Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast Episode - Celebrity Ascent review
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Matt and Don sailed on Celebrity Ascent and shared what made this ship different
Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...
Matt and Don sailed on Celebrity Ascent and shared what made this ship different
Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...
They say imitation is highest form of flattery, so I really hope Celebrity Cruises ends up feeling very flattered in the near future.
I just sailed on a two-night preview sailing on the Celebrity Ascent.
This is the fourth Edge Class cruise ship, and it has a few notable tweaks and additions. I enjoyed my time exploring Ascent, especially after just sailing on Celebrity Apex and being able to contrast both ships.
Having spent a combined 9 nights across two of Celebrity's best new cruise ships, I couldn't help but swoon over a few things these ships have that you can't find on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.
In a combination of jealousy and inspiration, I came up with a list of things from these ships that I think Royal Caribbean should really consider using on their ships. Call it copying, taking inspiration from, or borrowing, I just think they would be a hit on Royal Caribbean.
Disclaimer: Celebrity Cruises invited me to sail on Celebrity Ascent for a quick two-night preview cruise that was open to travel agents and members of the press. I did not pay for this sailing.
Celebrity Ascent has a beautiful protruding stage with a stunning 4K screen behind it, and I think it's such a beautiful way to put on the impressive shows that Royal Caribbean is known for.
The stage comes out into the audience. It's not quite a theater in the round, but it brings the audience so much closer to the singers and dancers.
The screen behind it is my favorite part, because it's so dynamic and helps convey the story being told.
The problem with this type of stage is if you want to put on a traditional musical or play, but Royal Caribbean has not bought the rights to a musical for the last three new cruise ships. So if they're moving away from that model, why not go for a stage that allows them more creative license?
I wasn't aware of this feature until Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge mentioned it in a townhall event onboard.
In the Craft Social bar, there are many television screens to watch a few different sporting events. It's the de facto sports bar on Celebrity Ascent, and it draws plenty of guests who want to watch their favorite team.
The problem with any sports bar is you can only have one audio feed playing at a time, which means if your team isn't in that game, you can't hear it.
With Ascent, Celebrity has added a new piece of tech to get around the problem.
"We can only have sound in the bar with one game happening, but that might not be the game you want to watch," Ms.Hodges Bethge explained.
"So on the other TVs, we can have the other games going on. And then if you have your own smartphone, your own headphones, you can hook it up to that TV. And so you can listen to the game that you want to listen to."
After hearing this, I immediately thought of Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade because that space is such a home run with guests, but has the same sound problem.
While it might not prevent Philly fans from chanting "Fly, Eagles Fly" after a touchdown, it would mean I could focus on the games I care about.
Sometimes I want more than pizza as a late night snack.
On Celebrity, they keep the Oceanview Cafe buffet open past the time when dinner service is over. It has pizza, but it also has a few items to select from too.
You can find salads, pasta, cheeses, and some bread to peruse in addition to pizza.
It was so refreshing having something else to pick from at night, so I wish the Windjammer would adopt this model. Keep one or two stations open so guests have a bit more variety.
Royal Caribbean has experimented with a non-smoking casino in the past, but I really would love for them to go the same route as Celebrity.
The casino Celebrity Ascent is 100% non-smoking, and it makes it so much more enjoyable in and outside of the casino.
Without the residual smell of smoke, I enjoyed my time in the casino much more (even if I pretty much lost any money I gambled in there). Plus, no smoking in the casino means the smell doesn't creep to surrounding areas, as it inevitably does on Royal Caribbean ships.
The primary reason Royal Caribbean has not made the change is because of revenue concerns.
Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley said in 2022, "Every, I would say every couple of years, we do test this and we take one or two or three ships we ban smoking in the casino. And the result is less people go in the casino and that that's the reality of it."
I don't have access to the numbers, but if Celebrity's bottom line can support a non-smoking casino, I'd love for Royal Caribbean to do the same.
Celebrity Ascent is the first ship to have a new venue where you can rent it out to watch the big game, sing karaoke, or play virtual sport games with just you and your friends.
The Annex is a private room that you get for two and a half hours at a time. It's stocked with food and drink, and you have the choice of using it for any sort of activity:
It's big enough to accommodate up to 15 people and costs $200 - $350 depending if you're in port or not and which activity you want.
Royal Caribbean has private karaoke rooms you can rent on a few of its ships in On Air Karaoke, but the dynamic nature of the Annex is a step above.
I think this will be a popular space on Ascent, and would be a hit on Royal Caribbean as well. I know I would love to use it with my family and friends!
It's not all roses and rainbows with things different between the two cruise lines, and I hope Royal Caribbean doesn't follow Celebrity's lead with their All Included program.
All Included bundles a base drink package and base WiFi package into the cruise fare. It used to include gratuities too, but Celebrity dropped it because, "it wasn't what they [customers] perceived as the highest value for them in actually selecting Celebrity."
Nonetheless, I was disappointed with the program because of the reality it created.
Because everyone on the ship had a drink package, it seemed the price of individual drinks went up so ensure only those with an extra cost Premium Package could get the higher shelf selections.
The result was I found drink prices cost more on Celebrity than on Royal Caribbean. An $11 Michelob Ultra price tag is a great example of this.
With the WiFi, you get a very limited and slow connection included. That's fine if all you're going to do is text, but I think the reality is people end up wanting to do more. So the result is you're probably going to spend extra to get the higher tier internet package too.
I loved the concept of All Included, but it's implementation left me less impressed and I don't think it's a good fit for Royal Caribbean.
Celebrity Ascent is the newest cruise ship to debut in the Edge class of ships, and it's name implies it's in a position to move up the ranks of the ships the preceded it.
The fourth in a series of five ships, Ascent is a bit bigger than the first two Edge Class ships (Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Apex). She's 20 meters longer and a deck taller.
There are 179 more cabins on Ascent than on Edge or Apex. At double occupancy, Celebrity Ascent has a capacity of 3,260 passengers. The original Edge Class ships had a capacity of 2,918 passengers.
That extra space means the ship has more room to expand certain venues, such as The Retreat suites-only section of the ship and a larger Sunset Bar at the back of the vessel.
There's other touches as well, and, I was curious to know what makes this ship stand out from the rest. Having just sailed on Celebrity Apex last week, comparing the two ships so closely together was an intriguing opportunity.
Celebrity Ascent will sail to the Caribbean out of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.
Disclaimer: Celebrity Cruises invited me to sail on Celebrity Ascent for a quick two-night preview cruise that was open to travel agents and members of the press. I did not pay for this sailing.
As soon as you board Celebrity Ascent, you're going to notice the central hub of activity looks totally different.
The Grand Plaza is the epicenter of everything happening on the ship. Since the first Edge Class ship, the Grand Plaza has been a focal point for the ship, and with Celebrity Beyond and Ascent, you get a different layout.
The LED chandelier is is more central, which really opens up the space and surrounds the deck with a beautiful glow.
If you loved the martini bar before, the new one is expanded is fully circular too.
Celebrity says it's "loftier" and "airier" and I think I was struck by how much different the layout makes in the feel of the venue compared to Apex.
Another nice change is the addition of World Class Bar to the atrium.
This bar is a fan favorite on other Celebrity ships, and has been included on both Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Ascent. It serves up "bespoke cocktails" with great views of the Grand Plaza.
When I boarded Ascent, the Annex wasn't even on my radar, but I think this is the sleeper hit of this new ship.
Brand new to Celebrity, the Annex is a private room you can rent for your family to enjoy. It's multi-purpose, and allows you to customize the entertainment to your needs.
It has the choice of:
Essentially, it's a place you can rent to have a special enclave for a party, celebration, or retreat.
The cost depends if you're renting it on a sea day or port day, and which private event theme you pick. Celebrity says it will cost around $200 - $350 for the private event.
When I cruise with family or friends, I love any opportunity to have a special area for just us, and this seems like a great addition.
When I went on Celebrity Apex, everyone told me to check out the Sunset Bar. Clearly that message got back to the cruise line, because the Sunset Bar is larger and beautiful.
Views of the ship's wake have always been a favorite of cruisers, and this Sunset Bar doubles down on those views. This is the bar to go to on a sea day to enjoy a view of the ship's wake, the sun rising and setting, and the ocean breeze inbetween.
The theme is labeled as "international beach club ambiance", but I was getting some Spanish Mediterranean vibes sitting here.
The extra space really makes it feel like a destination, rather than another bar. I love how much more seating there is, and how the bar doesn't dominate the entire space.
If I think of Celebrity cruise ship, I usually think of their lawn and garden top decks, and Ascent has an expanded area to enjoy.
You'll find more seating, new private nooks, and two new floating pools that are cantilevered over the side of the ship.
When there's not an event happening here, it's a great spot for "I want to be outside without being at the pool". It's serene, pretty, and I like how the area is arranged.
Rooftop Garden Grill has also been re-arranged, thanks to Ascent being a bit longer. It's less protruding into the garden area, and is the perfect sea day dinner.
If you're lucky enough to stay in a suite, Celebrity has greatly expanded its private suite area.
Known as The Retreat, the indoor space is 25% bigger than on Celebrity Edge or Apex.
Think of The Retreat as a suite neighborhood on an Oasis Class ship multiplied to threefold.
The indoor space features au d'oeuvres, drinks, and plenty of seating. And it's open 24/7!
The personal concierge team is there to assist those in suites that don't have butler service. The concierge team is split among four hosts.
Outside is more reserved seating for suite guests than I've ever seen on any Royal Caribbean ship.
The Retreat seating encompasses multiple decks, and has plenty of quiet nooks and crannies. Plus, there's a hot tub too.
You don't need to book a suite to have a great cruise, but it sure is nice to have this space if you do!
I spent less time in The Club than I would have liked on Celebrity Apex, but I think this space is vastly underrated.
As a Royal Caribbean fan, it reminds me a lot of Music Hall on the Oasis Class ships, but on Celebrity it feels much more open.
New for Ascent is "Smoke and Ivories", which is a musical event that is themed to a 1950s cabaret. It features a piano, hand-to-hand fights, tap solos, passionate duets, and aerial performances.
There was also a really neat augmented reality retro video game where people act as the player in the game in the center of the space to play arcade games like Breakout.
The space may not have a snazzy name, but I like the layout a lot.
It's a small change, but the Cosmopolitan Main Dining Room restaurant has been re-themed.
Celebrity's Edge Class ships have four different Main Dining Rooms, with each having a unique theme. The core menu is the same across all four, but each restaurant has a few appetizers and entrees that are special to that venue.
On Apex, I enjoyed my dinners in Normandie, and this new space looks equally beautiful.
There's a lot of great specialty dining on Celebrity Ascent that gets a lot of attention, but don't overlook the Main Dining Rooms either.
I noticed a few other changes Celebrity made with its fourth Edge Class ship.
The intimate and upscale restaurant Le Voyage has been redesigned, and it features a menu created by Chef Daniel Boulud.
Fine Cut Steakhouse has an expanded seating space, which is larger than on previous Edge Class ships.
This means the restaurant has been expanded to the edge of the ship so that the restaurant has floor-to-ceiling windows on one side.
After taking more than 70 Royal Caribbean cruises, I thought it was time to try a cruise on sister-brand Celebrity Cruises.
Over the last few years, I think Celebrity has raised its notoriety among the cruise industry and its eye-catching Edge Class cruise ships have gotten a lot of people to reconsider booking a Celebrity cruise, myself included.
As someone who loves to cruise on Royal Caribbean, trying a different cruise line seemed a bit strange. I enjoy Royal Caribbean, and there's a reason why I love to cruise over and over with this line. But at the same time, I was curious what the experience would be like to cruise on Celebrity.
Unlike other cruise lines out there, Celebrity is within the same corporate umbrella as Royal Caribbean International, so it felt less strange to go on another cruise line.
Read more: Who owns Royal Caribbean?
After talking about it for a long time, I booked my family on Celebrity Apex for a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise over the Thanksgiving holiday.
I picked Apex because I wanted a new ship, and the Edge Class has gotten so much attention that I felt it would be a great first step forward to try Celebrity.
I was never concerned about having a bad time onboard, but I was curious just how much I would enjoy the experience. Would it feel exactly like Royal Caribbean? Would I fall in love and never want to go back? What would my kids think of it all?
Everything leading up to the cruise and the check-in process for a Celebrity Cruise felt pretty much the same as Royal Caribbean.
Both lines use the same backend for its app. While there are two different apps, they look and work exactly the same but with a different color scheme.
I did a status match in the months leading up to the cruise with my Crown and Anchor Society status. Both lines will honor your status on either line, with Diamond, Diamond Plus or Pinnacle Club members getting Elite status in the Captain's Club. This is one tier below their upper most loyalty level.
Having Elite status in Captain's Club didn't really get me much value on my cruise, but it was nice to have it, just in case.
Celebrity Apex sails from Port Everglades and the cruise line has its own cruise terminal. It's a beautiful building, and set up efficiently. Certainly in-step with any of Royal Caribbean's newer terminals.
In looking at which cabin to book, we went with a cabin category I never would have booked if not for a great deal on it.
Thanks to my friends at MEI Travel, they had a special agency rate on Concierge Class infinite veranda cabins that made it just as cheap to book those rooms as a standard veranda.
It can be a little confusing to understand what Concierge Class gets you, as the name seems to imply you get a higher level of service. Celebrity has sub classes of cabins that get special benefits, including the Concierge Class and Aqua Class.
In short, Concierge class gets you an infinite veranda cabin with some additional benefits. The actual cabin is very similar to a normal veranda, but there are some extra perks included.
The main perks of Concierge Class are:
That sound impressive, but most of these perks will likely go unused. The best benefits are the embarkation day lunch, concierge service, canapes and champagne, and priority embarkation.
Because everyone cruises differently, how useful all of this is can vary and we barely used any of the benefits. The canapes were not the sort of food I liked, and I don't drink champagne.
The concierge team was very friendly and welcoming, and did assist with any issues we had, but we didn't have many problems for them. We booked a standard dining time every night pre-cruise, so priority times in the dining room didn't help. And the rest of the benefits either went unused or didn't factor much into the experience.
I think next time I wouldn't book Concierge Class if it cost more than a regular cabin.
When I told others I was cruising on Celebrity, so many complained about the infinite veranda concept, because they said it ends up just being a big window that sucks all of your air conditioning out instead of being a balcony experience.
As for our cabin itself, I really wanted to love the infinite balcony design. Unfortunately, they were right.
The infinite veranda is a great cabin, with plenty of space for two people. The balcony sitting area means you get more space to use inside the room when the balcony isn't "open".
The problem is you have to weigh whether would you rather have the veranda open and be able to look out and enjoy the breeze, or air conditioning in your cabin for the next hour. On a Caribbean itinerary where the humidity is quite high, this is a much more difficult conundrum.
As soon as you open the verandah, the air conditioning turns off, the cold air escapes outside and everything in your room fogs up almost immediately.
If it's not hot or humid out, then this works quite well. But in Puerto Rico, it was disappointing.
So we just kept our infinite veranda closed for the cruise and we managed to have a good time nonetheless. It was nice having views of the ocean, and the extra space provided by the balcony sitting area was nice to have.
I loved how big the cabin felt, especially the bathroom. The shower was extra large, and there was lots of vanity space.
Celebrity's tag line is they embody "modern luxury" and it manifested itself in Apex's look and feel.
Coming from Royal Caribbean, you'll quickly notice drinks served in glasses and buffet plates that aren't made out of plastic. Chairs everywhere have extra padding, drinks are poured freely instead of using jiggers, and the entire experience feels more premium.
It's subtle, but I enjoyed having a more plush feel to it all, in the same way a luxury sedan feels compared to contemporary sedan.
There are a few areas this really stands out, such as the Oceanview Cafe buffet, the Cafe al Bacio, and the pool deck.
Oceanview Cafe is your standard cruise ship buffet, but the variety of food was quite impressive. There were panini stations, a freshly grilled meat station, more made-to-order cooking stations than I've ever seen, and overall more choices.
Cafe al Bacio is the coffee shop that not only has a variety of coffees you can order by waiting your turn, but there's tables and chairs you can sit at and get waiter service to take your order.
If you can imagine a Royal Caribbean pool deck with the Solarium's furniture throughout the pool deck, that's essentially what Apex's pool deck is like.
I never went on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship and wished for these sort of changes, but I certainly welcomed them on Celebrity.
One aspect of Celebrity a lot of readers told me about was Celebrity's food game.
In short, you're going to find a wider variety of foods at any of the restaurants that go beyond what I might expect to find on Royal Caribbean.
I found a lot of these extra choices to lean heavily into the adventurous palate. If you aren't a picky eater, I think you'll find a lot more to consider on a cruise beyond a beef dish, a pasta, a chicken, or some vegetables.
It really shines with Celebrity's specialty restaurants, and even I was surprised to find duck leg confit, a tomahawk steak cut, roasted trout.
Of course, this assumes you actually would order these items, or you'd stick to similar fare that you'd find on Royal Caribbean.
In my opinion, it's better to have too many options than not enough. So I liked that it wasn't "more of the same" with the food choices.
We ate most nights in the Main Dining Room, which was very akin to the Main Dining Room on Royal Caribbean before its latest menu changes.
There are four dining rooms on Celebrity Apex and each serves the same menu, along with a subset of special dishes unique to that restaurant.
Our waiters gave us a secondary menu that had a copy of what those special items are in the other restaurants, in case we wanted to order off of them.
Moreover, the waiters were willing to substitute items and order things off the menu. When I asked about an Indian curry dish option, the head waiter arranged to have it every night I would dine there. When my youngest daughter just wanted pasta while dining at Rooftop Garden, our waiter ran downstairs to the Main Dining Room to get it.
Speaking of the menu, it's worth noting that Celebrity still has a Main Dining Room menu that has a classics section, where a subset of the evening menu never changes. This means you can get escargot, French onion soup, and a grilled chicken of every night of the cruise in addition to the rotating options.
If there was one area of my first Celebrity cruise that made me wish I was back on Royal Caribbean the most, it was the daily activities.
There were activities, shows, and events offered, but far fewer than on Royal Caribbean. There were maybe one or two trivia sessions per day, and at night the offerings really slowed down.
I'm not a party animal or someone that goes from activity to activity on my cruises, but Apex skewed heavily towards a "let's sit down and relax" vibe. That's perfectly fine, but it made me realize how much I missed having a pub singer, Schooner Bar player, trivia host, or multiple shows to see.
The ship had a silent disco, DJ music, and other typical entertainment of the sort, but there were far fewer sessions. Many of the instrumentalists would play "coffee house" versions of the songs, which kept the pace slower.
Every cruise line has a stereotype about it, and Celebrity's has historically been that it caters to an older crowd than on Royal Caribbean. I can see some of the truth in how it's a bit tamer in terms of the ship's energy level.
That isn't to say there isn't anything happening onboard. You'll find events in the Royal Caribbean app, but there just isn't as much as on Royal Caribbean.
I can keep myself entertained in the daytime, but I love things to do after dinner and I was disappointed in the lack of options. We ended up in bed by 10pm on most nights because there just wasn't a lot happening.
Win or lose in the casino, the fact the casino on Celebrity Apex was 100% smoke free was fantastic.
On Royal Caribbean's ships, smoking is allowed in the casino, and it tends to become the indoor smoking lounge just as much as a place to gamble and smoke at the same time.
The fact smoking is allowed in Royal Caribbean's casinos doesn't stop me from going, but it was nice a nice change to have the casino smoke-free.
Considering the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates just 11.5% of Americans smoked in 2021, it's clear Celebrity has moved towards embracing 88% that don't smoke.
I'm not here to start a debate about the virtues of smoking, just point out the casino on Celebrity Apex was non-smoking and I really enjoyed it.
When Celebrity Cruises announced they would offer a cruise fare that bundled WiFi, drinks, and gratuities, I thought it was a godsend. In reality, not so much.
We booked the Always Included fare, which at the time included basic WiFi, drink package, and gratuities. The line has since removed gratuities from this option.
The wifi that's included is abysmally slow and useful for texting and not much else. For my kids, it's fine because they could use a break from the real internet. But for anyone else, it stinks.
Compounding the problem is how much Celebrity charges for their wifi packages compared to Royal Caribbean. To upgrade my WiFi package, I would have to pay an additional $230.93 for one device or $412.93 for two devices. That's on top of the cost of the Always Included package.
The classic beverage package adults receive with Always Included is fine, assuming you drink pretty basic options. I found it very limiting, and worse were the prices the cruise line charges for drinks if you don't have a drink package.
As a Pinnacle Club member in Crown and Anchor Society, I missed my daily complimentary drink vouchers and how nice it was to have that perk.
Celebrity has a happy hour for its top tier members, but it's only two hours and has a very limited drink menu.
Here's more of what I liked and didn't like about my first Celebrity cruise, in addition to what I mentioned already.
Magic Carpet: Essentially a bar that moves up and down the side of the ship, I liked the breeze, views, and seating.
Cafe al Bacio: The coffee house I always wanted on a cruise ship.
Theater with a protruding stage: The theater's stage and digital screen behind it were beautiful and really made the audience feel part of the show.
If Royal Caribbean is going to stop paying for musicals that need a traditional stage, this is something new ships should start borrowing.
Ship size & layout: Apex is 1,004 feet long, which makes it slightly longer than a Radiance Class ship but smaller than a Voyager Class ship.
It was easy to get around, and nearly all the public venues not at a pool were between decks 3, 4, and 5. It made getting around and between venues very easy and quick.
Bar service was nearly non-existent: In most bars or lounges, it was very difficult to sit down in a chair and get a drink because no waiters ever came by.
On Royal Caribbean, if you sit at a bar, you'll be inundated by waiters coming to take your order. On Apex, it was the opposite.
It might have just been our sailing and some bad luck, but other guests I spoke with on the ship reported a similar experience.
Elite Perks: I status matched from Royal Caribbean to Celebrity and being at the second-highest tier didn't really get me much.
In practical terms, there was no reason to really use the benefits provided:
I did use the WiFi discount, but I did not find as much value as what I might get with Royal Caribbean.
Celebrity Ascent has officially joined Celebrity Cruises' fleet. The cruise line took delivery of the brand-new Edge Class ship at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France.
In addition to 1,400 Celebrity Ascent crew members, Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty; Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge; Laurent Castaing, General Manager of Chantiers de l'Atlantique; and Captains Dimitrios Kafetzis and Tasos Kafetzis were all present for the celebration.
“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.”
“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.
This is the first ship to be delivered to Celebrity Cruises since Hodges-Bethge became the CEO.
“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.”
“I am convinced that Celebrity Ascent will meet the same success as the other ships in the prestigious Edge Series. Its fine exterior and interior design and its exceptional seaworthiness make it an outstanding ship, said Chantiers de l’Atlantique General Director Laurent Castaing.
"Celebrity Ascent embodies the strong bond between the Chantiers de l’Atlantique, Royal Caribbean Group and Celebrity Cruises teams."
While a few preview sailings are scheduled for late November, Celebrity Ascent is slated to make her official debut in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on December 3 with a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise sailing to St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and the Dominican Republic.
Celebrity Ascent may be the fourth ship in the Edge Class, but she is not an exact copy of her sister ships.
For the first time, Blu, the Aqua Class-exclusive restaurant, will have an outdoor dining terrace with the ability to seat 24 guests. Other dining venues, such as Le Voyage by Chef Daniel Boulud and the complimentary Cosmopolitan dining room, have been newly redesigned.
Related: What is the difference between The Retreat, AquaClass and Concierge Class on Celebrity Cruises?
Headed by KTGY Simeone Deary Design Group, Daniel Boulud's second restaurant at sea will offer an intimate fine dining experience that is based upon the Chef's travels.
Entertainment is another selling point of the cruise experience for many passengers, and there is no lack of things to do onboard Celebrity Ascent.
Onboard, guests will have six new live productions, interactive gaming experiences, a transformative nightlife experience on the Resort Deck, and more to enjoy.
Additionally, the redesigned casino will feature brand-new games for those who wish to try their luck at sea.
There's also an expanded Rooftop Garden; upgraded Resort Deck with cantilevered float pools; multi-level, multi-terraced Sunset Bar; and two-story sundeck for guests staying within The Retreat.
It wouldn't be an Edge Class ship without the return of the Magic Carpet, a multi-purpose cantilevered venue that serves as a gangway for tender boats during the day and an upscale dining venue and cocktail at night.
From December through late April, she will sail to The Bahamas, Mexico, and Grand Cayman, as well as San Juan, Tortola, and St. Kitts on alternating 7-night voyages.
During the summer, she'll be based in Europe with numerous different itineraries sailing from Athens, Greece; Barcelona, Spain; and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy to choose from, such as a 9-night Italian Riviera and France cruise or 12-night Best of Greece and Italy voyage.
She will return to Fort Lauderdale, Florida in November 2024.
Celebrity Xcel, the fifth ship in Celebrity Cruises' groundbreaking Edge Class, is set to launch in November 2025.
The ship's name was revealed during the steel-cutting ceremony at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. Executives from Royal Caribbean Group and the shipyard were present.
“The Edge Series has shattered preconceived notions of cruising, and I am thrilled to announce our next bold step as a brand with Celebrity Xcel,” said Celebrity Cruises’ President Laura Hodges Bethge.
“True to her name, this next ship will ‘Xcel’ beyond her sister ships with entirely new experiences, yet to be revealed, but that will change the game all over again.”
After her debut, Celebrity Xcel will sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on 7-night cruises to the Bahamas, Mexico, and Cayman Islands, as well as Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten.
According to Celebrity's website, the maiden voyage is slated to take place on November 18, 2025, sailing to Bimini, Bahamas and Cozumel, Mexico.
You can book your cruise onboard Celebrity Xcel by heading to Celebrity's website or through your trusted travel advisor.
In addition to some distinctive Edge Class features, there are some differences and enhancements that will make the experience onboard this Edge Class ship different from others.
First, the ship will have an expanded Rooftop Garden and Resort Deck with unique cantilevered float pools.
Fans of the Sunset Bar will appreciate the multi-level, multi-terraced bar at the aft of the ship similar to the one that can be found on Celebrity Beyond. The cantilevered Magic Carpet will also return to offer impressive views of the sea's horizon.
The three-story Grand Plaza will be redesigned, too, in order to create an open indoor venue.
Of course, guests looking for a luxurious and upgraded cruising experience and splurge on a suite within The Retreat, Celebrity's ship-within-a-ship concept that will feature a two-story sundeck, as well as two-story villas with private plunge pools.
Related: What is the difference between The Retreat, AquaClass and Concierge Class on Celebrity Cruises?
The steel-cutting ceremony for a brand-new ship is a maritime tradition and major milestone in a ship's construction process because it indicates that the groundwork has been set.
Typically, executives from the cruise line, as well as shipyard personnel, are present.
As of November 2023, there's no set date for the keel-laying ceremony, which is the next milestone and marks the official beginning of the ship's construction.
Celebrity Ascent is set to join Celebrity's fleet as the fourth Edge Class ship, following Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex, and Celebrity Beyond.
In addition to Edge Class favorites, this ship will have a few experiences that cannot be found on her younger sisters, including a completely redesigned Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud; expanded martini menu at the Martini Bar; three brand-new production shows; redesigned casino; and outdoor terrance at Blu, the exclusive restaurant dedicated to AquaClass guests.
Related: Celebrity Cruises released details about its biggest ship yet: Celebrity Ascent
Celebrity’s top-tier loyalty members will soon have their own dedicated lounge space on longer sailings.
In an email sent to Captain’s Club members on Wednesday, the cruise line announced that it would start designating an existing lounge space onboard its cruises for Elite, Elite Plus and Zenith members. The lounge space will be used “to gather on board during the daily Elite Cocktail hour,” said CEO Laura Hodges Bethge in the email.
According to Celebrity Cruises, the lounge space will be available twice per cruise on sailings between 5 nights and 7 nights. For longer sailings of 8 nights or longer, the lounge will be available three times. The cruise line said the lounge space will be available from 5pm to 7pm, which aligns with the Elite Cocktail Hour that already takes place onboard.
Those who have earned Elite, Elite Plus or Zenith Captain’s Club status with Celebrity Cruises are eligible to enter the dedicated lounge space. The email sent to Captain’s Club members indicates that the concierge team on each cruise will inform members of the specific days and locations when the gatherings will take place.
Thanks to Royal Caribbean Group’s status reciprocity program, anyone with Crown and Anchor Diamond status or above will be eligible to visit this new lounge. This is because Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle members automatically earn Elite status when cruising with Celebrity Cruises.
Finally, the announcement clarifies that complimentary drinks for Elite, Elite Plus and Zenith members are still available at bars and lounges throughout the ship. Those who qualify for the nightly happy hour will need to present their Seapass card if they do not prefer using the dedicated lounge space.
Based on the email, it sounds like the change was made to allow like-minded guests onboard to gather in a dedicated space. “I have heard from many of our loyal Captain’s Club members, such as yourself, that one of the program’s most gratifying aspects is the opportunity to be part of a community of like-minded travelers with whom you can share your experiences on board,” said Celebrity Cruises' CEO in her email.
Because Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises are owned by the same parent company, Royal Caribbean Group, there are many similarities between the two cruise lines.
Royal Caribbean has always offered a Diamond Lounge onboard its cruise ships, which is one of the lucrative benefits of being a top-tier loyalty member. The lounge was once the only place that Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle members could receive complimentary drinks on a daily basis. As such, having access to the lounge was a highly coveted benefit of earning Diamond status through the Crown and Anchor society.
Royal Caribbean has since adjusted their loyalty drink policy, instead allowing Diamond members and above to receive daily drink vouchers. Vouchers can now be used anywhere onboard Royal Caribbean’s ships and are no longer limited just to the Diamond Lounge. While many guests welcome this change with more flexibility, others were disappointed that the loyalty drink perk is no longer unlimited like it once was in the Diamond Lounge.
However, Celebrity Cruises continues to operate its loyalty drink perks in a different manner. Captain’s Club members with Elite, Elite Plus and Zenith status have access to a nightly happy hour with unlimited drinks from a set menu. Drinks are available from 5pm to 7pm onboard, with many bars participating in the Elite Cocktail Hour.
Now, guests will have access to a dedicated loyalty lounge during the happy hour where they can mingle with other top-tier members. Since many top-tier loyalty members share a similar passion for cruising and traveling, the lounge provides an opportunity to cultivate a more community feel onboard.
It’s important to note this change does not imply that Celebrity Cruises is adding a new lounge onboard. Instead, the email states that an existing lounge onboard will be used to host the Captain’s Club Elite Cocktail hour. This is different than Royal Caribbean, which has always had a dedicated lounge space onboard called the Diamond Club.
Regardless, this is a nice change for cruisers looking to mingle with other Captain’s Club members.
With both cruise lines being operated under the same company, Royal Caribbean’s Crown and Anchor society members can enjoy similar benefits and perks when sailing with Celebrity Cruises. Similarly, those who have earned status with Celebrity Cruises’ Captain’s Club can also take advantage of the reciprocity program when sailing on Royal Caribbean.
With the status reciprocity program, members of each loyalty program can still enjoy similar benefits and perks regardless of which cruise line they are sailing with. Although the benefits are not exactly equal, the cruise line says they are "comparable."
For example, guests who have earned Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle status on Royal Caribbean automatically earn Elite status on Celebrity Cruises. This is the highest status you can earn through reciprocity on Celebrity Cruises. If you wish to earn Elite Plus or Zenith status, this must be earned on your own.
In the same way, those with Elite, Elite Plus and Zenith status with Celebrity Cruises’ Captain’s Club can earn Diamond status on Royal Caribbean. This is the highest level of status that can received through the reciprocity program, meaning Diamond Plus and Pinnacle members must earn their own status.
In the spring, I sailed with Celebrity Cruises as a Diamond Plus member on Royal Caribbean. My sister and I enjoyed trying out the status match ourselves with our Elite status. Some of these perks included the nightly happy hour, access to the thermal spa, free gelato, discounts on internet packages and access to a morning coffeehouse-style breakfast. I was impressed by the status match, which allowed me to have high-tier status without ever stepping foot on a Celebrity ship prior to this cruise.
At least one sailing to Israel has been changed due to attacks by Gaza militants on Saturday.
A surprise attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists has brought a new wave of violence in the region, and these sort of incidents have historically meant cruise ships turning away.
UPDATE: A passenger on Odyssey of the Seas posted on the Royal Caribbean Blog message boards that Odyssey will skip Israel as well.
"The captain just announced (paraphrasing here) about half a hour ago, that we will not visit Israel due to the geopolitical situation, decision taken together with security experts and in view of the safety of passengers, staff and ship."
The passenger said while disappointing to have an itinerary change, he thinks it was the right choice, "I at least would not have felt safe there right now."
Instead, Odyssey is going to Bodrum in Turkey and Limassol in Cyprus.
Royal Caribbean offers Greek isles cruises on Rhapsody of the Seas from Haifa, Israel, which located in the northern part of the country.
The cruise line has yet to make a change to Rhapsody's upcoming itineraries.
Rhapsody of the Seas is currently in Santorini.
Royal Caribbean had to cancel cruises in 2021 from Israel due to unrest in the country.
Odyssey of the Seas was scheduled to sail from there, but sailings were cancelled once the attacks began there.
In fact, in countries where civil unrest occurs, Royal Caribbean typically cancels cruises to err on the side of caution.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that his country was “at war” because of the attacks by Palestinian militants. A barrage of rockets was fired indiscriminately into Israel, and gunmen were sent into Israeli territory. It's the latest chapter in a bloody saga between the two sides that has lasted decades.
The Celebrity Apex is one such ship, which was scheduled to visit Israel this week.
A passenger onboard Apex posted on a message board that their itinerary has changed because of the attacks, "The captain recently announced that all stops in Israel were cancelled. "
"We are now heading to Cyprus and will overnight there. Then we will have a sea day and arrive in Alexandria, Egypt a day early and have an extra day (now a total of 3 days) in Egypt."
Celebrity is not the only line that has changed plans.
Passengers on Holland America Line's Nieuw Standendam were already in Israel, but were quickly recalled back onboard. A passenger posted, "three days in Holy Land has become three hours."
A milestone in the construction of Celebrity Cruises' fourth Edge Class cruise ship has begun.
On September 27, Celebrity Ascent departed from Saint-Nazaire, France to begin her sea trials.
"It’s always a great emotion for anyone who worked on a cruise ship to see it take the sea for the first time," wrote Saint-Nazaire Renversante on Facebook.
"Today the #CelebrityAscent left for 4 days of sea trials before returning on September 30th to #SaintNazaire. Its delivery and departure are scheduled for early November. We'll keep you informed."
Over the course of the next few days, Celebrity Ascent will have certain features and systems tested that cannot be done while she's docked.
Sea trials are an important part of the construction process of any cruise ship, as they allow for certain navigational and technical systems to be tested. It's the final stage of construction prior to the ship being delivered to the cruise line.
Sea trials range in duration. When Icon of the Seas underwent her first round of sea trials earlier this year, she spent an entire week at sea. Celebrity Ascent, however, is planned to return on September 30 after only four days.
In addition, sometimes, there can be two different sessions.
While Celebrity Ascent is not part of a brand new class of ships like Icon of the Seas, she is part of Celebrity Cruises' most innovative class of ship yet.
Sister to Celebrity Edge, Apex, and Beyond, the launch of Celebrity Ascent means that guests have more opportunities to sail onboard an Edge Class vessel.
“First launched in 2018, the Edge Series transformed what cruising could be and its ships like Edge, Apex, and Beyond quickly became consumer favorites," said Laura Hodges Bethge, Celebrity Cruises’ President.
"Continuously striving to offer travelers a better way to enjoy travel and reach the world around them, we are so proud of what we have built and look forward to welcoming both seasoned and new cruisers alike.”
Of course, many Edge Class favorites will return, such as the state-of-the-art theater, Rooftop Garden, resort-style pool deck, adults-only Solarium, Sunset Bar, Magic Carpet, the Grand Plaza and Martini Bar, and three-story Eden Bar and Restaurant.
To make this brand-new ship stand out, there will be new and refreshed experiences. In other words, cruising onboard this ship will be different from any other ship in the class!
In terms of dining, guests can expect to find a redesigned Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud, a plant-based tasting menu at Eden Restaurant, high-end bourbon tastings at Craft Social, an expanded Martini Bar menu, and a refreshed complimentary Cosmopolitan restaurant.
Moreover, Blu, the exclusive restaurant dedicated to AquaClass guests, will have an outdoor terrace with the ability to seat 24 guests.
Other aspects of the cruising experience will be enhanced, too, such as the theater's original production shows, the addition of interactive digital experiences in the Club, new immersive shows in Eden Bar and Restaurant, and a redesigned casino that will feature brand-new games.
Those looking to shop will appreciate the Sunset Collection by Nate Berkus, which is a collection of travel and home accessories that can only be found onboard Celebrity Ascent!
Celebrity Ascent is going to begin her maiden season sailing throughout the Caribbean before she embarks on a transatlantic voyage to spend her summer in Europe.
Whether you want to bask in the warm Caribbean sunshine or experience culturally rich European cities, there's the perfect itinerary for you to choose from if you want to sail onboard Celebrity Ascent within the first year of her launch.
Her maiden voyage is slated to set sail on December 3, 2023. It will be a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise that will visit St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and Puerto Plata.
There's a chance that Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises will be merging their loyalty programs in the future.
The Captain's Club is the cruise line's program that rewards cruisers for showing loyalty to Celebrity Cruises. After your first cruise with the brand, you'll start earning points to move up the ranks of their program.
During a Captain's Club webinar sent via email on September 26, Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge answered questions sent in from loyal Celebrity fans, including some about Perfect Day at CocoCay, the future of "All Included," vaping in the casino, and potential changes to their loyalty program.
While no definitive answer was provided, members of Celebrity Cruises' Captain's Club and Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society may be able to consolidate their statuses in the future.
Andrea Shay, AVP of Loyalty for Celebrity Cruises, took the reign on this question, responding by saying, "I'm so glad that this question came up, and it's something that members are asking for."
"We have some status match between the brands today, but there's such a huge opportunity for us to do more and really take advantage of the connection and us being part of the same family."
According to Shay, the status match doesn't thread the three Royal Caribbean Group brands together, so they're working with their sister brands. Hopefully, more will be revealed in the coming months.
By status matching, cruisers are able to receive comparable benefits from Celebrity's Captain's Club when sailing onboard Royal Caribbean ships.
You won't, however, be able to match your status with Royal Caribbean until you become a Select member, which corresponds with the Platinum tier of the Crown & Anchor Society.
When you become an Elite member, you'll level up to a Diamond Crown & Anchor member. This is the highest tier you will be able to match into.
Likewise, if you are matching into Celebrity's Captain's Club through the Crown & Anchor Society, Platinum and Emerald members will be able to benefit from Select benefits, while those Diamond and become will get those of an Elite member.
With the status match program, you don't earn points when sailing on a sister brand. So, for instance, if you are a Diamond Crown & Anchor member through points, sailings on Celebrity Cruises won't help you move towards Diamond Plus status.
Similarly, you won't earn any Crown & Anchor points if you embark on a 14-night transatlantic cruise onboard a Celebrity ship.
To become an Elite member, you'll have to earn 300 points. Earning points is based upon a couple of factors, such as the length of your cruise and cabin category that you sail in:
This means that it is possible to earn Elite status after three cruises if you book a Penthouse, Reflection, or Edge Villa.
Elite members get a private continental breakfast, access to private events, priority tender access, 20% off any bottle of wine, 15% discount on drink package or premium drink package, a complimentary cocktail hour from 5-7pm, and more.
Once you reach 80 cruise points, you'll become a Diamond member with the Crown & Anchor Society. This is when you begin unlocking some pretty lucrative benefits, such as daily drink vouchers, a free day of internet, a complimentary photo, and more.
This means that if you are an Elite member with Celebrity thinking about taking your first-ever Royal Caribbean cruise, you'll be eligible for the same perks.
Note that typically you earn a single cruise point for each night sailed with Royal Caribbean. This means that if you go on a 7-night cruise, you'll get seven cruise points.
You can earn an extra point per night by staying in a suite, or double points for traveling solo. Those cruising alone in a suite will earn three cruise points per night.
It would take 12 week-long cruises to become a Diamond member in standard cabins, or six if you're staying in suites or traveling solo.
During the webinar, Laura Hodges Bethge mentioned that adding Perfect Day at CocoCay to Celebrity itineraries was an easy decision.
One thing that loyal guests were asking for was a private destination, and since Celebrity Cruises does not have their own at this point in time, this was the easiest and fastest way to make it happen for their guests.
With Coco Beach Club and the addition of Hideaway Beach in January 2024, there's something for those seeking either a relaxed day at an exclusive beachfront beach club or for adults wanting a fun day away from children.
Moreover, Zenith members, those who have reached the highest tier of Celebrity's Captain's Club, are able to access The Retreat Lounge effective immediately.
She did note, however, that since this perks was initially pulled back due to volume and capacity issues, there may be times that Zenith members will be offered an annexed space, rather than getting access to The Retreat Lounge.
Finally, while they did a test onboard two ships to see if they would allow smoking in the casino, Celebrity Cruises figured out that the majority of passengers are against this. Therefore, the casino onboard Celebrity ships will remain a no smoking (or vaping) area.