Photo Highlights of the New Celebrity Ascent Cruise Ship

Celebrity Cruises launched its new Ascent ship, the fourth in the Edge Class, last week, with a colorful and dynamic naming ceremony and a short two-night introductory sail. Here’s a look at this stunning new ship and the sights and sounds of its inaugural few days.

(All photos by Paul J. Heney.)

At the center of the ship’s Grand Plaza area lies the Martini Bar, a popular space each evening.

 

 

Ascent’s Magic Carpet bar, with its brilliant orange structural members, provides incredible views, perched over the side of the ship.

Raw on 5, one of the specialty dining options on the ship, features a magnificent array of seafood, along with a variety of cocktails, champagne, wines, and sake.

Along with the spa, Ascent features a completely stocked fitness facility, with treadmills, ellipticals, free weights, and a wide variety of exercise equipment.

The bakery at Oceanview Café was a popular stop at all hours of the day, with a colorful array of desserts.

Colors and music surround guests who gathered for the Celebrity Ascent’s official naming ceremony on December 1st.

With twilight painting the distant sky, guests and employees celebrate the launch of the Celebrity Ascent.

The ship’s name illuminates the evening sky at Port Everglades, Florida, broadcasting the new designation to all.

At Le Grand Bistro, the Le Petit Chef experience features an animated story projected on the dining tables before each course is served.

 

 

For excursions, the Magic Carpet lowers to sea level, allowing guests to connect to tenders.

Celebrity Ascent’s tenders are roomy and comfortable, with large windows.

View of the Celebrity Ascent’s tenders during a test run for journalists aboard the introductory sailings.

 

 

Celebrity Ascent site majestically in the Atlantic Ocean near the Bahamas.

A water-level view of the Celebrity Ascent’s bow from one of the ship’s tenders.

 

 

The cantilevered Magic Carpet, with its bold orange structural members, makes the ship’s starboard side quite distinctive.

 The ship’s main theater hosts shows such as Awaken and Bridges and features an enormous video wall that helps transform viewers to different places and times.

 

The elegant Cosmopolitan Restaurant is one of four main restaurants that are part of the Celebrity Select Dining experience.

 

 

The ship’s main pool deck proved to be a popular meeting and hang-out spot throughout the day.

The Annex is a private, rentable area where guests can play karaoke and an assortment of interactive video games.

Bridges is one of the all-new productions that was designed for the Celebrity Ascent.

This suite living area includes access to The Retreat, with access to private dining, exclusive spaces, and other amenities.

The largest suites feature stunning outside areas, along with all that The Retreat experience offers.

 

 

A look at one of the suite’s bathrooms on Celebrity Ascent.

Celebrity Ascent boasts plenty of art throughout, as well as a dedicated art gallery area.

A water’s edge view of Celebrity Ascent’s port side, as viewed from one of the ship’s tenders.