Celebrity Cruises’ flagship vessel Celebrity Ascent is set to raise the bar for holidays in European this northern summer as it visits stunning destinations in Spain, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Turkey.

Arriving in Barcelona on Saturday, April 27, Celebrity Ascent is the newest Edge Series ship from Celebrity Cruises with the premium cruise line.

She starts her European adventure with a nine-night Italian Riviera and France itinerary, including an overnight stay in La Spezia, and access to Florence and Pisa.

Onboard, Celebrity Ascent features spaces created by world-class designers including Nate Berkus and Kelly Hoppen CBE and a culinary experience featuring the talents of a Michelin-starred chef plus expansive onboard entertainment.

“We’ve brought our latest and greatest Edge Series ship to Europe, enabling guests to discover this diverse region with its stunning coastlines, while enjoying Celebrity Ascent’s premium facilities, elevated food and drink experiences, and wonderful entertainment,” says Laura Hodges Bethge, President of Celebrity Cruises.

Celebrity Ascent features the best of the cruise line’s Edge Series, with 32 restaurants, bars and lounges to explore. It also sees the return of Edge Series features including cantilevered multi-purpose venue ‘The Magic Carpet’ bar, lounge area and al-fresco dining.

Private restaurant Luminae

A highlight is private restaurant, Luminae, a lounge area and two-storey sundeck exclusive to guests of The Retreat.

World-renowned chef Daniel Boulud returns as Celebrity’s Global Culinary Ambassador creating exclusive menus for guests and launching his second restaurant at sea, Le Voyage, which has a new look and feel on Celebrity Ascent. Enhanced dining experiences onboard include a new plant-based tasting menu at Eden.

Meanwhile Blu is an exclusive restaurant for AquaClass guests who can enjoy a new outdoor dining space, offering clean cuisine suited to health-conscious travellers. Crowd favourite, Le Petit Chef has also returned to Ascent featuring an enhanced animation experience and dinner menu to match.

High-energy entertainment includes new live productions and augmented gaming experiences. Three brand-new production shows in The Theatre feature state-of-the-art technology as well as breathtaking performances by world-class singers, dancers and specialty artists.

Disco deck

Late into the night the Resort Deck hosts a lively Ascent After Dark ‘Shine the Night’ deck party, turning the pool deck into a vibrant dance floor complete with a DJ and high-energy live performances.

Celebrity Ascent offers a variety of seven- to 12-night escapes in the Mediterranean and Atlantic coast, all departing from key ports across Europe including Barcelona, Spain; Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy and Athens (Piraeus), Greece.

Travellers can visit the historic sites of Ephesus (Kusadasi) and Naples as well as venturing into the waters of the Greek Isles around Mykonos and Santorini.

Mediterranean itineraries also include hotspots such as Spain’s famous Las Ramblas and Gaudi’s architecture in the streets of Barcelona; Italy’s chic town of Portofino, a favourite amongst the world’s glitterati, and France’s esteemed wineries in Provence (Marseille).