Aboard the Celebrity Ascent: A 7-Night Cruise Experience
In 2024, I received a cruise offer from MGM, which led us to embark on a seven-night voyage aboard Celebrity’s newest ship, the Ascent. This was only our second cruise, with our first experience being a Disney cruise back in April 2019. Our journey departed from Fort Lauderdale, with stops at Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; St. Thomas, USVI; and Sint Maarten.
The Ship: Celebrity Ascent
At the time of our sailing, Celebrity Ascent was the newest addition to the Celebrity fleet, with a maximum capacity of 3,731 guests, according to the cruise line’s website. The ship itself was visually stunning, featuring modern artwork and sculptures strategically placed throughout the public areas. The design evoked the feel of an upscale Marriott or Hilton on the ocean.
One key feature to note was the two banks of elevators, located at the front and aft of the ship. While these elevators were spacious and moved efficiently, their limited number meant that during peak times, waiting could be an issue.
Accommodations: Inside Stateroom
We stayed in an inside stateroom, which I later learned is different from a deluxe inside stateroom. Compared to our previous Disney cruise, the room felt smaller but still offered ample storage space, allowing us to fully unpack. As with most cruise ships, luggage could be conveniently stored under the bed.
The queen-size bed was exceptionally comfortable, with high-quality linens and a cozy yet cooling comforter. However, the pillows were overly firm, making it difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position.
The bathroom was well-designed but compact, resembling the quality of a high-end hotel but with the dimensions of a phone booth. While this worked fine for us, it might pose a challenge for those with mobility concerns.
Despite its smaller size, we found that an inside stateroom was perfectly adequate for our needs. It also made midday naps effortless, thanks to the complete darkness when the lights were off.
Dining on the Ascent
One aspect we particularly appreciated about Celebrity’s dining setup was the flexibility. Unlike Disney’s rotational dining system, which assigns guests to different restaurants at set times, Celebrity offers four main dining rooms where guests can dine at their convenience between 5:30 PM and 9:00 PM.
We dined at three of the four main dining rooms and found the food to be comparable to Disney’s offerings—good, but not particularly memorable. The biggest downside was the lengthy dining experience, with each meal lasting anywhere from one to two hours.
Oceanview Café (Buffet)
The buffet onboard is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Our recommendation: avoid breakfast here at all costs. The area was chaotic, crowded, and the food was repetitive and underwhelming.
However, dinner at the buffet was a different story. It was significantly less crowded, and the food was often better than what we had in the main dining rooms. One of the highlights was the pizza station located at the aft of the buffet—the pizza was fantastic and quickly became a go-to option for us.
Specialty Dining
While specialty dining is a major focus on the Ascent, we opted not to try any of the extra-cost venues. However, they appeared extremely popular among other guests. More information on specialty dining can be found on Celebrity’s web site
Bars & Lounges
With a wide range of bars and lounges, the Celebrity Ascent provides plenty of opportunities for relaxation and socializing. Our favorites included:
- Sunset Bar (Deck 15, Aft) – A fantastic spot for watching sailaways from port, with a standout spicy margarita that struck the perfect balance of flavor.
- Martini Bar (Deck 3, Midship) – The bartenders put on lively shows while serving expertly crafted martinis. Our favorite was the Mexicali, a unique blend of spicy margarita flavors with pineapple juice.
- Magic Carpet (Midship, Side of Ship) – A unique floating bar and restaurant that offers breathtaking ocean views. The service here was top-notch.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- The ship’s modern design and luxurious feel made for a visually stunning experience.
- Buffet dinner was unexpectedly outstanding, providing quick and delicious meals compared to the long dining room experience.
- The bed was extremely comfortable, aside from the firm pillows.
- Effortless embarkation and port stops, allowing us to disembark quickly with no delays. In St. Thomas, we were even able to leave 30 minutes early.
Cons:
- Older demographic – Celebrity caters to an older crowd, and the entertainment onboard reflects that. While it didn’t bother us, it’s something to consider if you’re looking for a livelier atmosphere.
- Unreliable Celebrity app – The app consistently displayed incorrect activity schedules, leading to frequent mix-ups. By the third day, we gave up on using it entirely.
- Disembarkation was chaotic – The process of leaving the ship was a nightmare, with long lines for customs and luggage pickup. Outside the port, rideshare availability was extremely limited, leaving many guests stranded and struggling to secure transportation. Starting the process earlier could alleviate this congestion.
Final Thoughts
Our experience aboard the Celebrity Ascent was a mix of highs and lows, but overall, we enjoyed our time. The ship itself was beautiful, and we loved the buffet dinner, the variety of bars and lounges, and the seamless port experiences. However, the long dining times, an inaccurate app, and the hectic disembarkation process were definite drawbacks.
Would we cruise with Celebrity again? Possibly—but with adjusted expectations. If you’re looking for a laid-back, upscale cruise experience with a slightly older demographic, Celebrity is a solid choice. Just be prepared for a few logistical hiccups along the way.
