Company executives were on hand for the ceremonial first cut of steel for the fourth ship, the Celebrity Ascent, in Celebrity Cruises’ Edge Series at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France recently.

The ceremony signaled the next chapter in a remarkable year for Celebrity Cruises as it led the cruising industry out of the pandemic with Celebrity Edge, the first ship to sail from a U.S. port on June 26, 2021; formally launched the second Edge Series ship, Celebrity Apex, in an emotional naming ceremony on Nov. 2, 2021; and shared more details throughout the year on the series’ third ship due in late April, 2022, the highly-anticipated Celebrity Beyond.

Richard Fain, Chairman and CEO of the Royal Caribbean Group, the parent company of Celebrity Cruises, observed: “The name of this new ship is very apropos as the industry rebounds, but also as Celebrity continues to lead the industry as an unmatched new-luxury brand and cruise line. Celebrity Ascent will take the industry to new heights as it pushes the boundaries of what people can experience on a ship and how they experience it.”

Celebrity Ascent is expected to make its debut in early 2023.