Celebrity Cruises hosted a weekend naming ceremony at Fort Lauderdale to officially bestow its latest Edge-class cruise ship with the name Celebrity Ascent.
Godmothers Captain Sandy Yawn and her sister Michelle Dunham were there for the traditional breaking of a champagne bottle against the Ascent’s hull. Sandy is the star of the TV show Below Deck, while Michelle is the founder of the Jacksonville School for Autism.
Also in attendance were brothers Captain Dimitrios Kafetzis and Captain Tasos Kafetzis. It will be the first time the cruising industry will have two captains at the helm of a single cruise ship.
Celebrity Cruises’ President, Laura Hodges Bethge, explained the idea behind assigning key roles to two people. “Captain Sandy and her sister Michelle, co-Godmothering Celebrity Ascent, add another, and more personal dimension, to this already extraordinary ship. Their connection, combined with the brotherly bond of the ship’s captains, exemplifies the sense of welcome and warm hospitality we strive for on every cruise,” she said.
Trips onboard Celebrity Ascent
For its inaugural sailing, the Ascent will travel from Fort Lauderdale on December 3 for a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise. It will stop at the Dominican Republic, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten.
Upon its return, it will offer alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings until April before homeporting in Rome and Barcelona. Most of its trips are seven nights long, though select nine-night and 12-night itineraries exist.
Cruisers can choose between 7-night Bahamas, Mexico, and Grand Cayman getaways, a New Year’s cruise that will visit St. Kitts, San Juan, and Tortola, a 9-night Mediterranean vacation, and a 12-night sailing that will pass through Santorini, Mykonos, Naples, and Rome.
Celebrity Ascent’s onboard amenities
After completing sea trials last October, the Ascent started its transatlantic voyage to Florida, stopping in The Bahamas before making its Port Everglades debut. Its signature amenities include a resort with a 2-story sundeck, a casino, 2-story villas with verandas and private plunge pools, six new productions, and interactive gaming facilities.
It also has 32 restaurants, bars, and lounges, including the clean cuisine restaurant named Blue, Le Voyage by Chef Daniel Boulud, and The Magic Carpet—a movable deck where guests can drink and dine while enjoying ocean views.
