Celebrity Cruises introduced its newest cruise ship - Celebrity Ascent - in a special naming ceremony.
Headlining the festivities were her co-godmothers, Captain Sandy Yawn, star of Bravo TV's hit franchise, Below Deck, and her sister Michelle Dunham, Founder of the Jacksonville School for Autism, who officially named the ship in true maritime tradition with the breaking of a champagne bottle on the ship's hull. They were joined by Greek brothers Captain Dimitrios Kafetzis and Captain Tasos Kafetzis, who will take the helm of the new ship after being named Co-Captains of Celebrity Ascent, a first for the brand and the industry.
Kicking off its inaugural Caribbean season, Ascent will set sail from Ft. Lauderdale on 03DEC and travel on a 7-night Eastern Caribbean sailing, visiting St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and the Dominican Republic.
"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," said Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group. "Her elevated design and new onboard experiences set her apart from competitors and serve as a new benchmark for the travel industry."
"Celebrity Ascent has been designed to feed our guests travel wanderlust and provide unique experiences they will covet and love," said Laura Hodges Bethge, President at Celebrity Cruises. "Captain Sandy and her sister Michelle, co-Godmothering Celebrity Ascent, add another, and more personal dimension, to this already extraordinary ship. Their connection, combined with the brotherly bond of the ship's captains, exemplifies the sense of welcome and warm hospitality we strive for on every cruise."
Vacation Experience Highlights
Celebrity Ascent joins a series of ships and is a sister ship to Celebrity Beyond, which debuted last year. Distinctive ship features and new experiences include:
· The Retreat, an exclusive resort-within-a-resort area for suite guests, highlighted by a two-story sundeck;
· Two-story villas with private plunge pools to staterooms with infinite verandas;
· An expanded Rooftop Garden and Resort Deck featuring cantilevered float pools;
· A multi-level, multi-terraced Sunset Bar at the ship's aft;
· An expanded onboard entertainment program featuring a transformative nightlife experience on the Resort Deck, six new live productions, interactive gaming experiences, and live music from bow to stern;
· A redesigned casino floor and brand-new games;
· A new outdoor dining terrace at Blu, the brand's clean cuisine restaurant, available for al fresco daytime dining;
· An exclusive culinary experience in Le Voyage by Chef Daniel Boulud;
· And, the return of the Magic Carpet, an engineering feat soaring cantilevered above the sea, offering guests uninterrupted vistas while sipping cocktails or having dinner.
Setting Sail on Celebrity Ascent
Following Celebrity Ascent's maiden voyage, she will offer various alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean vacations through late APR, when she heads to the Mediterranean for sailings from Barcelona and Rome. Vacation sailing options include:
· The 7-Night Bahamas, Mexico and Grand Cayman itinerary or the 7-Night San Juan, Tortola and St. Kitts itinerary from mid-DEC 2023 to early APR 2024;
· The 7-Night Bahamas, Mexico and Grand Cayman Holiday Cruise departing on 24DEC 2023;
· The New Year's cruise departing on 31DEC 2023 for 7 nights and visiting San Juan, Tortola and St. Kitts;
· Kicking off the summer with the ultimate Mediterranean getaway on the 9-Night Italian Riviera and France itinerary;
· Or, crossing Rome, Naples, Mykonos, and Santorini off a bucket list during the 12-Night Best of Greece and Italy itinerary.
More information on all Celebrity Ascent inaugural 2023-2024 season sailings on Celebrity Cruises' website.
