Celebrity Ascent is a new Edge Series ship under construction at Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, for Celebrity Cruises, a cruise line based in the US and a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean.
The new vessel is the fourth Edge Series ship after its sister ship Celebrity Beyond, which was delivered in April 2022.
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The steel-cutting ceremony for Celebrity Ascent was held at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in August 2022. The vessel was floated out of dry dock for the first time in January 2023.
Celebrity Ascent is expected to make her debut in December 2023.
Celebrity Ascent design and features
Celebrity Ascent will be 316m long and have a beam width of 39m. It will have a gross tonnage of 140,600t and a cruising speed of 22kt. The vessel will have a total of 17 decks and accommodate up to 3,260 guests in double occupancy.
The vessel will feature the Magic Carpet, a cantilevered dining and entertainment venue that can move up and down on the side of the ship and offer guests different experiences depending on the deck.
Celebrity Ascent will also feature the Retreat, an area with exclusive spaces and other amenities. The Retreat functions as a resort-within-a-resort with exclusive suite accommodations, premium drinks, Wi-Fi and onboard credit. Guests of the Retreat will also have access to an exclusive restaurant, a sundeck and a lounge area.
The ship will offer guests the AquaClass experience, focusing on health and wellness. The package includes exclusive suites, a restaurant and special access to the SEA Thermal suite, a complimentary fitness pass and preferential rates on AquaClass spa packages.
The vessel will also offer accessible cruising options for customers with disabilities, including boarding assistance and accessible staterooms. The Celebrity fleet is also designed to incorporate braille for visually impaired guests in public areas and elevators. Guests may also request American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting services.
Accommodation
The Retreat will be home to the most spacious and luxurious accommodations onboard. The Iconic suites on the Retreat will feature 1,892ft² of space with a 689ft² private veranda. The suite is the largest and the most luxurious in the fleet and features two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
The Penthouse suites of the Retreat will have an area of 1,378ft² with a 197ft² veranda. Features of the suite include a primary bedroom and bathroom, a dressing room, a separate living and dining area, a guest bedroom and bathroom and a private hot tub.
The two-storey Edge Villas within the Retreat will be spread across 739ft² with a 211ft²veranda. They will feature one bedroom and two bathrooms, a plunge pool on the terrace and a whirlpool tub in the primary bathroom.
The Royal Suites of the Retreat will cover an area of 687ft² and include a 72ft² veranda. Features of the suite include separate living and dining areas with floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows, a primary bedroom and a bathroom with a large soaking tub, a separate shower and a double sink vanity.
The Retreat’s Celebrity suites will offer a space of 401ft² and feature a 100ft² veranda. The suites will have a large living area with a sofa and floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows.
The AquaClass will include two suite categories, the Aqua Sky and Sky suites. The suites will cover an area of 319ft² and have a 79ft² veranda. The suites will feature designs and features focusing on health and wellness.
The concierge class staterooms will feature space ranging between 192ft² and 243ft² and private verandas measuring between 42ft² and 54ft². The staterooms will be available in three categories, namely Edge series, Millennium series and Solstice series, in order of space from largest to smallest.
The other stateroom options on Celebrity Ascent include the Veranda staterooms, Ocean view staterooms, Inside staterooms and single staterooms.
Dining and bars
Celebrity Ascent will feature 32 food and beverage venues, 14 cafes, bars and lounges, eight speciality restaurants, four main dining restaurants and four complimentary casual dining venues. It will also feature two exclusive restaurants for The Retreat and AquaClass guests.
The four main dining venues include the Cyprus restaurant, which will serve menus of Cyprus, focusing on seafood, including food and beverages of the Mediterranean region. The Tuscan restaurant will serve Italian-inspired cuisine while the Normandie restaurant will feature contemporary French cuisine. The Cosmopolitan restaurant will offer a diverse course combining the dining experience of Celebrity Cruises’ fleet.
The speciality dining venues will feature the Fine Cut Steakhouse featuring a wide variety of stakes. It will also include the Le Grand Bistro, a classic French bistro-inspired venue the Le Petit Chef, featuring a unique 3D table animation art form experience for diners. Raw on 5 is another speciality dining venue that will feature a wide variety of seafood.
The Magic Carpet is a cantilevered speciality dining venue on the ship’s starboard side, complete with comfortable seating, a full bar and space for live music performances. The Magic Carpet can move up and down the different decks to offer a distinct experience on every deck it visits. The Eden Restaurant is another speciality dining venue that will offer unique menus inspired by the cuisines and regions of the world.
Luminae, the restaurant exclusive for guests of the Retreat, will feature a unique design by the famous interior designer Kelly Hoppen, CBE. The restaurant will offer exclusive menus by a Michelin-starred chef.
Blu, the exclusive restaurant for AquaClass guests, will feature menus focusing on a healthy lifestyle complemented by sustainable, biodynamic wines.
Celebrity Ascent will feature a wide selection of cafes and bars, which include the Café al Bacio, the Pool Bar, Sunset Bar and the Martini Bar. The Craft Social Bar will feature wine, cocktails and craft beer served by a certified cicerone.
Itinerary
Celebrity Ascent is expected to sail on her maiden voyage from Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades in December 2023 for a Caribbean season of alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.
Celebrity Cruises also announced in March 2023 that it would sail two exclusive preview sailings prior to the official launch. The first offer is a four-night Western Caribbean itinerary from Port Everglades on 22 November 2023 to Cozumel, Mexico, over the American Thanksgiving holiday.
The second preview sailing will depart from Port Everglades in November 2023 for a three-night Bahamas cruise.
