‘I’m a cruise expert – this incredible ship just ruined all other holidays for me’ | Cruise | Travel

For anyone contemplating their first cruise, visiting multiple countries in one trip can sound exhausting. But for me, there’s no better way to sample a variety of cultures, coastlines, and cuisines. Cruising offers a stress-free way to explore: simply sit back, watch the world drift by, and let the destinations come to you without ever having to repack a suitcase.

Enter Celebrity Ascent. As one of the newest ships in Celebrity Cruises’ Edge-class series (built in 2023), she strikes a clever balance for modern travellers – sleek and stylish, without feeling over-the-top. There are no giant waterparks or flashy gimmicks here. Instead, the ship relies on contemporary, elevated comfort courtesy of British interior designer Kelly Hoppen, whose serene palettes give the feel of a boutique hotel rather than a floating resort.

Accommodating up to 3,260 guests and 1,400 staff, the ship offers cabins for every budget. I stayed in an Infinite Veranda stateroom, a clever twist on the traditional balcony. Rather than stepping outside through a sliding door, a single touch of a button lowers the top half of a floor-to-ceiling glass window, which elegantly frames the panoramic views of glittering pink and gold sunrises each morning.

The 12-day itinerary serves up an incredible taste of the Mediterranean. From strolling through the charming harbour of Chania in Crete to the iconic skyline of Istanbul, the cruise offers an incredible sampler of the local culture. Highlights included a small-group wine and cheese tasting in Kusadasi, Turkey (booked via the ship’s shore excursions team), rooftop dining at Mürver in Istanbul, and grabbing a pizza in Naples (I recommend 10 Diego Vitagliano Pizzeria in Santa Lucia).

Back on board after a long day ashore, and after a cool down in one of the crisp, clear plunge pools, tired feet are quickly forgotten as attention shifts to the main event: the food.

With 32 distinct food and beverage experiences onboard, including 18 restaurants and 14 bars, lounges, and cafés, there is plenty to choose from to whet your appetite. For fans of more casual dining, you have the Oceanview Café (the buffet-style dining area), with a huge variety of different cuisines on offer every day and for every meal. There are also four main dining restaurants (Normandie, Cosmopolitan, Cyprus, and Tuscany), each offering its own unique ambience and region-inspired signature dishes alongside a rotating nightly menu.

There are also several upscale dining options for an additional fee, including Fine Cut Steakhouse, which holds a Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star rating, and Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud, which achieved the line’s first Five-Star rating at sea.

In fact, Celebrity Ascent earned an overall Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star rating during her maiden voyage – the only ship to do so – joining an elite group where Celebrity accounts for five of the world’s few Star-rated cruise ships. My personal dining recommendation is the Rooftop Garden Grill for chilled vibes with sunset views, and delicious Mediterranean-inspired food. I tried the vegetable crudites with freshly made dips, and the seafood kabob with the most flavoursome rice I’ve ever eaten.

The Eden restaurant was also an experience in itself. Nestled at the very back of the ship, this multi-story culinary venue pairs dramatic floor-to-ceiling ocean views with an open kitchen, serving an adventurous, nature-inspired menu that turns dinner into unforgettable performance art.

Before dinner, level 3’s Martini Bar comes alive with energetic mixologists and endless flavour combinations. Another standout is the Magic Carpet bar; a tennis-court-sized cantilevered floating platform that transforms into completely different venues as it moves up and down the 13 decks. I especially recommend it for the sail into Istanbul, where I sat in a cosy egg chair sipping a glass of champagne as a pod of dolphins swam alongside.

And for entertainment, there’s plenty on offer at sea, from musical bingo and late-night game shows to art auctions and cooking classes where I learned to cook authentic Italian cuisine with a real-life Italian nonna.

If you’d rather watch the entertainment than take part in it, then head to the theatre where you can catch a variety of shows, from the in-house cast’s Las Vegas Residency-themed show to special guests such as Irish vocalist Stephen Barry.

Yet as impressive as the ship is, the staff are the true standout. Everyone from the captain and senior officers to the cleaners and waiting staff are warm and friendly. Our cabin steward Alfiyan couldn’t do more for us and was a welcoming face on our first arrival, while waitstaff Gale and Freddy, along with sommelier Jonaris, in the Cyprus restaurant made dinnertime so enjoyable it was like catching up with old friends.

Having been on 16 cruises before my trip, I thought I knew what to expect from a holiday at sea but Celebrity Ascent proved that modern cruising can still completely surprise you, in all the best ways.