Celebrity Cruises Takes Delivery of Celebrity Ascent

Celebrity Cruises has taken delivery of Celebrity Ascent at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France. 

The ship is the fourth of the Edge Series, and has been designed to ‘shatter preconceived notions of cruising with its forward-thinking design by the world’s leading architects and interior designers; culinary excellence from Michelin-starred chefs; wellness woven throughout the experience; expansive onboard entertainment and more.’

On hand to welcome Celebrity Ascent to the Celebrity Cruises fleet were Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty, Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge, Chantiers de l'Atlantique General Manager Laurent Castaing, Celebrity Ascent Captains Dimitrios Kafetzis and Tasos Kafetzis, and 1,400 ship crew members. 

“Celebrity Ascent is yet another example of innovation driving our mission to provide the best vacations responsibly. The ship continues Celebrity’s ambition to redefine premium travel and take it to new heights,” said Liberty. “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.”

To mark the occasion, those on hand participated in several maritime traditions including the signing ceremony and the changing of the flags onboard the ship. A celebratory toast was held in Celebrity Ascent’s three-story Grand Plaza.  

“Celebrity Ascent 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, and I can’t wait to welcome our guests aboard,” said Hodges-Bethge. “It is a true honor to welcome this ship to our fleet and I am so grateful to everyone involved with all that goes into launching a new ship.”

Celebrity Ascent’s Inaugural Season

Celebrity Ascent will make its debut in Fort Lauderdale on December 3, with a 7-night Eastern Caribbean maiden voayge to St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and the Dominican Republic.

The ship will spend its inaugural season offering a variety of alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean vacations through late April 2024. Afterward, Ascent will head to the Mediterranean for sailings from Barcelona and Rome.

Following are a sample of Celebrity Ascent’s highlighted itineraries available for booking: 

Caribbean

• Sailing from mid-December 2023 - early April 2024: 7-Night Bahamas, Mexico, and Grand Cayman itinerary or the 7-Night San Juan, Tortola, and St. Kitts itinerary. 
• A special 7-night Bahamas, Mexico, and Grand Cayman Holiday Cruise departing on December 24, 2023. 
• The New Year’s cruise, departing on December 31, 2023, for 7 nights, visiting San Juan, Tortola, and St. Kitts.

Europe

• Start the summer with the ultimate Mediterranean getaway on a 9-night Italian Riviera and France itinerary. 
• Cross Rome, Naples, Mykonos, and Santorini off your bucket list with the 12-night Best of Greece and Italy itinerary.  

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