[ON LOCATION] LAUREL HERMAN
Sailing on the 1,646-stateroom Celebrity Ascent this past November—the fourth ship in Celebrity Cruises’ Edge Class—we found it offers new and stellar entertainment, more spaces to gather and continued culinary excellence. All of which goes to show that it undoubtedly will appeal to incentive groups looking for elegant design, varied choice and an overall elevated premium experience.
“What makes Celebrity a great brand for incentive groups is the luxury feel we offer within the premium category and from every angle: culinary, accommodations, service and entertainment,” says Ron Gulaskey, AVP, global corporate, incentive and charters. “And for an even more elevated experience, groups can buy out The Retreat, our ship within a ship that is ideal for privacy and customization, including logos, custom entertainment and even custom menus at Luminae,” comments Gulaskey.
The Retreat, which we experienced firsthand during our time on board, offers a boutique resort feeling across its 186 suites and exclusive common areas. Located on decks 14 and 15, here one finds posh accommodations, ranging from the Sky Suite, starting at 319 sf, to the 1,892-sf Iconic Suite. We reveled in our 401-sf Celebrity Suite with an expansive verandah that is visible via the floor-to-ceiling windows and spreads across the length of the entire living room space. Amenities include a well-stocked minibar with alcoholic beverages, two flat-screen TVs with a great entertainment system (one in the living room area and the other in the bedroom), cashmere bedding and butler service. Groups staying in The Retreat have access to private spaces such as the Luminae restaurant (open for breakfast, lunch and dinner), The Retreat Lounge and The Retreat Sundeck, the latter featuring an outdoor pool and attendants.
With its floor-to-ceiling views of the ocean on either side, The Retreat Lounge, open 24/7, is an ideal spot to gather with colleagues conversing over specialty coffees or during the afternoon cocktail hour that features tea sandwiches and other delights. Luminae, too, is a real treat, with stellar service and excellent cuisine in a sophisticated yet relaxed environment.
Planners should note that when sailing out of Fort Lauderdale, The Retreat guests have a special boarding lounge with concierge-style check-in as well as pre-boarding drinks and snacks and preferential first-off rights while at port.
“All of our eight specialty restaurants can be bought out for private events,” notes Gulaskey. Speaking of which, we dined at a few venues and can say that the experiences will prove memorable for your attendees. Take Le Voyage, which is celebrity Michelin-star chef Daniel Boulud’s first dining venue at sea (Boulud is also the brand’s global culinary ambassador). Here groups will appreciate the fine dining experience as well as such menu items as Alaskan king crab salad, tamarind- and peanut-crusted prawns (my fave) and prime black angus filet mignon with black truffle sauce.
We also thoroughly enjoyed Raw on 5, a dining experience focused on seafood and Asian cuisine with an extensive menu that includes top recommendations such as a ginger-tini cocktail, made with Pure Snow sake, ginger vodka and muddled cranberry and ginger; a fresh seafood tower; and homemade lobster & shrimp wontons.
“Groups up to 204 can be accommodated theater-style in Ascent’s designated meeting rooms, The Meeting Place. For larger groups, we allow them to use the main theater with 180-degree high-resolution screens and lighting, included at no charge for groups other than staff to run the technology,” says Gulaskey. “Also, our multi-level Sunset Bar with fantastic views is my favorite space for cocktail receptions,” he adds.
We also think the Sunset Bar is a great option, but another top recommendation is the beautifully designed Rooftop Garden, which even offers a space for outdoor yoga or watching sports events and other programming on a big screen. Another space that can be privatized and that is unique to the Celebrity brand is the fabulous Magic Carpet, taking attendees over the ocean and offering spectacular views (it’s ideal for receptions up to 75).
Planners should note a few changes from the previous Edge Class ship Celebrity Beyond. While the size and number of staterooms are the same, there is a new space called the Annex where groups can enjoy teambuilding experiences like karaoke; it also features a golf simulator and an area to watch sports events. The room can accommodate up to 15 with food and drinks upon request. Larger groups rotate the time with 2- to 2.5-hour blocks.
Like its sister ship, Ascent offers 32 restaurants, bars and lounges, but there are a few changes when it comes to its F&B options. Le Voyage, the aforementioned specialty dining venue, has been redesigned, and Blu, the exclusive restaurant for Aqua Class stateroom guests, now offers groups alfresco dining with a new outdoor terrace. Over at the specialty interactive dining experience Le Petit Chef, there’s a new animated storyline.
Celebrity has also amped up its entertainment offerings, not just on Ascent but across the brand. The Shine the Night deck party, for example, is a new nighttime experience on the resort deck. The ship’s three new production shows are simply amazing, and I don’t say that lightly. Two of the productions, which take place in the theater, are performed by a group of extremely talented singers, dancers and aerialists that perform with passion while the background imagery splashed across high-tech, floor-to-ceiling screens explodes with color and designs that are ever-changing depending on the show. Both the Awaken and Bridges productions are must-sees. The Eden Lounge troupe also performs in the ship’s nightclub, The Club, and the new production called Smoke and Ivories is yet another well-done entertainment offering. The casino, Cosmopolitan (one of the main dining rooms) and the Art Gallery were also redesigned.
Gulaskey reminds planners that “Celebrity is now offering a greater variety of cruises and destinations, including shorter 3- and 4-day cruises on our Solstice Class ships. These are ideal for groups that are ‘new to cruise.’”
celebrity.com