I just returned from a quick two-night sailing onboard the beautiful Celebrity Ascent, which is the newest cruise ship in Celebrity Cruises' fleet. Celebrity Ascent is the fourth ship in the revolutionary, award-winning Edge Class for the cruise line.
I was lucky enough to be invited onboard a special media sailing to see everything that this innovative cruise ship has to offer. Being able to stay in such a magnificent suite in Celebrity’s signature Aqua Class - onboard this billion-dollar cruise ship nonetheless - was a luxurious experience like no other.
Read more: First look: Inside the brand-new Celebrity Ascent
During our itinerary, I was able to stay in one of Celebrity Ascent’s coveted suites in The Retreat. Our assigned cabin was 10102, an Aqua Sky Suite on Deck 10. The suite was not only expansive and beautiful but thoughtfully designed to maximize functionality.
Celebrity Ascent is marginally different from the Edge Class ships that precede her. The most notable changes come from the entertainment offered, with new headliner shows like “Bridges” and the top-deck shimmer party.
However, one element that is consistent across all Edge-class ships is the vast array of accommodations available. Those looking to have a more upscale experience should consider staying in a suite with exclusive access to The Retreat on Celebrity Ascent.
Read more: I spent 48 hours on the brand-new Celebrity Ascent. Here are 10 reasons I want to go back.
Wellness is considered one of the fundamental pillars of the Celebrity Cruise experience. To cater to this, the cruise line has created the Aqua Class Suite category to focus on rejuvenation, nourishment, and relaxation.
An Aqua Sky Suite is considered a studio suite, although Celebrity Ascent has plenty of multi-bedroom suites in The Retreat as well. Our cabin measured around 300 square feet, which is nearly double the size of the inside cabins that I am used to staying in.
Read more: Take a look inside this $60,000 suite on the new Celebrity Ascent cruise ship
With so much obvious attention to detail from the cruise line, I was blown away by nearly everything about our Aqua Sky Suite
To start, the king bed was a treat during our sailing on Celebrity Ascent. Most cruise lines push together two twin beds to create a king bed configuration; however, this is not a true king bed.
Unlike other cruise lines, Celebrity Cruises features real king-size beds in 99% of their cabins. This is an industry first for most premium cruise lines.
The studio suite was both cozy and spacious, creating a welcoming ambiance from the moment we walked in. For example, the king bed in our suite was adorned with red-accented pillows.
Each nightstand in the Aqua Sky Suite featured a small lamp for us to use. The warm lights were perfect at the end of each day while getting ready for bed.
One example of the suite's functionality was having outlets available for charging devices at my bedside. For the nightstand that I used, I had two USB outlets and a US plug to charge my devices. I wish both nightstands had outlets available for charging.
I slept great during our two nights onboard Celebrity Ascent. In fact, I had one of those "Where am I?" moments while waking up the first morning. The mattress was firm - just how I like it - and featured exclusive bedding. I presume the mattress onboard will soften over time, but I was pleased with the firm mattress.
Perhaps the most unique design element of the Aqua Sky Suite was the window above the king bed that provided visibility into the bathroom
While this offers nice natural light into the bathroom, it also provides potentially unwanted visibility into the bathroom's shower and toilet space. Luckily, sliding mirror panels above the sink could be used to block the window as needed.
While the window mirror-hybrid was an interesting and unique aspect of the suite, I was impressed by the size of the bathroom in our suite. The space featured a dual sink, small vanity area, separate toilet space, and a jacuzzi shower.
I appreciate having separate spaces for getting ready at the sink and doing makeup or hair at the vanity. This allows one guest to use the sink or shower while the other is getting ready, creating a highly functional space.
Read more: Your really dumb cruise ship cabin questions answered (2024)
One design aspect of the suite that I disliked was the shower, as it would be difficult to use for those with mobility issues
Because Celebrity's Aqua Class is all about wellness and rejuvenation, it makes sense that our suite featured a large jacuzzi tub. However, the tub also functions as a shower, similar to a shower tub you might find in your home.
This requires you to step around the tub’s railing to get into the shower, so it’s not necessarily the walk-in shower that you might expect in standard cruise ship staterooms.
Since Celebrity Cruises attracts an older demographic, I can see this creating some accessibility problems for older passengers. These guests might struggle to get into the shower with ease.
Of course, the shower space in our Aqua Sky Suite was huge and very comfortable to use. The waterfall showerhead was something I had never experienced in a cruise cabin before. The shower also had an additional detachable showerhead for those who prefer that.
The Aqua Sky Suite also featured upgraded bathroom amenities, including body wash, shampoo, and conditioner. The bottles were placed on a small white tray on the rim of the tub.
While aesthetically pleasing, the tray was annoyingly filled with water by the end of the shower. The space was clearly intended to be used for taking baths, which created some design flaws while using the shower.
However, this could also create some accessibility issues as guests need to bend far over in the shower to reach the shampoo. Most cruise ships have these attached to the wall by the shower controls or within easy reach. I was surprised to see the placement of this based on Celebrity Cruise’s demographics.
The bathroom had stunning marble flooring, further exemplifying the attention to detail given to these suites. There was plenty of shelving for storing cosmetics in the bathroom.
Back in the studio area, the Aqua Sky Suite had a small sitting area with a chaise sofa and plenty of storage
Having a space with additional seating is always nice in a cruise cabin, so you have an area to sit without needing to sit on your bed.
Opposite of the sitting area was the suite’s dresser and vanity. The dresser had three large drawers for storage, which we used to place our packing cubes during the short cruise. The dresser also featured modern decor and a marble-accented lamp. The little plant was so cute; I wanted to take it home!
Because we were staying in an Aqua Sky Suite, we received fresh bottles of Evian water for each day of our cruise. This is a perk of staying in Aqua Class onboard Celebrity Cruises.
Read more: I took my first Celebrity Cruise. Here are the pros and cons of this cruise line
Above the large dresser was the suite’s TV, which we did not use during our two-night sailing. There was also a small cooling fridge next to the dresser that was stocked with mini-fridge necessities. These were not included in the suite and would have cost extra.
One feature on the dresser of particular importance was the charging station. As someone who travels with many devices that need charging, having this dedicated space for charging was great. This charging station included both US and EU charging ports, along with two USB outlets as well.
Having a private veranda is one of the perks of cruising. There is nothing quite like seeing the horizon from your own balcony. In our suite, we had around 70 square feet of balcony space with two chairs to use.
While the Aqua Sky Suite itself was incredible, we also received a slew of amenities as suite guests onboard Celebrity Ascent
Some of these perks include access to the thermal spa, yoga mats, in-suite fitness options, and access to a full menu of clean cuisine from the Blu restaurant. Other amenities include dedicated boarding, priority disembarkation, and attentive services from the concierge team onboard.
Aqua Class guests also receive a spa concierge to arrange any spa appointments or needs. Upon arrival, we were greeted with a bottle of Veuve champagne and a box of chocolates.
The biggest perk, however, of staying in a suite is receiving access to the ultra-luxurious and exclusive space onboard called The Retreat. A long list of amenities are included in The Retreat, starting with premium drinks and internet.
As guests of The Retreat, we also had access to Luminae. This is only available to suite guests and features its own menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
For the first evening, we dined in Luminae to ensure we had the full suite experience. The menu certainly featured more high-end cuisine.
Some of the options I had never even heard of. The filet mignon was an easy choice for me, and it did not disappoint.
The Retreat also has its own dedicated lounge with bar service. Since all drinks are included for suite guests with Celebrity’s All Included pricing structure, the bartenders can make anything you want. The space is serene and quiet - the perfect place to relax while onboard.
Also located in The Retreat is a dedicated sundeck with a bar, restaurant, pool, and hot tub. This area requires key card access by suite guests only. The Retreat sundeck feels trendy, edgy, and exclusive. If we had more time onboard, I would have spent way more time in this relaxing area.
Having the opportunity to stay in an Aqua Sky Suite was both luxurious and eye-opening. As someone who typically only books a cheap inside cabin, it opened my eyes to a more cushy style of cruising.
I would definitely consider splurging on a suite in The Retreat for a special occasion in the future, especially with an itinerary that featured more sea days to enjoy all of the amenities and perks.
Allie Hubers
Allie Hubers has been cruising since she was a tiny toddler. What started as a yearly vacation with family quickly turned into a passion for travel, cruising and adventure. Allie's been on over 45 cruises all over the world. She even studied abroad on Semester at Sea, sailing the world on a ship while taking courses for college and visiting 4 continents.
