Same Class, Which Sister?
Celebrity Beyond vs Celebrity Ascent
Celebrity Beyond (2022) and Celebrity Ascent (2023) are the two longer, taller members of the Edge series — both add a deck, more suites, a bigger Retreat sundeck, and Daniel Boulud's Le Voyage over the earlier Edge and Apex. As back-to-back sisters they feel almost identical underfoot, so the choice is about a few refinements and scheduling.
At a Glance
Celebrity Beyond
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Ascent
Celebrity Cruises
Highlighted rows show where the two differ.
Amenity Differences
Only on Celebrity Beyond
- + Grand Plaza & World Class Bar
- + Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud
- + Resort Deck
- + The Retreat & expanded Retreat Sundeck
- + The Sunset Bar (expanded)
On both
- ✓ Buffet
- ✓ Casino
- ✓ Eden
- ✓ Fitness Center
- ✓ Grand Plaza
- ✓ Infinite Veranda staterooms
- ✓ Infinite Verandas
- ✓ Le Petit Chef
- ✓ Luminae
- ✓ Magic Carpet
- ✓ Main Dining Room
- ✓ Pool
- ✓ Rooftop Garden
- ✓ Spa
- ✓ Specialty Dining
- ✓ Theater & Shows
Only on Celebrity Ascent
- + Adults-Only Area
- + AquaClass
- + Grand Plaza & Martini Bar
- + Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud (redesigned)
- + Raw on 5
- + Sunset Bar
- + The Annex (private rentable venue)
- + The Retreat & Retreat Sundeck
- + The Sunset Bar (enlarged)
- + Thermal Suite
What Real Travelers Say
Pros and cons from real traveler discussions.
Celebrity Beyond
- Stunning, sophisticated design that's repeatedly called one of the most elegant large ships afloat
- Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud, a Michelin-chef specialty restaurant unique to the stretched ships and a marquee dining draw
- Spacious, well-designed staterooms with Infinite Verandas that feel roomier and more functional than typical cruise cabins
- The expanded, multi-terraced Sunset Bar, roughly double the size of earlier Edge-class versions, a favorite hangout
- First-rate entertainment, with production shows and live band praised even by otherwise critical reviewers
- Disappointing Oceanview Cafe buffet, the most consistent complaint, with food often cold and a perceived quality decline since 2024
- Understaffing, especially in beverage service, leaving guests to fetch their own drinks
- Service that feels less premium than Celebrity's reputation, with some veterans citing a slide toward mass-market
- Infinite Veranda drawbacks, since opening the window cuts the AC and the room can feel closed off rather than like a true balcony
- Repetitive main dining room menus on longer sailings
Celebrity Ascent
- Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud, redesigned on Ascent and widely called among the best fine dining at sea
- Stunning, hotel-like modern design, from the Grand Plaza chandelier to elegant neutral decor throughout
- Bright, versatile Infinite Veranda cabins with floor-to-ceiling windows that open halfway
- Excellent, attentive crew across dining and bars
- The Retreat suite enclave, a true ship-within-a-ship with a private sundeck, lounge, and restaurant
- Premium pricing and nickel-and-diming, with specialty dining and most cocktails costing extra and few drinks under $10
- Crowding, with standing-room-only events and a Magic Carpet that jams at sunset
- Understaffed bars during casino hours leading to long drink lines
- Limited cabin storage, especially noticeable on longer sailings
- Noise in some Magic Carpet Sky Suites when the ship rocks
The Verdict
Both are among the best-regarded ships in the premium segment, with the same elegant, adults-leaning vibe, the Magic Carpet, the Rooftop Garden, and that standout Boulud restaurant. Ascent came a year later and quietly polished the formula: a redesigned Le Voyage, tweaked Grand Plaza flow, and a new rentable private space called The Annex with a golf simulator and karaoke for groups. Those are nice-to-haves, not dealbreakers — reviewers who've done both say the experience is 95% the same. Realistically, itinerary, sail date and price should drive this more than the ship, since Beyond and Ascent deliver essentially the same excellent cruise.
Choose Celebrity Beyond if…
Pick Celebrity Beyond if it lines up with the itinerary or price you want — you're getting the same stretched-Edge experience, often with wider availability.
See Celebrity BeyondChoose Celebrity Ascent if…
Pick Celebrity Ascent if you want the most recent refinements and the group-friendly Annex, or simply prefer the newest ship in the pair.
See Celebrity Ascent