Celebrity Cruises Welcomes Ascent to Fleet with Sister Godmothers and Brother Captains

Celebrity Cruises officially welcomed Celebrity Ascent to the fleet with the help of co-godmothers, Captain Sandy Yawn, star of the Bravo TV franchise “Below Deck,” and her sister Michelle Dunham. They were joined by brothers Captain Dimitrios Kafetzis and Capitan Tasos Kafetzis, who will take the helm of the ship as co-captains, a first for the industry and brand. 

The low-key naming ceremony was held poolside onboard the ship this Friday. Similar to past Celebrity Cruise namings, the ceremony kicked off with a bagpipe brand, followed by traditional blessings. There was also a lively performance by the onboard entertainment cast. 

“Celebrity Ascent has been designed to feed our guests travel wanderlust and provide unique experiences they will covet and love,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, Celebrity Cruises’ president. “Captain Sandy and her sister Michelle, co-godmothering Celebrity Ascent, add another, and more personal dimension, to this already extraordinary ship. Their connection, combined with the brotherly bond of the ship’s captains, exemplifies the sense of welcome and warm hospitality we strive for on every cruise.”

“Her elevated design and new onboard experiences set her apart from competitors and serve as a new benchmark for the travel industry,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, the parent company of Celebrity Cruises, to the audience of media, travel advisors, and executives.  

Celebrity Ascent features several new entertainment options and will debut a few new shows. The ship also has an expanded Sunset Bar, Rooftop Garden with two new floating pools, and an outdoor terrace at Blu. 

The ship will make its official debut in Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 3 with a seven-night Eastern Caribbean sailing. Afterward, it will offer a variety of Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings before heading to the Mediterranean.