Superstar Ascent Overview from a First Time Superstar Cruiser

As a first-time cruiser on Superstar Cruises however with some data of the road, I anticipated an elevated expertise once I boarded Celerity Ascent.

Ascent is the road’s newest Edge-class ship that launched in late 2023.

Upon our arrival at Terminal 25 in Port Everglades, we noticed that the terminal was designed to make sure seamless arrivals.

This course of was very environment friendly, and we didn’t have to attend for lengthy after going by means of safety. It was only a matter of finishing all the mandatory pre-cruise paperwork beforehand.

All we needed to do was current our passport and boarding go, and we had been allowed to board the ship.

First Impressions of Superstar Ascent

I used to be instantly impressed once I boarded Superstar Ascent.

The atrium was brilliant and ethereal, with impartial tones and stylish lighting. The vacation decorations added a festive environment, making it much more nice. The 2-day preview crusing was on December 1, however the climate in South Florida was humid and sticky, as ordinary.

Ascent is the fourth in Superstar’s Edge Class sequence, and from what I perceive, they’ve made some minor modifications in incorporating extra seating and extra intimate gathering areas.

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The ship provides an easy-to-navigate format that makes getting round straightforward, with beautiful unique art work at each flip. Superstar is aware of their friends – discerning vacationers who nonetheless wish to have enjoyable – and Ascent definitely lives as much as that demographic.  

We had preloaded all our data on the user-friendly Superstar Cruises app, which made getting onboard a seamless course of.

From the second we entered the terminal, the port workers guided us each hundred toes, main us by means of the gangway and onto the ship. The pleasant and welcoming faces of the workers made the expertise even higher.

The Concierge Class stateroom

Making our technique to our Prime Concierge Class stateroom on Deck 12 was additionally comparatively straightforward. Upon opening the door, the floor-to-ceiling window and waterfront view felt like the final word luxurious.

I headed straight for that spot, gazed out Superstar’s “digital balcony,” and compelled myself to unpack. I instantly lowered the highest portion of the window with the automated buttons and let the recent air envelop me.

We had been solely on for a two-day preview cruise, however I might solely think about sitting on the digital balcony watching the passing surroundings on a extra prolonged voyage to the Caribbean or Europe. 

Then, it was time to evaluate the room and unpack garments and toiletries. The spacious closet with two sides and loads of hangers allowed loads of area for us to hold up our night garments.

There have been additionally extra drawers than I anticipated, a brilliant self-importance mirror, and a cushty cushioned seat for make-up. 

The stateroom additionally had a settee good for throwing a purse or in a single day bag onto, though there was loads of area beneath the mattress for suitcases and in a single day luggage.

The lavatory nooks had been good for toiletries, it was very straightforward to maneuver round in that area, and the spacious bathe was fairly comfy – with a glass door no much less, not a bathe curtain like I’m typically used to – and got here full with shampoo, conditioner and bathe gel.

Onboard Eating on Superstar Ascent

Not desirous to waste any time, we went to the Oceanview Cafe for lunch. That is undoubtedly one of many higher embarkation lunches I’ve ever skilled. There, we had been greeted with a well-laid array of meals stations providing one thing for each style and palate.

Strolling round, I noticed considerable seafood choices, selected a number of mussels and clams, and headed to the Asian station for noodles and shrimp.

I couldn’t resist the charcuterie and opted for some creamy brie, salty prosciutto, and different exhausting cheeses. There was some fruit on the facet, and it made for a wonderfully mild lunch.

However if you’d like one thing heat and filling, go for the Latin favorites, pasta, or the carvery. There’s no lack of pastries, muffins, pies, and ice cream for dessert.

Subsequent, it was off to discover the ship and its many decks, together with indoor and alfresco areas. I used to be instantly taken by the comfortable areas exterior the 4 eating places – the French-inspired Normandie and Italian-forward Tuscan on Deck 3 and the Cosmopolitan and Mediterranean Cyprus on Deck 4.

Outdoors the entrances to every are excessive again velvety armchairs, ultimate for stress-free and admiring the dangling crystals that reach between the 2 decks. The elegant spiral staircase between the decks is a chic contact to the luxurious environment.

The primary night, we loved pre-dinner cocktails at The Magic Carpet, the place the dramatically lit and visually beautiful archway was as a lot enjoyable to stroll by means of because it was arriving on the moveable deck cantilevered off the facet of the ship the place the drinks had been being served.

It was a marvel to see The Magic Carpet on completely different decks – it strikes from decks 2 to 16 and serves a unique goal on every one, from an leisure/eating venue to a platform for tendering. 

Dinner on the Rooftop Backyard was visually spectacular as a result of the world provides each an aesthetically pleasing restaurant plus limitless ocean views, an unbeatable mixture.

The seafood skewer was fantastically offered with hearty parts of salmon, shrimp, and scallops and colourful greens on a mattress of flavored rice. My husband had the vegetable skewers, and he loved these as effectively.

Afterward, we made our technique to the Martini Bar, which is on the coronary heart of the ship and the place I loved a glass of prosecco whereas watching the ship’s entertainers dance round, making a enjoyable occasion environment. We then caught a few of the late-night comedy reveals.

I’m not a lot for stand-up comedy, so we stayed for about half-hour and known as it an evening.

The primary day, Oceanview Cafe was nice for breakfast, so we went there once more. This time, I selected to have scrambled eggs and a few tasty roasted tomatoes, which made for an important combo and a pleasant begin to the day.

The workers at Oceanview had been constantly welcoming, greeting passengers at each flip. As soon as, once I requested for a spoon for my yogurt, the server left their station to fetch one for me; one among a number of instances, the workers went above and past to make our time on board particular.

Navigational bridge tour

Taking the engine room and bridge excursions (a part of the behind-the-scenes choices for the press on board) was informative and entertaining. Within the engine room, it was attention-grabbing to realize entry to the nerve middle of the navigation system.

I felt privileged to be taught concerning the 5 engines that run the ship and the way Superstar Cruises always strives to maximise effectivity and reduce its carbon footprint.

In the course of the bridge tour, Co-Captains Greek brothers Captain Dimitrios Kafetzis and Captain Tasos Kafetzis supplied nice perception on navigating the ship with loads of stunning tales on how their father impressed them. Additionally they supplied loads of laughs with their aggressive spirit.

As we deliberate to dine on the Fantastic Reduce Restaurant that night, the ship’s steakhouse, I recommended exploring the ship and attempting some completely different eating places alongside the best way. I used to be notably excited to pattern the Mediterranean delicacies in Cyprus, and it didn’t disappoint.

We tried a creamy baked brie at Normandie, which was merely scrumptious. We additionally had Italian-inspired dishes from Tuscan and Cosmopolitan.

By far, the lightest sampling of the afternoon was from Blu, a zucchini carpaccio. However the place we spent essentially the most time was at Eden, a shocking, tropically lush haven that spans three decks on the aft of the ship with superb views.

It actually took my breath away. From the attractive bar to the multi-level seating areas and outside oceanfront seating, it evokes a Backyard of Eden.

Whereas there, we loved a buttery lobster roll and a light-weight, refreshing salad. The sandwich and salad choices listed here are spectacular, and I’m positive every is as scrumptious as the subsequent. 

We additionally checked out the sports activities motion at Craft Social, the place there’s a big selection of craft beers, wine, and cocktails. They’ve a small menu good for sitting again to observe a soccer match or an NFL or NBA sport.

I attempted the truffle fries, they usually didn’t disappoint. One cool characteristic is that patrons can hearken to video games that aren’t being proven on the TVs, one thing that’s not sometimes discovered at your common sports activities bar.

It was good to loosen up on The Retreat Sundeck, looking on the water from essentially the most comfy chairs and having fun with a glass of prosecco earlier than our 8:30 p.m. dinner reservation at Fantastic Reduce.

Earlier than heading to dinner, although, we went to The Membership and caught “Bridges,” a present that pays homage to world-famous bridges from London to  Brooklyn and San Francisco, with applicable music for every.

It’s a feast for the eyes and ears utilizing a well-known soundtrack recognizable to audiences of various ages. Performers dance and sing to hits from Prince, Beyonce, Michael Jackson, and lots of different artists.

There’s even a hip-hop part with an acrobatic DJ breakdancing when he’s not mixing tunes. The dance numbers are explosive, funky, and heartfelt, and the acrobatics are downright daring.

The one dancer dangles in midair all through a number of songs, making the strikes look easy. The 270 immersive surroundings of the bridges because the backdrop rivals any IMAX theater.

After the present at Fantastic Reduce, we loved tender filet mignon set atop a mattress of mashed potatoes and sliced ribeye, each equally ready to perfection and served with tender asparagus as a facet. The crab muffins had been a wonderful starter. It was a scrumptious and filling meal, making the lunch samplings the best alternative.

We then went again to the Martini Bar for a nightcap. Having fun with a ultimate glass of Prosecco from the intimate seating space that overlooks the motion under was good. We had been informed these explicit spots had been added to this ultimate ship within the Edge Collection. It’s a wonderful addition.

The next day, debarking the ship was as easy and seamless as embarkation. 

Ultimate Ideas

The few areas that I felt might use some tweaking and extra consideration are the late-night occasion on the deck, which could be a noise nuisance for passengers who flip in early.

Additionally, the signage for the retailers is difficult to see, notably the one for the jewellery retailer, which is positioned too far again into the shop. 

Crusing on Superstar Ascent is a lovely expertise that gives top-notch hospitality, a various culinary expertise on daily basis, entertaining performances that may have you ever dancing and singing alongside, and loads of serene spots to unwind.

Whether or not you like basking within the solar by the pool, soaking in a jacuzzi, or discovering peace and quiet at a secluded ocean-view retreat deck, Superstar Ascent has all of it.

By: Josie Gulliksen