Celebrity Cruises has officially begun construction on the fourth ship of its Edge Series – Celebrity Ascent.

At a special ceremony at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard on August 24, workers welded a ceremonial coin to a massive steel docking block forming the ship’s keep to mark the construction milestone. According to legend, the laying of the coin is thought to bless and bring good fortune to the ship.

“Today, we celebrate the incredible Celebrity Ascent, a ship name that fittingly represents the climb, the rise and, ultimately, the upward trajectory of both Celebrity Cruises and [parent company] Royal Caribbean Group,” said Jason Liberty, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group. “It’s exciting to have our entire fleet back in the water again, and moments like this reaffirm our bright future. We are grateful to all who have and will continue to lend their creativity and craftsmanship to this ship, as we work together to reach new heights in our industry.”

Jason Liberty (left), President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, and Laurent Castaing, General Manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique

Celebrity Ascent is the fourth ship in the line’s groundbreaking Edge Series, joining sister ships Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex and Celebrity Beyond. Ascent will stand at 17 decks tall and stretch 20 metres longer than the original Celebrity Edge, and will also feature more space and luxury amenities onboard.

The ship is set to debut in Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades on December 3, 2023 for its inaugural Caribbean season of alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. Bookings are now open.

Source: Travelweek