Celebrity Cruises has doubled down on its commitment to its Edge Series of ships, which is known for the bright-orange, cantilevered Magic Carpet movable deck. The line’s fourth and newest entry in that class of vessels — the 3,260-passenger Celebrity Ascent — was christened on Dec. 1, just in time for its late 2023/early 2024 schedule in the Caribbean.
I found Ascent classy and subdued; designed in a muted color palette and rich with enough dining and entertainment choices to placate any hard-to-please client, the ship ticks all the boxes. My only complaints were that the color scheme of the Magic Carpet is a bit garish (though meant to match the life-saving equipment), and the two-story martini-glass-shaped hot tubs brought to mind a Poconos honeymoon lodge circa 1977. But otherwise, Ascent is an attractive vessel, indeed.
Enhancements Onboard Ascent
Like its sister ship Celebrity Beyond, Ascent benefits from some minor improvements over the first two ships in the series — Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Apex — thanks to the brand’s design genies. Perhaps the most obvious change is in the Grand Plaza, the ship’s three-deck, atrium-like drinking-and-dining hub, where even the most cultivated passengers seem willing to let their hair down, especially at the super-popular Martini Bar.
“In the Grand Plaza, people were congregating and having an incredible time,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, Celebrity’s parent company.
The Grand Plaza is a popular gathering place.
Credit: 2023 Celebrity CruisesTo enhance the experience, Liberty says, Celebrity decided to make that space larger by elongating the ship a bit.
A new facility unique to Ascent is the Annex. Located on Deck 5 next to The Club nightspot, it’s a private, reservation-only play space in a tucked-away corner that offers golf and football simulators, karaoke, movie screenings and other activities for a large family or small group (maximum 15 guests). Rates run about $250 to $350 for 2.5 hours.
Other enhancements include an updated look in the casino; refreshed designs at premium restaurant Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud and main dining room, Cosmopolitan; a new vegan tasting menu at Eden Cafe; a retooled storyline at the animated, premium Le Petit Chef experience (hosted at Le Grand Bistro); and a minor overhaul to the appearance of the art gallery.
Despite these recent refinements and additions to Ascent, passengers who have sailed on the earlier Edge-class ships will feel instantly at home. The restaurants and menus remain largely unchanged; the bars and cafes are the same; and the main theater, with its protruding stage, is as before. The Magic Carpet, too, which projects over the starboard hull, still serves as a bar, a dining room and a tender platform, depending on which deck it's positioned at. (Note: Passengers aren’t allowed on the Magic Carpet when it relocates between decks.)
The Magic Carpet is a multi-purpose area.
Credit: 2023 Celebrity CruisesStaterooms and Amenities
Seven categories of standard staterooms range from 181 square feet to 243 square feet. Most have “infinite verandas” to provide a balcony-like experience, with an ocean-facing window that opens next to a seating area that can be closed off from the rest of the inner cabin. Seven categories of Retreat-class suites, meanwhile, feature actual balconies and range from 319 square feet to the over-the-top Iconic Suite, which boasts more than 2,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor space.
An infinite veranda stateroom
Credit: 2023 Celebrity CruisesRetreat-category guests receive access to a private resort-within-a resort, with a pool, lounge and restaurant, as well as an exclusive, pampering experience complete with butler service — while still having full access to everything else the ship offers.
Amenities onboard Ascent available to all guests include the Resort Deck’s pools and hot tubs, a full-service spa (with services available for added fees), four main dining restaurants with international cuisine, the “marketplace-style” Oceanview Cafe and almost nonstop evening entertainment in three different venues.
The Resort Deck is home to pools and hot tubs.
Credit: 2023 Celebrity Cruises“I absolutely love the ship,” said cruiser Erin Marr of Tudalu Travel in Lincoln, Neb. “There are so many different areas for people to relax and have fun. It has the best theater at sea. It’s just right for anyone who wants an upscale experience with the amenities of a large ship.”
After sailing its Caribbean itineraries through spring 2024, Ascent will move to the Mediterranean for summer and fall.
