Speaking at the 3,260-passenger vessel’s naming ceremony in Fort Lauderdale on Friday (1 December), Celebrity president Laura Hodges Bethge announced that the line “shattered” preconceived notions of cruising.
“Celebrity Ascent will provide the best premium vacation ever. Full stop,” she said, adding: “She has new experiences that make her one of a kind.”
Royal Caribbean Group president Jason Liberty said: “With each new ship, our ambition is to debut the ultimate vacation experience and Celebrity Ascent achieves this by raising the bar for premium travel.
“Her elevated design and new onboard experiences set her apart from competitors and serve as a new benchmark for the travel industry.”
The fourth Edge-series ship features six new productions, interactive gaming experiences and live music from “bow to stern”.
Al fresco outdoor dining is now available at the line’s “clean cuisine” Blu restaurant and the Rooftop Garden has been expanded.
Headlining the naming ceremony were co-godmothers, Captain Sandy Yawn, star of TV show Below Deck, and her sister Michelle Dunham, founder of the Jacksonville School of Autism.
The pair officially named the ship by breaking a champagne bottle against the ship’s hull.
Celebrity Ascent will offer a mix of eastern and western Caribbean itineraries until late April 2024, before it heads to the Mediterranean for sailings from Barcelona and Civitavecchia.
The ship’s naming comes just a few weeks after Hodges Bethge reaffirmed the line’s commitment to the trade, describing agents as being "ridiculously important" to the brand.
