We made an attempt to sail with friends in early 2024, which did not come to fruition due to a childcare scheduling conflict. While they ended up sailing Norwegian Epic in February, Kayla and I opted to stick with our originally planned booking on Celebrity Ascent the month afterward. Along with the previous ship, Beyond, Ascent had some layout improvements over Edge and Apex that I was excited to investigate – such as an extended Sunset Bar, more navigable Martini Bar and infinity pool.
Since we were sailing without kids, there were a few opportunities to treat ourselves to a shore excursion, a Chef’s Table experience, premium drinks, and specialty dining at Eden. I also splurged on a behind-the-scenes ship tour where I was able to indulge my curiosity and catch a glimpse of the “future” bridge.
Like all cruise lines, Celebrity has its quirks and rough spots, but this sailing was a good counterpoint to our less-than-ideal early 2023 experience on Bliss for what an adults trip could be. The service, food, onboard experience, and drinks were solid with only a few exceptions. We were happy with our choice to sail Ascent and would certainly pick it again in future under similar conditions.
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