Celebrity Ascent, the fourth ship in Celebrity Cruises' Edge Series, officially touched water for the first time on Saturday, January 21, as she was floated out from the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire. The moment marks the completion of the ship’s hull and exterior superstructure, and the vessel now progresses to the next phase of construction.

Debuting in December 2023, Celebrity Ascent will be the “twin sister” ship in every way to Celebrity Beyond, which debuted last spring to rave reviews and designed by a team of modern lifestyle icons including multi-award-winning British designer Kelly Hoppen CBE; celebrated American designer Nate Berkus; lauded Paris-based design firm Jouin Manku; innovative British architect Tom Wright; and Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud.

“So much more than a ship, Celebrity Ascent will be the embodiment of a relaxed luxury resort at sea, and I can’t imagine a more exciting way to start the new year than by celebrating this important construction milestone,” said Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo. “The collaboration between the shipyard and Celebrity teams continues to be extraordinary and I am grateful to all involved for their passion and expertise. Momentum and anticipation is quickly building for this ship and we’ll continue to share her progress and all that awaits our guests onboard this next installation in our groundbreaking, next-generation Edge Series.”

Celebrity Ascent is now mooring in its new location at the shipyard, where interior work on the ship will begin and continue over the next several months.