Celeb Ascent: A primary take a look at this new and edgy cruise ship

I am simply again from Celeb Ascent, Celeb Cruises’ latest ship and the fourth in its Edge Class of vessels. It is precisely what passengers have come to anticipate from the road, which affords a contemporary, edgy tackle the whole lot from meals to leisure.
The latter is really what shines on board. The brand new ship stands out for its buzzworthy new theater exhibits, a personal leisure room and a energetic after-dark deck get together.
One other unrelated spotlight is that the ship options twice as many cabins for solo vacationers as the road’s earlier ship, Celeb Past.
Beneath is a top level view of what is new, together with my commentary on the handful of choices I used to be capable of really check out throughout my fast two-day voyage.
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The Annex
New to the Celeb fleet and unique to Celeb Apex, The Annex is a small house on Deck 5 that gives a personal space for teams of as much as 15 individuals to sing karaoke, watch motion pictures or sporting occasions, or play digital sports activities like golf and dodgeball.
The room could be rented in two-and-a-half-hour increments at a value of $150 to $375 for 10 individuals, relying on the bundle booked and whether or not it is a port day or a sea day. (Every further particular person as much as 15 individuals is $35.) The value consists of meals and drinks (together with bottled water and soda) from Craft Social, the ship’s pub, dropped at you by a devoted waiter. Select from objects together with burgers, fries and hen wings. (Notice that alcohol is included with some packages. In any other case, alcohol will price further for passengers who haven’t got drink packages.)
A built-in sound system lets you play music, both from your personal system or preset playlists.
After I tried my luck on the digital golf driving vary, I discovered that it was troublesome to place the ball able that made sense. (Hitting from the designated spot on the inexperienced was powerful. Tees have been accessible, however as a result of they did not push far sufficient into the turf, the balls have been suspended awkwardly far off the bottom.)
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The house is comfy and alluring, with sports-themed seating and pillows dealing with a large display screen the place you possibly can both watch your sport or film of selection or choose from a listing of 1,000 film titles. General, it is an incredible idea, significantly for those who’re touring with a big household or a gaggle of pals. It might additionally make for a enjoyable date evening exercise or a celebration of a special day on board.
New exhibits
Leisure is phenomenal on the Edge Class vessels, which try to be funkier than the typical cruise ship. While you’re speaking about song-and-dance performances that incorporate well-liked tunes all through the ages, it is simple for the outcomes to be tacky.
Thankfully, that is not the case on Celeb Ascent. Two units of performers — the theater forged and the Eden forged — convey the productions to life with aplomb, hitting a formidable vocal vary and mastering pop-and-lock routines that might make Paula Abdul jealous.
And, after all, no Celeb present can be full with out jaw-dropping feats of contortion and acrobatics. They’re provided in spades throughout exhibits that embody “Awaken” and “Bridges,” each hosted within the ship’s major theater and “Shimmerbox,” which takes place in Eden, an earthy lounge that additionally homes a restaurant, bar, cafe and efficiency house.
“Awaken” focuses on a collection of fever dream-style numbers, and incorporates inventive costumes and “Oh, wow!” dance steps with well-known songs. My explicit favorites included one which evoked the ’80s with some Bruno Mars tunes and “Stranger Issues” vibes and one other that is what I think about you’d get if Janet Jackson have been a personality in “The Matrix.” For my part, that is the present to not miss.
Then there’s “Bridges,” which takes you, by way of tune and dance, to among the world’s most iconic bridges, together with Tower Bridge in London and the Brooklyn and Golden Gate Bridges within the U.S. Numbers embody slower dances and breakdancing interspersed with aerialist performances that elicit cheers from the surprised viewers.
“Shimmerbox” is a extra intimate, interactive expertise, the place the singers and dancers draw viewers members onto the dancefloor to chop a rug or sing karaoke. It is enjoyable, however I am extra of a sit-and-watch kind. Nervous I might should turn into a joiner, I vacated my front-row seat about 20 minutes into the efficiency, when the person sitting subsequent to me was chosen to take part.
Nightclub enjoyable
The Membership, Celeb Ascent’s nightclub, is a comfortable two-deck venue that is residence to bounce events, as you may anticipate. Nevertheless, it is also the place you will discover daytime sporting occasions like avenue curling and “Recreation On,” interactive gaming with an ’80s theme the place passengers use their our bodies as controllers to control projections on the ground. There are six video games complete, every lasting for just some minutes. They require gamers to dodge enemies and defend objectives.
At evening, head there for “Smoke & Ivories,” a brand new high-energy present that includes singing, dancing and acrobatics from the Eden forged.
I will be blunt: The Membership is means too small to host the present. In the event you do not arrive tremendous early, not solely will you not get a seat, however you will not even be capable to get into the venue — on both deck. I attempted standing on the again however left after 5 minutes as a result of I could not see a lot. What I did catch gave the impression to be spectacular, evoking a steamy jazz membership in New Orleans.
On my voyage, “Smoke & Ivories” was on the schedule for just one efficiency. On a normal weeklong crusing, the present will probably be provided on one evening at two totally different instances, so there will probably be one further probability to see it.
Shimmer get together
Ain’t no get together like a pool deck get together — particularly if it is at evening and includes glitter and glow wands. Celeb Ascent’s “Shine the Night time” themed outside soiree encourages passengers to put on one thing sparkly in preparation for an evening of dancing with a DJ set towards a large glowing gentle sculpture that pulsates and modifications coloration with the music. No sparkles, no downside: Crew members hand out LED batons akin to mini-pool noodles to attendees.
The pool did not appear to be closed through the get together on my crusing, so it is unclear whether or not swimming will probably be allowed through the occasion.
Though clubbing is not one thing I usually do, I had fun, regardless of the humid Bahamas climate. It was undoubtedly one of the crucial energetic pool events I’ve attended on a ship.
Solo cabins galore
Like lots of the trade’s hottest cruise traces, Celeb has had solo cabins on its latest vessels for a number of years. Given their reputation, the road greater than doubled the variety of solo lodging from Celeb Edge’s 16 rooms to 36 on Celeb Ascent.
That is notable as a result of it is the one factor totally different about the cabin classes on the most recent ship. Rooms for one are notoriously in demand; by doubling the quantity accessible, the road has allowed extra alternative for cruisers touring alone to sail with out having to pay a single complement for a room designed for 2 or extra individuals.
Ascent’s solo cabins can be found as Infinite Verandas, which, as a substitute of normal balconies, function giant glass home windows that may be opened or closed with the push of a button to permit contemporary air inside.
The ship’s different cabins embody inside cabins with no home windows, outdoors cabins with home windows that do not open and balcony rooms (common balconies and Infinite Verandas). The vessel additionally boasts a choice of elevated lodging, reminiscent of AquaClass cabins, which concentrate on wellness and have their very own personal restaurant; Concierge Class that offers entry to concierge providers; and The Retreat, the road’s unique suite space, which affords seven various kinds of lavish cabins and provides passengers entry to a personal eating room, solar deck and lounge.
New eating choices
Celeb Ascent doesn’t have any utterly new eating places, however there are tweaks and new additions to some eating venues.
Main off is Le Petit Chef, a for-fee ($60 per particular person) dinner expertise held in French restaurant Le Grand Bistro every evening. A number of of Celeb’s different ships have had Le Petit Chef, however now he is again with a brand-new present, “Le Petit Chef and the Magical Cooking Guide.”
On this one, with the assistance of synthetic intelligence, he stumbles upon a fairy who grants him three needs. The story performs out by way of projections that present up on every diner’s place setting. The chef prepares every dish just about earlier than servers convey out the actual factor to your meal.
Reservations are important; I used to be unable to snag one however heard blended evaluations about each the meals and the present’s plot.
The subsequent-largest culinary improvement on board is at Eden Restaurant, which focuses on scrumptious Mediterranean delicacies for $85 per particular person or $120 for tasting menus. It now affords a vegan tasting menu along with its normal one. Sadly, it wasn’t accessible throughout my crusing once I requested, so I wasn’t capable of attempt it. Nevertheless, I completely adored the bazaar bowl with chilled labneh, beets, cucumber, almonds and naan bread and the sheep’s milk gnocchi I ordered off the usual menu.
Lastly, Blu — the primary restaurant for cruisers booked within the ship’s AquaClass wellness-themed cabins — is now open for lunch and has outside seating with pretty sea views. After I requested in regards to the alfresco eating space, I used to be informed it wasn’t accessible.
The ship additionally has 4 major eating rooms. The menus are the identical in all 4, except for a small part that is unique to every one, primarily based on its theme: Tuscan (Italian), Normandie (French), Cyprus (Mediterranean) and Cosmopolitan (new American with world influences). Anybody acquainted with Cosmopolitan will discover that it has been redesigned with a barely new look that options extra ornate decor on Celeb Ascent.
Different complimentary eateries embody Eden Cafe for sandwiches and salads; the Oceanview Cafe buffet, providing stations with a wide range of cuisines in an informal ambiance; Mast Grill, serving sizzling canines and burgers; and Luminae, the primary eating room that is unique to passengers booked in The Retreat.
Moreover, the vessel has welcomed returning added-fee favorites: Le Voyage by Chef Daniel Boulud, which options worldwide fare and has been barely redesigned from its first iteration on Celeb Past; Positive Reduce steakhouse; The Spa Cafe, which affords health-conscious eating choices and smoothies; Craft Social for bar bites; Uncooked on 5, serving up contemporary seafood; and the Rooftop Backyard Grill, the place you possibly can dine alfresco on upscale grill fare and pizza.
Typically, it was troublesome to get a really feel for what the eating places can be like on a full-length voyage as a result of my cruise was so quick, and lots of the specialty eating venues have been providing abridged menus or family-style sharing plates not usually discovered on the common menus.
Brothers as co-captains
Title one different ship helmed by siblings who will drop anchor and take passengers out for lifeboat races. I guess you possibly can’t. However that is what occurred on Celeb Ascent.
Brothers Dimitrios and Tasos Kafetzis are each captains for Celeb Cruises and with the debut of the brand new ship, they’re buying and selling off duties each three months. The pair brings a long time of maritime expertise, in addition to a mixture of chemistry and wit that might even be nicely suited to a profession in standup comedy.
“And now, I’ll do one thing referred to as … a doughnut!” Captain D mentioned whereas steering certainly one of two lifeboats getting used to take cruisers on my preview crusing out for a take a look at the ship from the water. It wasn’t an idle promise, both. Quickly, we discovered ourselves spinning in circles. (I will admit I used to be briefly sorry I hadn’t popped a Dramamine previous to the expertise.)
After that, we misplaced in a race towards his brother, who was driving a second lifeboat close by. “Captain Tasos is 30 kilos lighter than me!” Captain D shouted, maneuvering us throughout the waves in a means that assured a pleasant Seaworld-like spray of water dampened everybody contained in the boat by way of its open hatches.
Backside line
Celeb Ascent is an almost equivalent quadruplet to its Edge Class siblings however with some minor changes that make it even higher than earlier iterations.
Though there aren’t any main modifications in cabins or eating, The Annex and all the vessel’s new productions signify an evolution of the category’ leisure choices.
Above all, Celeb Ascent is bound to offer a terrific trip for everybody from fun-loving however refined {couples}, households, good friend teams and solos, all of whom will admire the premium, upscale vibe and cutting-edge onboard facilities.
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