Cruise expert Vickiie Oliphant has declared that Celebrity Ascent, one of the newest ships in Celebrity Cruises' Edge-class series, has "ruined all other holidays" for her. Having taken 16 previous sailings, she says the 2023-built vessel has changed how she travels forever.
A boutique hotel at sea
The ship, which accommodates up to 3,260 guests and 1,400 staff, features interiors designed by British designer Kelly Hoppen, giving it the feel of a boutique hotel rather than a floating resort. There are no giant waterparks or flashy gimmicks, according to Oliphant, who stayed in an Infinite Veranda stateroom where a button lowers the top half of a floor-to-ceiling glass window.
The 12-day Mediterranean itinerary includes stops in Chania in Crete, Istanbul, Kusadasi in Turkey, and Naples. Highlights included a small-group wine and cheese tasting in Kusadasi, rooftop dining at Mürver in Istanbul, and pizza at 10 Diego Vitagliano Pizzeria in Santa Lucia.
32 dining and beverage venues
Onboard, there are 32 distinct food and beverage experiences, including 18 restaurants and 14 bars, lounges, and cafés. The four main dining restaurants—Normandie, Cosmopolitan, Cyprus, and Tuscany—offer region-inspired dishes. Upscale options include Fine Cut Steakhouse, which holds a Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star rating, and Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud, which achieved the line's first Five-Star rating at sea.
Celebrity Ascent earned an overall Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star rating during her maiden voyage, the only ship to do so. Oliphant recommends the Rooftop Garden Grill for sunset views and Mediterranean-inspired food, and highlights the Eden restaurant, a multi-story venue with floor-to-ceiling ocean views and an open kitchen.
Standout staff and entertainment
Before dinner, the Martini Bar on level 3 comes alive with energetic mixologists. The Magic Carpet bar, a tennis-court-sized cantilevered platform that moves across 13 decks, transforms into different venues; Oliphant recommends it for the sail into Istanbul, where she saw dolphins while sipping champagne.
Entertainment includes musical bingo, late-night game shows, art auctions, cooking classes with an Italian nonna, and theatre shows featuring the in-house cast and guests such as Irish vocalist Stephen Barry. Oliphant says the staff, including cabin steward Alfiyan and waitstaff Gale and Freddy, were the true standout.
Having been on 16 cruises before this trip, Oliphant concluded that Celebrity Ascent proved modern cruising can still completely surprise you.
