Introduction
Launched in late 2023, the Celebrity Ascent is the newest addition to Celebrity Cruises’ Edge-Class fleet which also includes the Apex, Edge, and Beyond. Being a brand new ship and built for a premium cruise line, the Ascent promises an elevated cruise experience with modern design, innovative features, and a relaxed sense of luxury. But does it live up to the hype? We sailed on a last minute 7-night Mediterranean fly cruise aboard the Ascent to find out.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may earn a commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
Booking & Embarkation
We booked this cruise through Cruise118.com, purely based on price. As budget-conscious travellers, we always shop around and go with the travel agent offering the best deal. For this sailing, we paid £830 per person for a guaranteed inside cabin, which included return flights and transfers from London Gatwick—a fantastic price for a new ship like this and a great example of last minute savings.
Embarkation in Barcelona was smooth and well-organised. We were greeted at Barcelona Airport by Celebrity staff and quickly guided to our coach transfer. We love cruises that start or end in Barcelona as the cruise terminal is SO close to the airport – just 10/15minutes drive – and check in at terminal itself always efficient and pain-free.
Dining & Food
Let’s start with the main highlight of this ship: the food. It was outstanding. The quality, presentation, and variety were so impressive. We were on the same cruise as YouTube cruise review channel Cruise with Ben and David. If you watch their video review here, you’ll see they were also blown away by the standard of the food.
- Main Dining: We enjoyed the concept of four distinct complimentary restaurants, each with its own theme and decor – Cosmopolitan, Cyprus, Normandie, and Tuscan. The menus were similar but included unique signature dishes which we gravitated toward for something different.
- Buffet: In many ways the Oceanview Café was the star of the show. It was consistently well-stocked and clean, with diverse international options and excellent vegetarian selections. It is also huge! It feels very much like a large food hall and not a cramped “fight your way through the crowds” affair as so many buffets can be.
- Specialty Dining: We did not try any upcharge dining options. Why you may ask? We like to keep costs down and see them as only necessary if included/free options disappoint or bore. However, we heard good things from fellow passengers about Le Petit Chef which has an animated table show. YouTube it to see what we mean.
If we were to find fault, it would be with the alcoholic drinks, or more specifically the PRICE of them. I was rather taken aback to see the bill for one glass of larger/beer which was over $13 after all the tips, and added taxes. So, listen up drinkers. Give the drinks package serious thought if you drink even a modest amount, it could save you a small fortune.
ABOVE, from left to right.
1. A late night buffet snack consisting of a rum baba, tiramisu, and a pistachio donut. Three of our five a day hit.
2. An unashamedly chaotic mix of all the tastiest bits from that evenings buffet. The lobster ravioli were insanely good.
3. A crumble and ice cream dessert from one of the main dining rooms. Sweet, crunchy and full of flavour.
ABOVE, from left to right.
1. French onion soup. This was very rich and came with copious amounts of Gruyere cheese.
2. The tableside view of the millpond calm Mediterranean sea from one of the main dining rooms.
3. Beef Wellington with red wine jus. Tender beef and flaky pastry. It was without fault.
Cabin & Accomodation
We booked a guaranteed inside cabin, and were upgraded for free to a cabin grade above called a deluxe inside cabin. The rooms mirror the rest of the ship in that it was modern, spotlessly clean, well-designed, and felt spacious. Storage was smartly integrated, the bed was super comfortable, and the addition of a small corner sofa gave us another area to relax (or more honestly to drop our bags and belongings onto).
The real star of the show was the bathroom. It had a huge shower and certainly felt much more upscale than expected for an inside cabin.
As always with an inside cabin, you are not going to get natural light of a balcony or those sunset views. However we felt the cabin met all our needs (as we said in our P&O Iona review, for us a cabin is very much a place to wash and sleep), especially considering the price we paid.
The bedding, upholstery, pillows, and cupboards were all neutral tones in shades of grey and cream. It is very much an inoffensive and calming décor.
PRO TIP: Look out for the white box underneath the wall mounted TV. We didn’t see it at first (I’m not sure how!). Lift the lift and hidden inside are all the charging ports you’ll need. The lid goes back down and hides the wires and plugs. It’s these little smart touches that keep the room looking tidy and highlight Celebrity’s attention to detail.
Ship & Amenities
Celebrity Ascent is a stunning ship. The design is sleek, open, and modern, with plenty of Instagram-worthy spaces like The Grand Plaza, Eden, and the infamous Magic Carpet. There’s a strong sense of space which is rare for a ship which can hold between 3000 and 3700 passengers at maximum capacity.
The Ascent has a passenger space ratio of approximately 37 gross tons per passenger. This means that for every passenger on board, there are 37 gross tons of ship space available. For comparison sake, the MSC Virtuosa has a passenger space ratio of 31 gross tons per passenger. NB: higher is better!
Key highlights for us:
- The Rooftop Garden (deck 15) was one of our favourite chill-out spots onboard. It has a huge LED screen showing live sports and a paddleboard area.
- The Sunset Bar (deck 15) offered gorgeous views out to sea at the aft of the ship. It very much felt nestled and hidden away behind the Rooftop Garden and we loved this intimate feel.
- The Eden (decks 4/5/6 aft) spans several levels at the aft of the ship and offers guests a café, bar, and restaurant. There is a large floor-to-ceiling window which lets lots of light pour in.
- The Gym/Fitness Centre (deck 15 forward). That incredible food we raved about? We ate a lot of it. So the gym was the price we pay. This was yet again another well proportioned space onboard. There was plenty of equipment, with everything from cardio machines to free weights and functional training zones.
- Martini Bar in the Grand Plaza, (deck 3). The Martini Bar is the lively centrepiece of the ship where bartenders’ impressive cocktail-shaking performances can be admired. Head here for pre-dinner drinks and live music and you’ll very much feel like you are in a five star hotel in the West End of London. The Ned Hotel springs to mind.
Some areas for improvement and tips/tricks from us:
- Magic Carpet – take it or leave it: serving as a moveable platform for dining, lounging around, or tendering into ports, depending on its position, it’s certainly an eye-catching feature. However we can’t help thinking it’s more of a novelty than a must-have.
- Jogging track – The jogging track spans two decks (15 and 16) and offers great views and a slight incline. However we found it a tad narrow in places, making it tricky to pass or keep a steady pace when busy. It’s more suited for a casual stroll than a serious run. Head to the Fitness Centre instead.
- Main Swimming Pool – beautifully designed with ample loungers but it became very crowded on sea days and sunny afternoons. Finding a seat or space to swim could be a challenge unless you arrived early or went during quieter times.
- Oceanview Café – For a quieter and more scenic dining experience, we recommend heading all the way to the back – it’s more peaceful, and the views over the ship’s wake are fantastic.
Entertainment & Activities
Entertainment onboard the Ascent was of a high calibre and production value seemed consistently high.
- Theatre Shows: We only caught one performance called “Residency” which pays homage to legendary performers such as Elvis Presley, Cher, Lady Gaga, U2, and Bruno Mars, blending their music with dynamic performances and immersive visuals. The production quality was top-tier, with stunning visuals and stage design. The vocals were exceptional, easily on par with a West End show.
- Live Music: The ship offered live music across multiple venues – from jazz in the Eden to acoustic guitar in the Grand Plaza.
Service & Staff
Service was always attentive and friendly and the main dining room waiters were always professional and warm. On a ship of this size and on a short 7 night itinerary, we don’t expect crew members to remember our names and preferences (unless one visits the same restaurant every night and get the same waiters by chance!). Our cabin steward kept our room immaculate and greeted us by name from pretty much the first night. We were amazed he remembered them so quickly and really appreciate those extra efforts Celebrity staff take.
Value for Money
For £830 per person, including flights and transfers, we found this to be exceptional value. You’re getting a near-luxury cruise experience on a brand-new ship with stylish design, the best included food we’ve had at sea, modern cabins, and reliable friendly service. While drinks (without a pre-paid package) could quickly add up, the base fare alone felt more than fair for what we received. Something tells us we will be back.
Is Celebrity Ascent worth it? Absolutely, yes – especially if you can book at a price point similar to ours. The Celebrity Ascent blends modern luxury with relaxed sophistication, offering a cruise experience that’s elevated without being too stuffy. If you snag a 7 night cruise at sub £1000pp, it’s a 10/10 Cruise Consensus score.
