Vickiie Oliphant, a seasoned cruiser with 16 voyages under her belt, found a fresh take on sea travel aboard Celebrity Ascent. Built in 2023, this Edge-class ship from Celebrity Cruises balances sleek style with elevated comfort, avoiding the flashy gimmicks of other vessels.
A Boutique Hotel at Sea
The ship's contemporary design, partly by British interior designer Kelly Hoppen, gives it the feel of a boutique hotel rather than a floating resort. Accommodating 3,260 guests and 1,400 staff from over 67 countries, it offers cabins for every budget. Oliphant stayed in an Infinite Veranda stateroom, where a button lowers the top half of a floor-to-ceiling glass window instead of a traditional sliding door.
The ship's real magic lies in how effortlessly it glides between iconic ports of call. An Eastern Mediterranean itinerary across seven ports in Italy, Greece, and Turkey showcased authentic local culture in just a few hours ashore.
Mediterranean Ports and Onboard Delights
The Venetian harbour of Chania set a relaxed tone with narrow alleys of local leather workshops, ceramists, and jewellery-makers, while the waterfront featured pastel buildings and seafood tavernas. Sailing into Istanbul offered an unforgettable view of the iconic skyline, with Oliphant watching from the ship's Magic Carpet bar as minarets drifted past and dolphins swam alongside.
Santorini and Mykonos proved productive shopping days, with cobblestone streets and whitewashed buildings leading to tiny boutiques for handmade jewellery. In Naples, authentic Neapolitan pizza at 10 Diego Vitagliano Pizzeria in Santa Lucia featured light, airy crusts and fresh tomatoes.
Dining and Entertainment
Back onboard, the ship offers 32 distinct food and beverage experiences. The bakery team turns out thousands of fresh pastries and 5,000 hot bread rolls daily, with meat butchered and fish filleted onboard. The four main dining rooms – Normandie, Cosmopolitan, Cyprus, and Tuscany – offer rotating menus of regional specialities. Oliphant's favourite was the grilled octopus and gigante bean casserole in Cyprus, served by waitstaff Freddy and Gale with sommelier Jonaris.
Upscale dining options include Fine Cut Steakhouse, holding a Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star rating, and Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud, which achieved the line's first Five-Star rating at sea. Evening entertainment spans the Theatre's state-of-the-art productions, including Irish singer Stephen Barry, and the Martini Bar with its glowing chandelier. The Sunset Bar, designed by Nate Berkus, offers Moroccan-inspired decor and daybeds for sailaway drinks.
A Fresh Take on Cruising
Celebrity Ascent stood out by keeping things simple, proving that modern high-volume cruising doesn't have to feel mass-produced. After 16 cruises, it delivered a completely fresh take – so much so that Oliphant is already eyeing a 2028 sailing when Celebrity Beyond comes to Southampton.
An 11-night Greece, Turkey & Italy itinerary aboard Celebrity Ascent is available for 2027 dates from August 16th to 27th, starting at £1,497 per person. Celebrity Cruises' Autumn Sale runs until November 2, offering up to 35% off with savings of up to £550 per stateroom.
