I sailed on Celebrity's newest cruise ship twice. The first was a 7-night cruise to the Eastern Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale, and the second was a weeklong cruise around the Greek Isles. Though I preferred the latter's itinerary, the expensive cabin wasn't worth it on a port-intensive itinerary.
I paid $5,134.22 for my Infinite Veranda aboard Celebrity Ascent in July 2024. While the price included a Classic drink package, Basic Wi-Fi, and gratuities, the price still broke down to around $366 per person, per day.
Plus, because it was our first time in Greece, we spent a considerable amount of money on add-ons like shore excursions, local cuisine, and pre-cruise tours.
Compartively, my Prime Oceanview Cabin on my 7-night Caribbean cruise was $2,879.50 in February 2024. Though I was sailing alone, I booked the cruise at the last minute and expected a higher fare.
Had another passenger been with me, my portion of the cruise fare would have been around $1,500 after taxes, port fees, and gratuities, which is far more reasonable.
Additionally, the cruise fare for my voyage to the Eastern Caribbean wasn't inclusive, meaning I had to shell out extra money for Wi-Fi and alcoholic drinks.
Still, combined with my Celebrity loyalty perks and the overall cabin experience, the Prime Oceanview Cabin on Celebrity Ascent was a better value for the money. Here's how the two staterooms compared and why the cheaper cabin was better.
The cabins had identical features and felt like boutique hotel rooms
Neither staterooms were suites within The Retreat, so the basic amenities were the same, including the ensuite bathroom.
Regardless of whether it was in the ocean view or the infinite veranda cabin, I've never had a more luxurious bathroom on a cruise ship—I loved the marble accents and light wood paneling.
Plus, since Celebrity is an upscale cruise line, the complimentary toiletries were a higher quality than what you'd find on sister line Royal Caribbean. I appreciated the separate shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, as well as the body lotion.
Though I still prefer using my own products, it was nice to have a standalone shower gel, versus the hybrid shampoo/body wash Royal Caribbean provides.
Overall, the bathrooms aboard Celebrity Ascent are functional and stunning. The spacious shower and abundance of storage space made it easy to stay organized.
Moving on, both cabins also shared the same number of outlets. Each stateroom was outfitted with 8 charging options, ranging from standard American outlets near the vanity to bedside USB ports.
The vanity outlets were conveniently located inside a box to help keep the cords organized.
I've always found it annoying when half the variety is occupied by cords, so this was a nice design touch that shows how cruise lines like Celebrity go above and beyond to provide a seamless guest experience.
The bedside outlets were also a thoughtful addition because I didn't have to worry about charging my phone at night. I usually bring a portable charger just for that reason!
The biggest difference was that one cabin had a veranda and the other a window
Infinite verandas were designed to bring passengers closer to the ocean by turning the entire stateroom into a balcony.
Because of that, there's no traditional balcony to step outside onto. The floor-to-ceiling window provided a panoramic view of the passing European sites, including the dramatic Greek cliffs and Strait of Messina.
However, as soon as the top half of the window was lowered to create the "balcony" feeling, the cabin's air conditioning would shut off, and the humidity would take over the stateroom.
That wasn't ideal since we were sailing through Greece in July, so we kept the window raised for the majority of the cruise.
Moreover, the sun would pour through the massive window and heat the cabin. Essentially, we had to keep the blinds closed during the day to ensure our stateroom stayed at a comfortable temperature.
Comparatively, the ocean view room had a smaller than anticipated window. The deck plan said the stateroom would have an obstructed view, but I didn't realize it meant the window would be smaller than traditional picture windows.
Still, natural light flooded my cabin each morning, and I could tell when we arrived in port. It wasn't the same as having a balcony stateroom or floor-to-ceiling window, but I didn't feel like I missed out on as much as I would have in an interior cabin.
Without the "balcony," the ocean-view stateroom was smaller than the infinite veranda, measuring around 200 square feet. However, because of how warm the "balcony" area was, my partner and I didn't utilize the extra space too often.
Plus, with so much time spent off the ship, we took advantage of the amenities during the evening, rather than lounging in the stateroom, whether a game show, theater performance, silent disco, or just chatting over a craft cocktail at the World Class or Martini Bar.
The cabins were located near the aft elevator bank
For some, location on a cruise ship doesn't matter. You're on board, right? While that's usually the case, I can't help but think of how much I enjoyed my cruise experience because of my stateroom locations.
The Prime Oceanview Cabin on Deck 3 was steps away from the aft elevator bank, as well as the Tuscan and Normandie dining rooms.
Moreover, because it was on Deck 3, I could easily walk to the Martini Bar for a nightcap before retiring. I didn't hear any noise from the Grand Plaza or dining rooms, either. Truthfully, it was a great location!
The Infinite Veranda was also convenient. It was on Deck 7 near the aft elevators as well, so traversing from Deck 7 to the Grand Plaza's amenities was a breeze. Whether I was heading to a show, browsing the shops, or grabbing a drink, everything felt easily accessible.
In the end, though the infinite veranda had its pros, it wasn't worth the extra money
Had it been a traditional balcony, I might say otherwise. However, while I loved the panoramic ocean views, I wasn't in the cabin enough to fully take advantage of them for the cost.
The amenities and location of the Prime Oceanview Cabin offered a much better value for my hot-weather itineraries, costing around $1,500 per person compared to $2,560 for the veranda. Even if I added All Included to make my fare more inclusive, it would have been more affordable!
I would be willing to retry an infinite veranda on a cold-weather cruise to Alaska or Norway, but if I ever cruise to the Caribbean on an Edge Class ship again, I'll save the money and book an ocean-view room instead.
Read more: I spent $4,600 for a seven-night cruise on Celebrity Ascent. Here's what everything cost
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
