Review: Celebrity Ascent may be a perfect fit for non-cruisers

By Terri Peters

The 17-deck Ascent is the fourth in Celebrity’s Edge Class of cruise ships, a luxury class with an impressive collection of premier experiences, including exclusive, suite-class dining, and a high-end restaurant helmed by celebrity chef Daniel Boulud.

As journalist who covers cruise ships, I recently had the opportunity to sail aboard the Ascent with my husband, who isn’t a huge fan of cruising. Within hours of being on the ship, however, he turned to me and said, “This is the only ship you’ve taken me on that you could get me to sail on again. It’s my idea of how to cruise.”

And he’s not wrong. The Ascent is a stunning ship that feels incredibly luxurious during every single moment onboard.

Here’s what you need to know if you’re considering sailing aboard Celebrity’s newest cruise ship:

• The Celebrity Ascent has 179 more suites and staterooms than other ships in Celebrity’s Edge series.
• The ship has 17 decks to explore, as well as a bigger Resort Deck (Celebrity’s name for the main pool area) and expanded open-air spaces.
• The Sunset Bar space, designed by Nate Berkus, is 180% larger aboard the Celebrity Ascent than on other Edge Class ships.
• There are 32 distinct food and beverage spaces on the Ascent, as well as 24-hour room service (available for a $10 fee).
• The Celebrity Ascent offers a spa, thermal therapy suite, salon, and barber shop, as well as a fitness center and a jogging trail that spans two decks. Fitness classes are also available.
• This Edge Class ship entertains guests with three all-new stage productions, game shows, augmented reality games, live music and performances, a new Shine the Night deck party (where guests are encouraged to wear metallic or sparkly attire), and more entertainment options.
• With suites, villas, AquaClass staterooms, verandah, ocean view, and inside staterooms, there’s a lodging option to fit every guest’s preferences and budget.
• The ship offers adults-only areas and kids and teen clubs.

How big is the Celebrity Ascent?

This new Celebrity ship is equipped with nearly 1,650 staterooms and can hold close to 3,850 guests. It’s staffed by 1,400 crew members from more than 60 countries and has a pretty impressive range of stateroom types, including villas and suites with private ocean-view verandahs and deck

The ship’s tonnage, a measure of the cargo-carrying capacity of the vessel, is more than 140,000 tons, and the Celebrity Ascent is over 1,000 feet in length. It can cruise at close to 22 knots per hour, which translates to about 25 miles per hour.

What is there to do aboard the Celebrity Ascent?

One of the highlights of the Celebrity Ascent is its sheer amount of deck space, from the mid-ship pool deck (or Resort Deck area) which boasts a large pool and two martini glass-shaped hot tubs, to the Sunset Bar area – an outdoor bar and lounge space designed by Nate Berkus. In addition to plenty of pool space, there’s a suite-exclusive pool area called the Retreat, and an adults-only solarium.

There’s also a bounty of entertainment options. Three stage shows take place on each sailing, full of dance and music performed by a talented team of singers, dancers, and acrobats. There are also additional nightly shows in venues like Eden, a restaurant and artistic area of the ship, and typical cruise activities like game shows and trivia nights. Each day’s events appear in the Celebrity app and on a paper program left in staterooms on the evening prior.

Dining on the Celebrity Ascent

More than half the crew aboard the Ascent work in food and beverage services, a figure that makes sense considering the sheer volume of bars, lounges, and restaurants on board. The ship has four main dining rooms and eight specialty dining restaurants, as well as 24-hour room service. You’ll also find plenty of bars and lounges, as well as one of the best buffets I’ve seen on any cruise ship.

Two highlights on our voyage were dinner at Le Voyage, a $125 per-person specialty dining experience at Daniel Boulud’s restaurant, and lunch at Le Grand Bistro, which cost $30 and included pretty tasty French cuisine like escargots and steak frites. Another highlight? Freshly-made coffee drinks from Café al Bacio, a coffee shop on deck four that became a staple we visited several times a day for a pick-me-up.

Is the Celebrity Ascent family-friendly?

Through its Camp at Sea program, the Celebrity Ascent offers more than 500 activities for kids and teenagers over the course of a sailing. Activities like art projects, recreational activities, and science experiments take place throughout any voyage and, while the ship does have its share of adults-only areas, we saw plenty of families spending time together and lots of kids having a great time.

Cabins and suites aboard the Celebrity Ascent

The Celebrity Ascent has an almost overwhelming amount of suite and stateroom types, from two 1,400 square foot penthouse suites to hundreds of inside staterooms that average about 200 square feet each.

Our stateroom was in the ship’s AquaClass, meaning we had access to perks like dining at Blu restaurant and complimentary use of the spa’s thermal therapy suite. After touring several types of rooms, we surmised that there wasn’t a bad spot on the ship: Whatever your budget, it’s a great vessel to explore and relax on.

Is the Celebrity Ascent worth booking?

Depending on the itinerary, a sailing aboard the Celebrity Ascent can start anywhere from $800 to $2,100 per person. Like any cruise line, Celebrity runs specials and promotions that could help you get a better deal. And, it’s important to keep in mind that, as the level of stateroom you choose gets more high-end, those prices will increase.

Still, as an avid cruiser, this sailing was among my (and my husband’s) favorites. The ship felt luxurious and we wanted for nothing while on board. This was my first Celebrity cruise, and I was impressed with the level of service, the enthusiasm of the employees, and the elite level of guest service we experienced throughout the sailing. If you’re someone who prioritizes feeling like you’re sailing in the lap of luxury, the perks of a cruise aboard the Ascent are tough to beat.

Click here for more information about Celebrity Cruises. We recommend MEI Travel for a free quote and help with your next cruise vacation.