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Port Everglades welcomes Celebrity Ascent ahead of its namingPort Everglades welcomes Celebrity Ascent ahead of its naming

Port Everglades welcomed the newest Edge-class ship, Celebrity Ascent, one of six homeported Celebrity Cruises vessels this season.

Anne Kalosh, Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

November 29, 2023

1 Min Read
Credit: Seatrade Cruise News

It is scheduled to be officially named on Friday at the port by godmothers Capt. Sandy Yawn of Bravo TV's 'Below Deck,' and her sister Michelle Dunham, founder of the Jacksonville School for Autism.

Plaques and challenge coins

At a ceremony on board Wednesday, Port Everglades CEO and Port Director Jonathan Daniels presented a plaque to brothers and co-captains Dimitrios and Tasos Kafetzis and a special gift to Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge. Deputy Port Director Glenn Wiltshire gave the co-captains and Hodges Bethge challenge coins, a military tradition symbolizing unit pride and camaraderie.

The port leaders were joined by Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy, who presented a plaque to the captains Kafetzis; Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Steve Glassman, who read a proclamation for Hodges Bethge; and representatives of the port's law enforcement partners, including the US Coast Guard, the Broward Sheriff's Office and US Customs and Border Protection.

Further well-wishers

Also attending to extend their well-wishes were Port Everglades Association Executive Director Lori Baer, International Longshoremen's Association President Johnnie Dixon and Seafarers' House Chaplain Father Sanford 'Sandy' Sears.

The co-captains also presented attendees with tokens of appreciation.

Celebrity Ascent will sail an inaugural Caribbean season with of alternating weeklong eastern and western Caribbean cruises.

About the Author

Anne Kalosh

Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

Anne Kalosh covers global stories, reporting both breaking and in-depth news on cruising's significant people, places, ships and trends. A sought-after expert on cruising, she has moderated conferences around the world, including the high-profile State of the Industry panel at Seatrade Cruise Global. She created and led the acclaimed itinerary-planning case study for Seatrade's cruise master classes held at Cambridge and Oxford universities. She has been the cruise columnist for AFAR.com, and her freelance stories have appeared in a wide range of publications, from The New York Times to The Miami Herald.

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