Celebrity Cruises Fourth Edge-Class Ship Floats Out At Shipyard

The Celebrity Ascent, the fourth ship in Celebrity Cruises’ Edge class, floats out onto the water for the first time at the shipyard.

The company has attained a significant milestone by launching Celebrity Ascent, the line’s fourth ship of the Edge class. The shipyard has successfully launched the vessel onto the sea for the first time since construction began.

Celebrity Cruises, owned by Royal Caribbean, celebrates a significant construction milestone for its upcoming new cruise ship, the Celebrity Ascent. On Sunday, 21 January, the fourth Edge-class ship had its first water entry at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.

We’ve entered a new construction phase now that the outside has been finished. In preparation for the ship’s arrival at the year’s end of 2023, yard workers and contractors will begin to focus on the Celebrity Ascent’s interior.

Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo said, “I can’t imagine a more thrilling way to start the new year than by celebrating this major milestone.” Celebrity Ascent will be the embodiment of a relaxing luxury resort at sea.

“The teamwork between the shipyard and Celebrity teams continues to be extraordinary, and I am grateful to those involved for its passion and expertise. Momentum and excitement for this ship are swiftly rising, and we’ll continue to share her progress, and all that awaits our guests onboard this next instalment in our ground-breaking, next-generation Edge Series,” Perlo added.

Celebrity Cruises held the keel-laying ceremony in August 2022, the final key construction milestone. The ship’s substructure is already complete after less than a year!

As development progresses, the Celebrity Ascent will be anchored at a different site outside the dry dock in the following months. The critical sea testing to prove the ship’s seaworthiness is still to come. The delivery ceremony will follow shortly after, right before the first voyage.

The Celebrity Ascent will make its debut in December 2023. When it does, the ship will incorporate all the unique innovations introduced by sister ships, Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex, and Celebrity Beyond.

Celebrity Cruises’ newest ship will include innovative accommodations, such as two-story Edge Villa bedrooms with access to the ship’s suite-only Retreat Sun Deck. Like the previous ships in the class, Infinite Veranda cabins will take advantage of what would be a balcony.

The Magic Carpet is one of the most remarkable characteristics of the Edge class; situated on just one side of the ship, it can transform into a platform that lowers to sea level and may be utilised for activities like tendering. The facility may be used as a bar and restaurant when not lowered.

The ship also has the Sunset Bar by Nate Berkus and 30 various food and drink venues, including Le Petit Chef, the Eden Restaurant, and Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud.

Following a transatlantic voyage from Europe to Florida, Celebrity Ascent will make its premiere with passengers on 3 December out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The port’s inaugural trip will be a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise, including stops in St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and Puerto Plata, before returning home on 10 December 2023.

The new 140,600 gross tonne Celebrity cruise ship will continue to operate seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises in alternate years. The ship can transport 3,260 people in double occupancy.