Attending the handover ceremony were Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty, Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge and Chantiers de l'Atlantique GM Laurent Castaing. They participated in several maritime traditions including the signing ceremony and the flag change, along with a celebratory toast in the ship’s three-story Grand Plaza.
Driven by innovation
‘Celebrity Ascent is yet another example of innovation driving our mission to provide the best vacations responsibly,’ remarked Liberty. ‘The ship continues Celebrity’s ambition to redefine premium travel and take it to new heights. I want to thank and congratulate the Chantiers de l’Atlantique team, our Newbuild and Celebrity Cruises’ teams and their partners for the vision, craftsmanship and passion that went into bringing this spectacular ship to life.’
Hodges Bethge said the ship 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. ‘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 launching a new ship,’ she added.
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.
Ship design
The ship incorporates design from leading architects and interior designers, gastronomy from Michelin starred chefs, wellness which is woven throughout the experience, and an expansive entertainment programme.
Castaing said he believes the ship – which embodies the strong bond between the yard, Royal Caribbean Group and Celebrity Cruises teams – will ‘meet the same success’ as others in the Edge series. ‘Its fine exterior and interior design and its exceptional seaworthiness make it an outstanding ship,’ stated the GM.
New experiences
Some new experiences and Edge series favourites include The Retreat area for suite passengers highlighted by a two-story sun deck; a multi-level, multi-terraced Sunset Bar aft, an expanded Rooftop Garden and Resort Deck featuring cantilevered float pools, a newly designed Le Voyage by Chef Daniel Boulud and a new outdoor dining terrace at Blu, the clean cuisine restaurant for Aqua Class passengers, available for al fresco daytime dining.
Accommodations range from two-storey villas with private plunge pools to staterooms with infinite verandas.
As well as a redesigned casino floor and brand-new games, the ship has an expanded entertainment program featuring a transformative nightlife experience on the Resort Deck, six new live productions, interactive gaming experiences and more.
The Magic Carpet returns as a venue cantilevered above the sea where passengers can drink or dine.
Debuting in Fort Lauderdale
Like sister Celebrity Beyond, which debuted in October 2022, Celebrity Ascent will make its official debut in Fort Lauderdale on December 3, with a seven-night Eastern Caribbean sailing to St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Puerto Plata.
Following its maiden voyage, the ship will offer alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises until late April 2024, when Celebrity Ascent heads to the Mediterranean for voyages from Barcelona and Civitavecchia (Rome).
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