Travel insights from Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises® revealed a stunning lineup of entertainment for its highly anticipated new ship Celebrity Ascent℠, providing something for everyone with an approach that is equal parts tradition, evolution and revolution. The new entertainment offerings include a transformative nightlife experience on the Resort Deck, six new live productions, interactive gaming experiences, spectacular live performances in venues throughout the ship and more.
As with its award-winning sister ship Celebrity Beyond℠, named the number one Best Cruise Ship for Entertainment in 2023 by USA Today’s 10Best, Celebrity Cruises assembled creative visionaries who have collaborated on major productions from Las Vegas to London’s West End, and worked for some of the world’s biggest artists, to create a truly unique collection of performances, activities and experiences on Celebrity Ascent.
“We embraced the opportunity with Celebrity Ascent to take our entertainment offering to an even higher level for our guests, handpicking the best creative minds to deliver a world-class program that solidifies Celebrity’s reputation for onboard entertainment that stuns,” said Lisa Lehr, Celebrity’s Vice President, Entertainment. “We are so excited to show guests how our new entertainment offering can level up their vacation in ways they’ve never experienced before. With elements our guests love plus some new surprises, Ascent offers something for everyone and adds to the memories they will have for a lifetime.”
New Signature Resort Deck Party
New for Celebrity Ascent is a high-octane nightlife experience where the ship’s Resort Deck transforms into a radiant center stage with high-energy live performances, a prism light show and DJ creating a pulsating dance floor to an illuminating playlist. Called Ascent After Dark: Shine the Night, guests are invited to bring out their best metallic attire to enjoy this open-air celebration under the moon and stars.
New Theater Shows That Ascend Expectations
The Theatre on Celebrity Ascent will be seen and utilized like never before, with incredible new technological effects blurring the line between digital and reality onstage. Three all-new mesmerizing production shows will feature state-of-the-art technology, including kinetic lighting, lasers and the use of IMAG to display real-time live performances on a larger-than-life LED screen, as well as breathtaking performances by world-class singers, dancers and specialty artists. The new shows include:
- Awaken – a contemporary and technological spectacle taking guests on an eye-opening journey through a showcase of surreal dreams and awakening their senses to explore a world where anything is possible.
- Residency – a high energy concert production inspired by iconic Las Vegas residencies, celebrating timeless artists from Elvis to Lady Gaga, Cher, U2, and Bruno Mars, featuring authentic footage paying homage to Las Vegas and the iconic restored signs from the Neon Museum, filmed exclusively for the show.
- Bridges – a feel-good, uplifting celebration of human connection, set against the backdrop of some of the world’s most iconic bridges from London to Venice, New York, San Francisco, and Sydney, and featuring an automated bridge onstage as the centerpiece that transports audiences to breathtaking locations.
Immersive Live Shows and Performances
The entertainment continues well beyond the main theater stage, with immersive and intimate performances throughout the ship.
At Eden, Ascent’s three-story architectural masterpiece at the back of the ship, guests will enjoy inspiring performances featuring mind-blowing acrobatics, incredible vocals and world-class choreography:
- Allure, takes audiences on a journey following the ship’s resident visual artist searching to find inspiration from the beauty in the world around and featuring acrobatics and feel good music.
- Driving beats from the 70s to modern day, Shimmerbox entices guests to dance, groove or simply soak in the lavish glistening spectacle all around them.
- Dreams, invites guests to enjoy a wondrously intriguing night in a fantastical world of dazzling live performances, interactive games and unforgettable characters.
And, in The Club, Ascent introduces a new immersive show, Smoke & Ivories, taking audiences back in time to an old Hollywood club with a modern twist. The electrifying set comes to life through the use of projection technology, incredible dance performances, world-class tapping and sultry vocal performances.
Brand New Entertainment Experiences
The latest gaming and interactive activities can be found on Celebrity Ascent, with a long list of complimentary new experiences available on every sailing, including:
- Game On: Augmented Multiplayer Experience – Creating an 80s-inspired retro experience, a games surface is projected on the floor in The Club inviting players to compete in interactive competitions using their own body as a controller.
- Guilty Pleasures party is the ultimate singalong extravaganza, where guests can belt out a road trip playlist like nobody’s listening.
- A New Tabletop Escape-Style Game, Sands of Time, where guests work in teams to unlock the mystery through a series of puzzles and clues in this must-play challenge.
- Sketch Art Classes for everyone from beginners to advanced sketchers with step-by-step lessons from Celebrity’s resident visual artist.
Plenty of Live Music Onboard
In addition to Edge Series favorite Jazz at The Club, where world-class orchestra musicians perform the very best of jazz music up close and personal, Celebrity Ascent’s musicians exhibit their incredible talent and showmanship through two brand new live concert-style celebrations:
- Funkified, a journey through the evolution of funk, from classic hits to modern funk-inspired tunes, and from its roots in the 60s to its influence on modern pop.
- And Discoteque, bringing the very best of the Disco Era to life in a high-energy party under the Mirrorball in The Club, with tunes from Earth, Wind & Fire, Donna Summer, Bee Gees and more.
Adding to Celebrity Ascent’s award-winning music nights, a piano bar entertainer will perform on various nights in bars and lounges throughout the ship, adding to the ship’s lively environment.
Edge Series Favorites Return
Celebrity Ascent also brings back popular signature Edge Series onboard programming including:
- Such nightlife experiences as the 80s Flashback at The Club, Silent Disco, Tune to Table Live Band Karaoke, Ritmo Latin party, ABBA sing-along party and Bingo.
- Pickleball at Sea, bringing the popular sport to the high seas through complimentary on board open-courts with panoramic ocean views. Guests can also purchase branded merchandise including paddle and ball sets as well as activewear to take their pickleball fashion to the next level.
- Pub Games Night transforming The Club into an active pub setting with cool beverages and engaging pub games including street curling, darts, golf putting, tabletop shuffleboard and more.
- Camp at Sea, featuring more than 500 activities for kids to participate in, as the only fully customizable kids cruise program in the industry catering to any and all interests.
- Spectacular Chandelier Light Shows in the Grand Plaza, 13 different chandelier light shows choreographed to music and highlighting the brand’s flair bartenders.
To learn more about vacation experiences on Celebrity Ascent, contact us.