonville School for Autism. Together, they performed the traditional act of breaking a bottle of Champagne to christen the ship and fitting send-off for Celebrity Ascent.
INNOVATIONS ABOUND ON BOARD CELEBRITY ASCENT
From the top of the ship and top of the line accommodations in The Retreat to no less than 32 distinctive restaurants, bars and lounges, Celebrity Ascent truly is a pleasure palace at sea.
“The Retreat” is truly a resort within a resort providing luxurious accommodations and amenities including the largest of the ship’s suites, its own dedicated restaurant, Luminae, a private swimming pool, pool deck and bar and a concierge to fulfill Retreat guests every whim.
Among the restaurants, the highlight is surely Chef Daniel Boulud’s Le Voyage Restaurant. Chef Boulud was in attendance to introduce Celebrity Ascent’s inaugural guests to his unique dining experience. In fact he was said to be in the kitchen himself as this reporter enjoyed a spectacular meal punctuated by a visit for the acclaimed Chef himself. Of the other venues aboard, guests in Aqua Spa Accommodations will now enjoy daytime alfresco dining in their designated restaurant “Blu”. Meanwhile every single guest has access to the four main restaurants—each representing cuisines from French to Mediterranean to American in four more intimate spaces than any Main Dining Room aboard comparably sized ships.
Also noteworthy is the expanded Rooftop Garden, the Resort Deck’s cantilevered dunk pools and of course, the Epic series most eye-catching feature, the Magic Carpet cantilevered over the side of the ship with its full bar, live music and comfortable seating.
ON CELEBRITY ASCENT THE ENTERTAINMENT TRULY SOARS TO NEW HEIGHTS. ‘
Let’s face it, cruise ship entertainment often revolves around too many verses of “Sweet Caroline”. Not so on Celebrity Ascent. Entertainment takes Center Stage in the ship’s magnificent Theater. Two shows a night there allow all guests to celebrate the remarkable entertainment the ship has assembled. Then practically next door, The Club offers a more intimate setting for truly remarkable productions. There are no fewer than six new live performances elevating shipboard entertainment beyond anything this reporter has ever seen aboard ship. Elsewhere, there’s live music virtually from stem to stern and in the Casino there’s the latest in interactive games and a casino floor with the very latest games.
CELEBRITY ASCENT STRIVES STO BE THE ULTIMATE VACATION EXPERIENCE.
Jason Liberty, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, expressed, “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.” Laura Hodges Bethge, newly appointed President of Celebrity Cruises, added “Celebrity Ascent has been designed to feed our guests’ travel wanderlust and provide unique experiences they will covet and love. (A word about Ms. Hodges Bethge, a Miami native and 23-year veteran at Celebrity Cruises, Laura brings an amazing perspective to her new job. She didn’t just work her way up the corporate ladder. She assumed jobs aboard Royal Caribbean ships so that she could understand the entire cruise experience–from the crew’s perspective: Celebrity Ascent is the first ship christened under her leadership.)
EMBARKING ON THE CELEBRITY ASCENT EXPERIENCE
In its maiden season, Celebrity Ascent will offer a variety of alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean vacations until late April 2024. Subsequently, the ship sets sail for the Mediterranean with departures from Barcelona and Rome.
See cruises here:
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Ascent
