The newest Celebrity cruise ship is starting sea trials

A milestone in the construction of Celebrity Cruises‘ fourth Edge Class cruise ship has begun.

On September 27, Celebrity Ascent departed from Saint-Nazaire, France to begin her sea trials. 

“It’s always a great emotion for anyone who worked on a cruise ship to see it take the sea for the first time,” wrote Saint-Nazaire Renversante on Facebook. 

“Today the #CelebrityAscent left for 4 days of sea trials before returning on September 30th to #SaintNazaire. Its delivery and departure are scheduled for early November. We’ll keep you informed.”

Celebrity Ascent sails the open ocean for the very first time

Over the course of the next few days, Celebrity Ascent will have certain features and systems tested that cannot be done while she’s docked. 

Sea trials are an important part of the construction process of any cruise ship, as they allow for certain navigational and technical systems to be tested. It’s the final stage of construction prior to the ship being delivered to the cruise line. 

Sea trials range in duration. When Icon of the Seas underwent her first round of sea trials earlier this year, she spent an entire week at sea. Celebrity Ascent, however, is planned to return on September 30 after only four days. 

In addition, sometimes, there can be two different sessions. 

Fourth ship in the cruise line’s innovative Edge Class

While Celebrity Ascent is not part of a brand new class of ships like Icon of the Seas, she is part of Celebrity Cruises’ most innovative class of ship yet. 

Sister to Celebrity Edge, Apex, and Beyond, the launch of Celebrity Ascent means that guests have more opportunities to sail onboard an Edge Class vessel. 

“First launched in 2018, the Edge Series transformed what cruising could be and its ships like Edge, Apex, and Beyond quickly became consumer favorites,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, Celebrity Cruises’ President.

“Continuously striving to offer travelers a better way to enjoy travel and reach the world around them, we are so proud of what we have built and look forward to welcoming both seasoned and new cruisers alike.” 

Of course, many Edge Class favorites will return, such as the state-of-the-art theater, Rooftop Garden, resort-style pool deck, adults-only Solarium, Sunset Bar, Magic Carpet, the Grand Plaza and Martini Bar, and three-story Eden Bar and Restaurant.

To make this brand-new ship stand out, there will be new and refreshed experiences. In other words, cruising onboard this ship will be different from any other ship in the class!

In terms of dining, guests can expect to find a redesigned Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud, a plant-based tasting menu at Eden Restaurant, high-end bourbon tastings at Craft Social, an expanded Martini Bar menu, and a refreshed complimentary Cosmopolitan restaurant. 

Moreover, Blu, the exclusive restaurant dedicated to AquaClass guests, will have an outdoor terrace with the ability to seat 24 guests.

Other aspects of the cruising experience will be enhanced, too, such as the theater’s original production shows, the addition of interactive digital experiences in the Club, new immersive shows in Eden Bar and Restaurant, and a redesigned casino that will feature brand-new games. 

Those looking to shop will appreciate the Sunset Collection by Nate Berkus, which is a collection of travel and home accessories that can only be found onboard Celebrity Ascent!

Where will Celebrity Ascent sail to?

Celebrity Ascent is going to begin her maiden season sailing throughout the Caribbean before she embarks on a transatlantic voyage to spend her summer in Europe.

Whether you want to bask in the warm Caribbean sunshine or experience culturally rich European cities, there’s the perfect itinerary for you to choose from if you want to sail onboard Celebrity Ascent within the first year of her launch. 

Her maiden voyage is slated to set sail on December 3, 2023. It will be a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise that will visit St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and Puerto Plata.