While company executives were signing the first ceremonial steel cut for the fourth ship in ' at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, the cruise line, which will soon show consumers the BeyondSM—something that once seemed unthinkable for a cruise ship—will continue to grow in ambition thanks to the construction of the Celebrity Ascent.
The ceremony marked the next chapter in a year that has been very important for Celebrity Cruises. Following the pandemic, the company led the US cruise industry with the Celebrity Edge, becoming the first ship to sail from a US port on June 26, 2021. It also launched the second ship in the Edge series, the Celebrity Apex, departing from Athens on June 19, 2021, on its maiden voyage around the Aegean Sea. And it shared more details about the third ship in the series, the highly anticipated Celebrity Beyond, which will launch in late April 2022
“The name of this new ship is very fitting for these times of industry recovery, in which Celebrity continues to lead the way with its unparalleled luxury at sea,” said Richard Fain, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, the parent company of Celebrity Cruises. “CelebrityAscent will take the industry to a new level as it continues to push the boundaries and innovate in terms of what people can experience on board and how they can experience it.”
“What a wonderful moment for our brand, our company, and our industry to be in this incredible shipyard doing the first traditional steel cut on this magnificent ship and showcasing the bright future ahead,” said Lutoff-Perlo. “While I wish I could share what we have in store for this ship, I can tell you that what will truly surprise you is Celebrity Beyond.”
“This is a very important moment and we can consider it a new milestone in the long history of success we have with Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean Group,” said Laurent Castaing, General Manager of Chantiers de l'Atlantique. “Celebrity has always been at the forefront of the industry and it is our privilege to partner and collaborate with them as we bring the Celebrity Ascent , which is expected to make its debut in early 2023.”
