HateSnow

I just returned from a cruise aboard the Ascent. I purchased jewelry and liquor and used a credit card that was NOT linked to my ship account.

we had lunch at Le Grand Bistro. Lobster bisque for DW, I had a wonderful cheese burger. Well worth the upcharge!

Just back from a wonderful week aboard the Ascent. A little background before I start my review. Wife(62) and I(63) took are second Celebrity cruise. Both have been on Edge class ships and both have been in suites after being successful on MoveUp bids. This was our seventh cruise overall, with the others on RCI, Princess and Carnival. I'll start with the ship. She was beautiful. Every venue was wonderful. We spent most of our time in the Retreat, in Eden and at the Martini bar. The ship rates 10/10. We stayed in a Celebrity Suite. A beautiful room. Lots of room, a great split bathroom and a really large balcony. Our Butler was terrific. We saw him every day when he brought coffee and a fruit plate every morning. He left treats every afternoon(strawberries, cookies, crackers and cheese, etc.). Our room attendant was awesome. I still don't know how he knew we out of the room, sometimes, completing his tasks in less than 20 minutes! Room rating is 10/10. We ate in Luminae, Fine Cut Steak House, Rooftop Grill and Le Bistro with the Rooftop Grill being our favorite. I would rate it a "can't miss". I had a grilled filet that was my best meal of the week. DW had the Seafood kabob and said it was her favorite of the week. All food was served hot and seasoned very well. Food rating is 10/10. The entertainment was excellent. If you sail Ascent, do not miss "Here Comes the Sun" - a Beatles tribute band. They had the entire theatre on their feet for 50 minutes. Entertainment rating is 10/10 - I guess you are noticing a pattern here. Finally the service, short and sweet - a 10/10. I read many, many posts on this board prior to sailing. Now that I have experienced the cruise, I have to ask, "what does it take for some people to be satisfied??? I would be glad to answer any questions you might have about this ship.

I bid $1200pp for Sky Suite, $1210pp for Aqua SS, $1225pp for Sunset SS, $1500pp for Celebrity Suite, $1750pp for Royal Suite and $2000pp for Edge Villa.

I've read a lot of posts regarding the Move Up program. Last March, I made a Move Up bid on my Apex cruise. I went from an IV to a Sky Suite. I learned of my move up approx. 1 week before sailing. This March, I'm sailing on the Ascent. I received an email about placing a Move Up bid back in December. I was able to bid on every suite category from Sky Suite up to and including an Edge Villa. I was booked in an IV. I received an email yesterday that my bid was successful on a Celebrity suite, 30 days prior to sailing. There really is no rhyme or reason to the awarding of bids based on my experience.

My move up on the Apex cost a total of $2000 ($1000 ea for my wife and I). Having access to Luminea and the Retreat sundeck along with the larger cabin, I considered it quite a bargain.

That's not true. I'm sailing on the Ascent in two months on a comped casino cruise.

I sailed on the Apex several months ago on a comped casino cruise. I was able to "Move Up" from on IV cabin to a Sky Suite.

I am booked on the 3/10 sailing and have booked all my MDR and specialty dinner!

Am booked on the 7 night Ascent cruise leaving FLL on 3/10. One of the stops is St. Kitts/Nevis. New port for us. Anyone have excursion suggestions? Thanks!

Yes, any local casino offer can get you offers on cruises. If you sign up, they will ask you to upload any comped offers you get from your local casinos. Your offers from URC will be both land casinos and cruises.

Last March, I booked my first Celebrity cruise through URComped. I get my status with them based on play at my local casino. When completing the paperwork with URC, they did ask for my gambling budget and my bankroll for the cruise. Once aboard there was no requirement to gamble. I was booked into an IV cabin aboard the Apex. I was able to take advantage of a MoveUp offer to a Sky Suite. Recently I was received offers from the BCC for next spring. I called and attempted to book but was told I needed to go through URC to receive the comped cruise. I called them and the transaction was seamless. I was booked into a IV cabin aboard the Ascent in March, 2024. If you gamble at your local casinos, give URC a shot.

Between $5 and $10 a spin

I don't know, I just booked a 7 day cruise aboard the Ascent in March 2024. This was a Blue Chip offer. In fact, the post card I received listed many cruises abord ascent, Beyond and Apex, all in veranda cabins. also offered were cruises aboard the Silouette, Equinox and Summit, all in Veranda cabins. Offers seem pretty good!!

If anyone has stayed in the Retreat aboard the Equinox, does the sundeck have its own pool?